How to help a rescue dog gain confidence?

One way to help a dog feel more confident is to use repeated exposure to the scary thing so that it becomes less novel and more routine, this is called desensitization. If you want to get your dog comfortable with, say, going to a popular park, first bring them to a quiet corner of the park and allow them to see and hear other people and dogs from a safe distance. Observe their body language closely to get clues about how they're feeling. Over many short sessions, you can move incrementally closer to the busy walkways and more crowded areas, always watching the dog for signs of discomfort. If you’re unsure how to make an exposure less overwhelming to start with, think about how you can manage factors such as noise level, amount of the stimulus, and invasiveness or distance from the scary thing. You can enhance the desensitization sessions by adding really yummy treats, called counter-conditioning, this technique involves the animal experiencing a very tolerable exposure to a stimulus, followed by a delicious treat. To build your dog’s confidence in a more general way, provide them with enrichment activities and relationship-based training. Simply feeding your dog via food puzzles and getting them involved in nose work can make them more confident. Training your dog using positive reinforcement teaches them that making decisions and engaging with you and the environment earns them good things like treats and praise. Proceed at whatever pace your dog appears to feel safe. Implementing desensitization and counter-conditioning effectively is all about timing and knowing when to move forward and when to go back to the previous step.

Helping a anxious dog is best accomplished in small incremental steps. Too big of a step can cause the dog to regress when helping a dog who came from an abusive background. One of the tips I shared was what I like to call Petting with a Purpose. You can learn how to use this positive dog training method to build up a scared dogs confidence. By giving attention within 3 seconds any time Stella does a desired action while marking it with the command word, the guardian can help her increase her confidence and start offering desired behaviors. Just like humans, dogs get a boost of self esteem when they master new skills. Id love for the guardian to teach Stella a new trick or command a week until she knows 10 or more. Bringing in new people who join or take the dog for walks will be a powerful part of her transition from fearful dog to a confident one. If these people give her space, don’t try to engage and stick to walking at first, the variety and practice can help this fearful rescue dog gain confidence in herself and humans.

The best way to help a shy or fearful dog gain confidence is to expose them to what frightens them at a low intensity. Pair this exposure with something positive, like a tasty treat. This is called counter conditioning and desensitization, and when done successfully, it helps them feel more comfortable around the source of their fear. Most fearful dogs gradually improve with time, training, and trust. Treats and happy, positive interactions can go a long way, but don’t expect a total transformation. Build up trust with your dog before bringing them to public settings like the dog park, a friend’s house, or a dog-friendly restaurant or brewery. Putting your dog in a stressful situation will set their progress back. Go slow and give them time to gain confidence and trust. Allow your dog time to get used to people, and instruct others to ignore your dog, and let your dog decide whether they want to approach someone.