How to build trust with a timid rescue dog?
Oma Stanton
2025-06-09 12:35:30
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Give them amazing treats, the purpose of the treats is to get a skittish dog to associate you with positive emotions, and the better the treats are, the easier that is. Experiment with a few kinds to see which are most appealing to them. Speak in a soothing voice and avoid staring at your dog. Don't wear a hat or backpack or carry things when they're around and let them approach you rather than you going to them. Turn a little to the side or crouch down, which will make you less intimidating. Be patient, early experiences – a factor that is beyond your control – may limit a skittish dog’s capacity to interact. Continue to accept them for who they are as an individual, respecting their limits and their timeline rather than pushing them to be like most dogs. Be patient and gentle, eventually, your dog’s trust in you will grow and their fear will diminish.
Rudolph Sipes
2025-06-09 11:41:28
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: 9
To help a shy or fearful dog gain confidence, expose them to what frightens them at a low intensity and pair this exposure with something positive, like a tasty treat. Allow your dog time to get used to people, and instruct others to ignore your dog, letting them decide whether they want to approach someone. Dogs that adjust on their own are more likely to approach people safely. Approach dogs at their level, crouch down or sit on the floor, and don't stand over a dog. Throw out treats, decreasing the distance for a safe interaction, and don't interact with them until they're ready to take a treat from your hand. 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, so go slow and give them time to gain confidence and trust. Be your dog's best advocate, and keep an eye on their body language to get to know their signs of stress or fear. If strangers approach your dog and you don't feel they're ready to meet, it's always okay to say no and step between your dog and the other person.
Judah Ullrich
2025-06-09 10:08:59
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: 9
Building trust and a positive relationship with a scared dog is a process that involves teaching your dog they can count on you not to scare them and to teach them that you are a network of support for them. All dogs need their owner to advocate for them and their emotions. Protecting them from situations that frighten them and working with them gradually to overcome their fears at their own pace it takes a lot of time and understanding as it is a process that cannot be rushed. A nervous dog needs you to provide lots of positive experiences that are not scary and that the dog can handle. Be the source of what makes them happy and what they enjoy so you are the one they count on. Be calm around your nervous dog. Give them good quality food rewards. The purpose of the food rewards is to get a skittish dog to associate a situation or a new person with positive emotions. Be patient with them, accept a skittish dog for who they are and meet them where they are at, dont let unrealist timelines or expectations for them, be calm, gentle and patient.