What if my puppy is scared during socialization?

When you have a scared puppy that is fearful of people, keep up your socializing efforts, but with a twist. Your new goal is to work on making people "no big deal". To begin making people "no big deal" take your puppy for a walk and simply walk past people without stopping. If the people want to stop and pet puppy, tell them "No, sorry he's in training right now." If your puppy barks at people, ignore the barking and move away to a place to give your puppy distance from the people. Slowly work at lessening the distance. Harness the power of "cookies" to speed up the process! When your puppy notices a stranger approaching, call your dogs name and when he looks at you, say "yes" or click a clicker and reward with your puppy's favorite treat. This accomplishes two things: First, it helps with your training your puppy to pay attention to you even when distracted and second, it associates strangers with yummy treats. With several sessions of practice of making people "no big deal", your puppy should start to feel more comfortable with people coming and going around him. Continue not allowing people to greet your puppy until you start to see him getting interested in other people and perhaps begin to want to go up to people and greet them.

If your dog demonstrates any of these behaviors, don’t force them to interact with whatever it is that’s causing their fear. Your dog is telling you they’re uncomfortable, and, if pushed, it could lead to snapping or even biting. So give your canine companion some space. Be your dog’s best advocate! Keep an eye on their body language and get to know their signs of stress or fear. Dogs learn from positive association. 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. Putting your dog in a stressful situation will set their progress back. Go slow and give them time to gain confidence and trust. If your dog reacts aggressively — such as barking, lunging, or growling at other dogs — don’t feel too discouraged! Remember, it’s all about taking things slow and working with your dog as they gain more confidence.