Caring for a timid rescue dog may be one of the biggest training challenges out there. It is important that a timid dog be in a quiet home. Screaming children, loud music, and active households are not a suitable home for a timid dog. In order to care for your timid dog, it is important that you know why she is the way she is. Sadly, a large majority of rescue dogs do become timid. Sometimes, the shelter itself is a traumatic experience, often times dirty, noisy, and the dogs rarely receive the attention they so desperatly need.
Journaling is a great way to document your dog's progress and weaknesses. Record your dog's behaviors and remember to make note of time, location, weather and any other pertinent information involved in the incident. After a couple of weeks, you will begin to notice a pattern in your dog's behavior. Once you know what causes the behavior, you can take then take the steps to correcting it.
SOCIALIZATION: Between the ages of five months to seven months, dogs are developing their socialization skills. Puppies who are in rescue situations around this detrimental time often are not socialized due to confined spaces and lack of human interaction.
Dogs may also show signs of being scared of a certain gender, or race because of a past experience. Once a traumatic experience happens whether it be abuse or accidental, dogs associate that incident with the cause. For this reason, most timid dogs are not good candidates for service work or therapy programs.
Service dogs work in many different atmospheres that would be considered stressful to most dogs. Hospitals, schools, and crowded streets are just some examples of a service dog's work environment, and they all have one thing in common: Noise.
NOISE: Noise can be a very difficult thing for a timid dog to tolerate. The dog may appear jumpy, or may try to find a safe hiding spot any time she hears a loud noise. It is possible to improve this behavior by slowly acclimating your dog to noise. Small amounts of sounds and noises that become a daily routine will eventually show your dog "This is normal, and no reason to be scared." Try introducing the sound of a bouncing ball on the floor, and slowly work your way up to banging pots. Soon, nothing will startle your dog. Always remember to praise your dog when he does not respond to the noise.
SIGHT: Many dogs become nervous around people who wear sunglasses, hats, or bulky jackets. Always take baby steps when introducing something new to your timid dog. Begin by wearing a hat yourself, praise and reward your dog. Next time, have a stranger to the dog enter the room, but do not approach the dog. Praise and reward. Finally, introduce the person to the dog calmly and reward.
GREETING: Never force a timid dog to greet someone she does not want to greet. This will only cause your dog to regress, and all your hard work will be undone.
As a general guideline, timid dogs should be introduced to one new place a week. Allow your leashed dog to walk on the ground. Never carry her. Dogs who are carried lose confidence in themselves and tend to rely more on their owners.
Allow other people to approach your dog, but it is your job to teach them how to greet your dog properly. Use caution with the types of people and animals you introduce to your dog at first. Young children are usually too overwhelming for a timid dog.
CHILDREN: Children and adults alike should be instructed on the proper way to greet your dog. Never make eye contact with a timid dog. This is considered a threat to most shy dogs, and can frighten them. Never make sudden movements, and speak calmly and quietly while approaching the dog. Be sure to offer the back of your wrist for the dog to sniff. If she shows interest, continue to scratch behind the ears, or under the chin. Never pat a nervous dog on top of the head or approach the face area. The best area to approach a dog is on her side in between her ribcage and hindquarters, sure to win over most dogs.
TRAINING: A good dog trainer can work with you and your dog and develop a plan of success that works for both you and your dog. For timid dogs, private training is recommended for personal attention. Later, a small class of three to four mildly tempered dogs would be a great encouragement tool for your dog.
Positive reinforcement training is a must for nervous dogs. In positive reinforcement training, dogs are rewarded for good behavior with praise, treats, or toys. Keep in mind, however, that some timid dogs will not accept food from a human hand without some practice.
In severe cases, formal training can not help dogs. At that point, your veterinarian should be consulted, as well as an animal behaviorist.
Dogs have the mental learning capabilities of a four-year-old child, so it is important that you remember to exercise patience and consistency in your training. Your loving approach will soon win over your dog, and she will soon be grateful for the rescue!