If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
fear, why and how to get rid of.....
Hello,
Minimizing stress is important in handling a fearful puppy. But the best way to eliminate stress for a puppy is to make every situation very clear and predictable making sure that the puppy doesn't have a bad experience when engaging with strange people or dogs. For a puppy who is too young to follow an obedience command, this means being purposeful in your own mind about what you expect from that puppy's behavior on the one hand, and how you will allow other people or dogs to behave in relation to your puppy on the other hand. Forcing unwanted contact is very unproductive, but showing increased warmth or affection to a puppy when he is acting "squirrely" unfortunately, just reinforces the behavior you are trying to eliminate. . For a puppy who is too young for obedience commands, I prefer to control the situation by not allowing people (or children) to rush into his space , but instead asking them to ignore him and allowing him the time to come forward on his own. If the puppy comes forward on his own, (or even shows greater ease with time), then this behavior should be praised and reinforced with either food or simple verbal praise and possibly by the strangers getting down low on the ground in a less dominating and physically more welcoming way. Less is more. let the dog feel he and you are in control of the situation, not the "scary" people who he is meeting. I have had good results with this technique for many puppies who are moderately to extremely shy. Be advised though, that some of this behavior (especially in it's most extreme forms) is genetically based and can indicate that there is a serious nerve problem in the dog. These dogs are extremely difficult if not impossible to rehabilitate and "coddling " them will only make it much worse. Denise |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|