{"id":16301,"date":"2021-08-27T07:18:37","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T13:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/?p=16301"},"modified":"2021-08-26T08:24:23","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T14:24:23","slug":"how-to-build-a-dogs-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/dogs\/how-to-build-a-dogs-confidence","title":{"rendered":"How to Build a Dog\u2019s Confidence with Patience, Distance, and Positive Reinforcement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While many dogs are outgoing and full of energy, some dogs are insecure and very timid. Just like people, dogs can also lack confidence. These dogs need a little loving positive reinforcement to build up their self-esteem. By learning how to build a dog&#8217;s confidence, you can boost their overall quality of life and wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of ways you can build your dog&#8217;s confidence to help make him feel more secure. Let&#8217;s start with the basics behind why your dog might lack confidence, then look at several confidence-building exercises and positive reinforcement training techniques you can use to help your best buddy out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Your Dog&#8217;s Confidence Is Low<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16173\" src=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/dog-ears.jpg\" alt=\"dog tear stain\" width=\"1200\" height=\"700\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of reasons you might have a fearful dog. It&#8217;s possible he is genetically predisposed toward cautious behavior or he might have had a bad experience at one time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More likely, however, your dog&#8217;s confidence is low because he wasn&#8217;t socialized very well when he was a puppy. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/dogs\/dog-socialization\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">socialization period for puppies is usually between about 3 and 14<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> weeks of age. If they are exposed to novel experiences and new situations without any scary things happening during that time, they will develop a good sense of confidence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If, on the other hand, your pooch learns that the world is unsafe and scary, he is more likely to be an <a href=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/pets\/8-signs-of-stress-in-pets-and-how-to-relieve-them\">anxious<\/a>, fearful dog when he grows up. When that critical socialization window closes, then your dog&#8217;s confidence is generally set.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They don&#8217;t stop learning, however. So it&#8217;s possible that dog training can help your best friend to build confidence. But why is it important for your dog to be confident?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Is Your Dog&#8217;s Confidence Important?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16230\" src=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/wobble2.jpg\" alt=\"woman with dog\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helping your dog build confidence<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will help him to take the stresses of daily life in stride. There are lots of scary things out there that can cause a stress reaction in your dog, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and over time, high levels of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/general-health\/6-ways-stress-affects-your-dogs-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stress-related hormones can really take a toll on his health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s really important for your pooch to be a confident dog rather than a shy dog. Confident dogs take those stressors in stride. Though he might startle when there&#8217;s a loud noise, the confident dog recovers quickly and goes back to what he was doing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What&#8217;s more, if he&#8217;s a shy dog, he might respond to those stressors with behaviors that can easily be misinterpreted as aggressive responses. When he cowers and vocalizes in a nervous way, he&#8217;s signaling his fear, but to onlookers, it might seem like aggression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important for your dog to build confidence, but how can you build your dog&#8217;s confidence? Let&#8217;s look at some great ways to do just that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start with Basic Dog Training<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s always a good idea to begin with some dog training to teach your dog basic obedience. Each time you go for a walk, take some treats to keep your dog&#8217;s attention. Work with your best friend by using some basic commands and confidence-building exercises. As he is able to successfully do what you ask of him, he&#8217;ll start to gain confidence and feel less timid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s important to note that when it comes to confidence-building training with fearful dogs, patience is key. <strong>Nothing can be rushed.<\/strong> Let your dog go at its own pace. Progress with not happen overnight so set your expectations accordingly.<\/p>\n<h3>&#8220;Look at me&#8221; and targeting cues<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15156\" src=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/lifejacket.jpg\" alt=\"dog by the pool in a dog life jacket\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One good thing to do is teach your dog a &#8220;look at me&#8221; cue which can be followed by the sit and stay command. This will help keep your dog&#8217;s attention on you when a scary person or a scary thing gets close to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A great way to get your dog&#8217;s attention is clicker training. This is where you use one of those hand-held clickers to make a noise that immediately gets him to look in your direction. When he looks at you, you can then give him <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/dogs\/5-basic-commands-to-teach-your-new-puppy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the sit and stay command<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and a good dose of positive reinforcement to let him know he did a good job.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way to do this is to teach your dog the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.theanxiouspet.com\/fear\/how-to-build-a-dogs-confidence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;touch&#8221; or targeting technique<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is where you teach your pooch to place his nose or paw against a part of your body like your palm. You need to teach them a cue for this and practice it often. Again, clicker training is a good cue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Present your open palm to your dog and when he gets close to sniff it, click and praise him with lots of positive reinforcement and a treat. Once he gets used to this, &#8220;name&#8221; the behavior by clicking and then saying something like &#8220;touch&#8221; as he touches your palm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Pairing &#8220;touch&#8221; with scary situations<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After some practice sessions, you can then simply ask him to &#8220;touch&#8221; and when he does, be sure to give him more praise. Once he has this behavior down cold, you can begin pairing it with those scary things that trigger an emotional response in your dog. Over time, you can successfully redirect that frightened emotional response into a positive experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, as your dog learns new skills, you&#8217;ll find he doesn&#8217;t cower as much and he&#8217;s much more confident in your training sessions. He&#8217;s learning he can trust the world and you to keep him safe. He&#8217;s also learning he will be rewarded through positive reinforcement when he gets it right rather than punished with negative conditioning when he makes a mistake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s look at some more techniques you can use to build confidence in your dog.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helping Your Dog Build Confidence with Desensitization<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-15310\" src=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Denver-Urban-Pack_1.jpg\" alt=\"denver most dog-friendly cities\" width=\"1200\" height=\"826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Denver-Urban-Pack_1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Denver-Urban-Pack_1-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Denver-Urban-Pack_1-768x529.jpg 768w, https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Denver-Urban-Pack_1-1024x705.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of dog desensitization techniques you can use to help them build confidence. One technique is to repeatedly expose your pooch to the scary thing that has him feeling timid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You want to be careful not to overdo this. However, if it is done correctly, he will begin to feel less scared around the thing that usually has him running for cover. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You&#8217;ll want to watch his body language as you expose him to whatever he&#8217;s afraid of. As he seems more comfortable, you can slowly start to increase his exposure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if your dog is frightened of people or other dogs, you might start by practicing with this problem while you\u2019re going on walks. When you see other people or dogs getting close, get your dog\u2019s attention with either your \u201clook at me\u201d or \u201ctouch\u201d cues. Give him plenty of reassurance and watch his body language carefully to see how he is feeling. Continue giving him lots of positive reinforcement to help make him feel secure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start out with walks in places that aren\u2019t very crowded, but as your dog shows more signs of feeling comfortable, you can start walking in more crowded areas. Always check his behavior and keep him at a safe distance until he feels more confident. You can use this technique for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">any scary thing that frightens your dog from trucks to <a href=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/dogs\/why-do-dogs-hate-vacuums\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vacuums<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confidence-Building Exercises with Friends<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16159\" src=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/dog-visitors.jpg\" alt=\"signs of stress in dogs\" width=\"1200\" height=\"700\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few other examples of how to help your dog build confidence. If your dog&#8217;s afraid to meet new dogs, ask a friend with a well-socialized dog to help you out. You can walk with your dogs parallel to each other, but far enough away that the two pooches can&#8217;t actually touch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As your dog&#8217;s confidence builds with this new friend, you can start to move closer to one another. Before too long, he&#8217;ll have a new best dog friend he feels comfortable around, and he may even start playing too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, let&#8217;s imagine your dog is afraid of men. Ask a male friend to help you build confidence in your canine buddy. Have him sit a safe distance away from your dog and just have your dog sit and stay with you next to him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ask your male friend to start talking in a calm, soothing voice, and let your dog get used to that. As your dog gets more comfortable, ask your friend to move closer and talk to you. Always check your <a href=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/dogs\/how-to-read-dog-body-language\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dog&#8217;s body language<\/a> to make sure he&#8217;s not becoming too stressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Distance is your best friend<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be sure to proceed at the pace your dog is comfortable with and slowly move the man closer until he&#8217;s right next to you. Use your &#8220;touch&#8221; and &#8220;look at me&#8221; techniques to keep your dog&#8217;s attention on you and help him feel secure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You probably notice these training methods all share some common features. First, you start by introducing the scary thing at a safe distance. You only move the scary thing closer when your dog gets comfortable with it. If your dog cannot be calm as the thing gets closer and cannot recover with more distance, then he is what trainers call \u201cover threshold.\u201d In this case, pause the training exercise and try again another time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You also use lots of positive reinforcement to help your pooch feel like a good dog! You never want to use negative reinforcement as that will undermine his confidence in himself and you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counter-conditioning Training Techniques<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16148\" src=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/39A9779.jpg\" alt=\"dog and human in park\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another type of dog training is called counter-conditioning. This involves using a tolerable exposure level to scary things and following that exposure with a delicious treat. This should be something he loves but doesn&#8217;t normally get.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a tolerable level of exposure differs for every dog and also the problem he has. For example, your dog might not like having his feet touched, and he might not even tolerate your hand getting too close to his feet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this level of discomfort, you&#8217;d need to start by having your hand on the floor a safe distance away from his feet. Give him his treat as a reward, then, you can slowly move your hand closer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should always give him a treat each time you move your hand closer until you&#8217;re finally able to touch his feet. Basically, you&#8217;re trying to reverse his conditioning. He&#8217;s been conditioned to feel insecure about his feet being touched. You&#8217;re trying to turn that negative experience into a positive one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Note: This is a great technique for vet visits.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This technique is really all about timing. You have to watch your dog carefully to know when you can move forward and when you need to go back if it&#8217;s too much. Over time, this counter-conditioning can really turn your fearful dog into a new, confident dog, and it will build his trust in you too.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Confidence Booster Tips<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16224\" src=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/planetball.jpg\" alt=\"how to build a dogs confidence\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/planetball.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/planetball-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/planetball-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/planetball-1024x683.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also some general things you can do to build your dog&#8217;s confidence. You can feed your dog using food puzzles and get him involved in nose work. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/dogs\/diy-dog-enrichment-toys\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food puzzles are toys<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that contain holes at each end. You put food or treats inside and your dog has to maneuver the toy to get at them. When he does, be sure to praise him extensively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nose work is a type of dog training that uses your dog&#8217;s natural ability to hunt. He is trained to look for one of three scents that you can hide just about anywhere. There are competitions for this where dogs search in containers or vehicles and inside or outside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nose work is a great way to build your dog&#8217;s confidence because the more positive experiences he has, the more excited and eager he will be to have new experiences and adventures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shy dogs often have problems that can lead to illness or dangerous misbehavior. That&#8217;s part of why it&#8217;s so important to help your pooch be a confident dog. These various training methods can help, but if you&#8217;ve tried everything and your dog is still having problems, it might be time to consult with a veterinary behaviorist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">professional dog trainer<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> might also have some more suggestions for helping build your dog&#8217;s confidence. You want your best friend to be healthy, confident, and happy so he can enjoy new experiences with his best friend &#8212; you!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While many dogs are outgoing and full of energy, some dogs are insecure and very&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6125,"featured_media":16224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[419,935],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Build a Dog\u2019s Confidence with Positive Reinforcement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this post you&#039;ll discover several techniques for how to build a dog\u2019s confidence so he can be happier and healthier.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/dogs\/how-to-build-a-dogs-confidence\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Build a Dog\u2019s Confidence with Patience, Distance, and Positive Reinforcement\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Just like it is in people, it\u2019s important for your dog to build confidence in his abilities and in you. 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