Do you have a really shy puppy that you are now the proud owner of? If your dog is a toy breed, this fear based behavioral characteristic is very normal in them. It is also a fact that every litter of puppies will have one shy puppy in it, that needs different treatments than the other puppies. They will become very needy and need reinforcement from their owners, when they grow to adult dogs. Your dog may even become aggressive when she doesn't get the attention she needs to soothe her, even if she runs to you each time she is scared. This is known as fear induced aggression. You only reinforce this bad behavior if you continuously soothe your puppy when she exhibits shyness or gets afraid. It may be difficult to ignore your new puppy when she is scared and needs you, but in order to make her a social and bold pet, you have to let her know it is okay to be scared sometime. How to Help Your Shy Puppy Change You will have to be patient when helping your dog adjust and change if she is showing signs of fear and being timid early on. You have to let her know that you will not be her protector anymore. You will have to end the bad behavior she does when she is scared, no more hiding and barking behind your legs, running away from normal things of the outside world such as people walking by, wind blowing, etc. here are a few tips to help your puppy become less shy. When your family or friends approach, tell them to ignore your puppy's fear-induced crying or barking. Most people will naturally stop their approach, so your puppy learns this behavior works for her. As long as your family and friend honor your training approach, your puppy learns that her barking and crying won't work anymore. Keep your puppy secured by a lead whenever you have guests coming over. Let her remain with you the entire time while approaching your guests. When she cries, barks, or hides between your legs, be confident and don't soothe or pet her. This teaches her that her old behavior no longer works and will make her a braver puppy too. |
