Features

September 2011 Issue

By PAT MILLER, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, CDBC

This Aussie – hiding behind his owner, ears back, worried expression on his face – could benefit from some confidence-building. Giving him something easy and fun to do would help distract him from what’s making him anxious.

Building Your Dog's Confidence Up

How to help your timid dog find courage.

There are a lot of things in our world that have the potential to frighten our dogs. How is it that some dogs deal with these stimuli without batting an eye, while others cower behind their owners with little or no apparent provocation? The Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz seems to say it all in one simple word: “Courage!” But it’s really not so simple. Why do some dogs seem to be consistently brave, while others are timid? Even more important, absent Dorothy and a wizard, how does one go about helping their timid dog get brave?

To continue reading this entire article you must be a paid subscriber.

Subscribe to Whole Dog Journal

Get the next year of WHOLE DOG JOURNAL for just $20. And access all of our online content - 1,000 dog training, health and nutrition articles- free of charge.

That's a savings of $9 off the regular rate. Or subscribe for two years for $30 and save even more. It's like getting the second year free.

Already subscribe but haven't registered for all the benefits of the website? Click here.

Subscriber Log In

Forgot your password? Click Here.