Don’t reward timidness or fear. Dogs can sense your energy. If your dog becomes afraid or scared, and you instantly begin petting him and making a fuss over him, you are now rewarding that undesirable behavior. Too much compassion can harm your dog’s development even more.
Start off small and ensure that your dog achieves small successes. Each of these small successes builds self-confidence, helping manifest a more confident and happy dog. To do this, the dog has to experience many new situations every day. Even just walking down a busy street can help expose your dog to new activities that will help desensitize him to the world. Remain calm and assertive throughout the process. If your dog senses that you are anxious or reacting negatively to his fear, it will only perpetuate his fear. Never deal with a timid dog when you are feeling short-tempered or distracted. Any dog, especially one that has such low self-esteem, is extremely sensitive to what you do. [2] X Research source
Look for treats that are healthy, made without the use of any preservatives. Make sure that they’re grain-free, and that they contain meat. [3] X Research source Take treats with you when you take your dog out with you. This way, you can train and reward them on the go.
Be patient. Eventually, this integration with the world can lead to a significantly less timid dog, one who can appreciate his surroundings without fear clouding his behavior. [4] X Research source
It takes time to get to know your dog and their distinct personality. If you’ve only been around this dog a few days, don’t rush things. You and your dog will bond and get to know one another soon enough.
Get up and walk confidently away, saying “come!” happily while holding the leash. Do not look at him, but look forward. Pull your timid dog gently along behind you. Try coaxing him out with the promise of a treat. Don’t even try working on any commands until your shy dog will follow you around without dragging on the leash. Once he’s following you reliably, reach to pet him without making eye contact, and reward with plenty of treats.
Give your dog plenty of time outside, especially if he is a larger dog. Give him time to pick his own spot to relieve himself. If you have a much larger dog and you can’t pick him up, take the dog out more often. If you catch the dog peeing in the house, give a firm No, but do not yell. Lead the dog outside and reward the dog for continuing outside.
You may need to bring your timid dog out on a leash. You may need to gently drag him. The important thing is you establish a comfortable, low-pressure dynamic. Let your timid dog get used to sharing a space with both you and the more confident dog. If your shy dog even takes a few steps toward you, reward him by throwing a treat toward him. Gradually throw the treats closer and closer to you, until the dog will come all the way to you! Sitting on the ground makes you less scary, and the dog will be more likely to want to approach you. With a very shy dog, you may have to lay flat on the ground!
Don’t hold on for too long–just enough that he gets the message. Don’t grab too tight, and do not hurt the dog. You don’t want him to feel threatened, you only want him to stop biting you. Remember that biting is natural for dogs. If your dog is biting you, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t like you. Do not be offended. Try to understand where your dog is coming from.
When you are just beginning to train, you may need to show your dog that you want him to sit. Give the command, then push on his rear just enough that he relaxes and sits. Reward and repeat.
Consider bringing your dog to obedience school. A structured, rewarding learning environment can help some dogs progress much more quickly. Consider visiting obedience-training tutorial websites. Look for YouTube tutorials. Some experienced dog trainers have posted step-by-step videos or instructions on how to teach your dog various tricks.
