How to help a nervous anxious dog

Over and over again, I see people allow their dogs to seek refuge under tables, chairs or under a bed. This is the equivalent of letting your child stay in the car instead of attend class, a social event or go to a friends house forever.

As long as you let them flee, they will never get through it.

You may excuse yourself into letting them because they are afraid, but never teaching them confidence keeps them in a place of fear their entire life.

The shocking thing for most dog owners these days is that their dog honestly does not have a grasp of the English language.

Everything is a picture to your dog.

Whatever words you use to capture the moment, your dog takes on as the name of what they are actually doing. Often the meaning you intend misses the dog's interpretation entirely.

Your dog starts shaking when he sees another dog. You pet him and tell him, "It's okay." You just captured the moment. He's shaking you told him it's okay to shake.

Honestly, your dog has no concept that you are trying console them out of the behavior. You just rewarded your dog for nervous behavior.

You've got to be the advocate for your dog. Just because a dear friend of yours wants your dog to play with hers so badly doesn't mean you have to give it a try knowing it's not going to be okay.

Just say no.

Yes, given the right steps to get a dog from fearful to confident is possible. In fact that is what you should be focusing on, but expecting to go from fearful to social butterfly in one meeting because your friend insists her dogs likes all dogs is unrealistic.

You dog isn't made of glass. Promise.

There's a difference between pushing them too far and having expectations they will be okay to exposing them so they can begin the desensitization process.

Your dog is afraid of people or other dogs. Take them to a big wide open park where there are a few people or dogs in big open spaces. Keep a bit of distance and get some exposure. Advocate for your dog if some random wants to "say hi"... "No, not now, we're working on a few things," and move along.

If you never expose to the the big scary things your dog will never get over it. Baby steps apply here.

Especially if your dog is nervous nelly, letting her do whatever she wants isn't going to help. Use a leash to help with clear direction on a walk. Use place or "park it" to teach a solid stay!

Letting your dog wander around with a general feeling of anxiety isn't going to help anything. Giving clear direction will.

It's like you starting a new job you've never done before. If no one gives you clear direction and you're left to figure it out on your own, you're uneasy, unsure, nervous. If someone shows you exactly what to do you gain confidence with knowing exactly what you are supposed to be doing.

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