One of the saddest things is the number of people who misunderstand fearful dogs, and in trying to make things better for their dogs actually make it worse. Fearful dogs are nearly always lacking strong pack leaders, and their owners are often the kindest and gentlest people! They want nothing more than to see their dog live the kind of life that all the other dogs are living, happy, fun, and free.
What they fail to recognize is that their dog is actually scared because the owner is giving them the message that the dog is the pack leader. Their dog, like many, is not able to handle the pressure, nor should they be expected to.
Let me describe a scenario. If you are 4 years old and find yourself in the dark woods with your younger sister, and there is a strange noise or a person coming towards you, then you may very well be afraid. However, if one of your parents were there with you, everything would be fine. That is because you would not be in charge! This is how it is for your dog when you make him the pack leader. Dogs are terrified and just want to get home safe and alive.
All the responsibility is on your dog’s shoulders and they are not able to handle it in this human world. There are far too many strange things for them to make decisions about all the time. Eventually they will snap unless you help them.
To help your dog, you must first become the pack leader; I suggest that the best way to do this is through watching videos rather than through reading. Here are a few things that you should remember when working with a fearful dog.
- They can change but will struggle if you try to push it too fast.
- You must become the pack leader – there are some great video sites now that show you exactly how to become the pack leader; don’t just read about it.
- Ask your friends to ignore your dog when they first meet her.
- People should not approach your dog, but rather wait until she is calm before calling her over.
- If she doesn’t come over, then she is too scared and you must leave her alone.
A good video-based website will show you exactly how to put all of this into place, so you can sit back, watch, and learn.
Establishing yourself as the pack leader is the foundation to any success with fearful dogs. Until you recognize this and put it in place, you will never be in a position to help your dog.
One of the best sites around is The Online Dog trainer. It has fantastic videos on establishing yourself as the pack leader and also shows you how to give confidence to fearful dogs. CLICK HERE for more: THE ONLINE DOG TRAINER