While waiting for Rosie’s vet appointment the other day, I was captivated by a six month old Neapolitan Mastiff puppy just finishing his visit. His person was justifiably proud of him, and his adorable wrinkles and goofy puppy personality drew people to him like a magnet. He was “small” at 87 pounds, and was likely to top two hundred pounds at maturity.
Although eager to meet dogs and cats alike, every single time a person approached him for a pet, he flinched slightly and retreated to his person’s side. His person acknowledged that he was “wary” of people, but left him to sort out the attention on his own. This is pure conjecture, but I imagine that she hoped in time that he would outgrow his shyness as long as he was exposed to enough nice people.
Without dedication, commitment and careful planning, shyness doesn’t typically disappear. You have to be your dog’s advocate, and set him up to succeed.
Here are four simple ways to help your dog navigate some tough situations:
Know your environment. If your dog is challenged by strangers, dogs, vet’s offices, etc. don’t ask him to interact with the very things that concern him in an already stressful situation. Make your vet appointment first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening. Wait in your car or in a secluded spot and ask the staff to text or call you when an exam room is clear so you can walk straight in with your dog, rather than get stressed the waiting room. Immediately after the visit, let the staff know that you will put your dog back in the car (temperature permitting) and come back alone to settle your bill.
Be proactive. If a person approaches asking to pet your dog, put your hand up like a stop sign, step forward in front of your dog, smile, and say that your dog is in training and can’t interact with people “right now”. I find the hand up stops people faster than a lengthy explanation.
Flip the script. If your dog is interested AND relaxed (and the person can follow simple instructions), ask if your dog can approach the person (instead of the person coming up to the dog). The “dog in training” line works well here, too; “My dog is in training, and you can help by standing quietly, so he can sniff and walk away”. Be ready to ask your dog to come back to you after a second or two and reward him with a tasty treat, then walk away while thanking the person for their help.
Exit with confidence. When you can’t ensure a safe, successful encounter, calmly retreat. Call your dog to you happily, make a U turn and head off in a different direction. Use parked cars, trees, bushes, etc. as visual barriers to shield you and your dog from whatever concerns him.
Photo Credit: dogwallpapers.com
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