Just as humans can be shy, dogs can be shy too. Shyness may manifest itself in certain behaviors, including the following: crouching; ears held flat against the head; inappropriate panting; inappropriate or spontaneous urination; lack of eye contact; raised hackles; and/or tucking the tail between the legs.
Shyness is most often the result of insufficient socialization at a young age. Young dogs must be exposed to an assortment of new people, places and situations. This gives them the foundation for how to appropriately behave in these situations throughout the rest of their life. If not well socialized, dogs may react to new or unfamiliar things with shyness, timidity, or they may even be skittish. Other times, dogs may become shy as a result of frequent changes in owners or homes or from a past history of abuse.
With lots of love and patience, you can correct your dog's shyness. One of the first things that you need to do, hard as it might sound, is to refrain from comforting or coddling your dog when he shies away from a situation. If you do comfort him, you're only reinforcing and rewarding his shy behavior. Remember that you are your dog's leader and he will look to you for guidance. You can also get the help of a friend or acquaintance who your dog is less familiar with. Have your friend stand a few feet away from your dog with some treats or one of your dog's toys. The friend should toss the treat or toy to your dog then walk away. Keep repeating this exercise, gradually moving the friend closer to your dog each time. Eventually your dog will begin to associate strangers with good things and he should become more comfortable around unfamiliar people. If you're still at a loss, however, consider enlisting the help of a good professional trainer or behaviorist. |
