How to Build Your Dog’s Confidence
To achieve a sense of security in life, a substantial dose of confidence is essential. This holds true for our canine companions as well. For a lack of self-assurance can result in uncertainty, and nervousness has the potential to transform into fear. Join us as we delve into the art of nurturing your furry friend's self-assured nature...
Soft starter to boost your dog's confidence
Tracking work, every dog's ego boost! Because they're usually really good at it. And doing something you're good at gives a confidence boost. So take your dog scent tracking, see the trainings in Petli.
Balance exercises strengthens self-confidence as physical and mental balance are connected. Start with low and broad obstacles. It should be easy, not scary. Provide support to the dog if needed. Check out Petli's balance exercises.
Explore! Let our dog explore new environments at his/her own pace. The more places you dog handles with ease, the cooler your dog becomes.
Reward based dog training Letting a dog to figure out how to get a reward from you develops confidence if done correctly. Try clicker training. Start with something simple, like pushing a soccer ball or Spinn (see the training in the Petli app). Have several simple steps so the dog succeeds frequently. If using a clicker, weave in cheerful cheers, play, and movement in training.
I won! Wrestle and let your dog win. Cheer and celebrate the dog's victory!
Challenging exercises to boost self-confidence
Start next to each other, you beside your dog, and kick away a ball (hold onto the leash if the dog can't stay). After a "Ready, set, go!" you race towards the ball. Here too, the dog should win and be celebrated properly!
Trickery. Dribble away and let the dog chase after. When the dog puts its paw on or bites the ball, you fall to the ground as if tackled. Some dogs find it fun. Others sigh, raise their paws towards the sky, and roll their eyes at their silly human. Either way, you'll share a laugh.
Barking training. Preferably with the dog stood on a rock or a hight. Barking is the opposite of holding back. So let your dog bark and feel like a lion on it's rock.
Balance exercises are now made more challenging with higher or moving obstacles. Have your dog in a harness with a handle, this way you can support her/him when the obstacle starts to wobble. Again, the goal is to playfully succeed, not fall down.
Stand tall Retrieving, tracking, weight-pull, whatever makes your dog stand tall and proud. Do it, and do it often!
Exercises for problem solving and emotional growth
Problem-solving. Let your dog independently solve tasks and succeed; interactive toys, food in a can inside a box found after the dog follows a scent track, retrieving objects, treat searches on unfamiliar surfaces like metal, tarp, ladder, grid.
Emotional counterconditioning. Change your dog's feeling towards stimuli that cause discomfort, such as; sounds, encounters with other dogs, skateboarders, or rain for instance. Confronting fears and changing feelings is like weeding where self-confidence should grow. Your dog deserves that. If you are interested in understanding more about Shy Dogs – How to Respect Their Boundaries can be very helpful.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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