Best Paw Forward: Bringing Out the Best in Shy Dogs Cherie Mascis, Dogtown Manager, CPDT-KA What is a shy dog? What kind of dog do you picture? July 14 17, 2016 1
July 14 17, 2016 2
July 14 17, 2016 3
Signs of fear Panting Drooling Dilated pupils Head turn Lip lick How fear manifests Flight Freeze Fool around Fight July 14 17, 2016 4
Where do shy dogs come from? Hoarding Puppy mills Dog-fight busts Street dogs, strays and ferals Natural disasters Shy mother dogs Bad experiences during the fear periods Genetics Physical problems Lack of socialization July 14 17, 2016 5
Considering foster care? Some dogs can go directly into foster care (with an experienced caregiver) or after some initial socialization. A house inspection is recommended. Pros More personal attention Home-like environment Foster homes with other well-socialized dogs may be beneficial Cons Increased escape possibilities More potential hiding places Less opportunity for socialization July 14 17, 2016 6
Foster care considerations Doors Fencing Windows (even second stories)! A high-traffic home can increase escape possibilities. Make an airlock Use a screened porch Go in and out garage Use another room as main housing Baby gates Exercise (X) pen July 14 17, 2016 7
Provide a quiet, safe spot that is only for the dog: Spare bedroom Spare bathroom Quiet office Crate Make it welcoming Fluffy bed Calming music Aromatherapy July 14 17, 2016 8
Housing in a facility Kennel: Choose an area with Low noise Less foot traffic Outgoing and calmer dog neighbors Offices: Usually quieter More homey environment Dog gets used to the coming and going of non-threatening people July 14 17, 2016 9
Space Large Pros Can be helpful short-term Sees people and dogs at a distance Cons Allows Cons dog to learn to avoid fed with no pressure Difficult for catching for walks or medical Small Pros Cons Generally Still need adequate smaller is flight better distance Learns May feel that trapped people and can bite be close and not hurt them July 14 17, 2016 10
How can we help? Human body language Dogs learn a lot from our behavior, even when they re not social. Be still! Act normal Move slowly Don t speak or speak in quiet tones If safe, get down to the dog s level July 14 17, 2016 11
Human body language DO NOT put your face in the dog s face. DO NOT hold your hand out toward the dog. July 14 17, 2016 12
DO NOT lean over the dog. DO NOT corner the dog. Give him as much space as available. July 14 17, 2016 13
Yikes! July 14 17, 2016 14
Our emotions Need to be very patient No ego Calm: Our excitement might be scary for them! How long does it take? The dog s level of fear/shyness will influence the progression Depends upon the time you have to dedicate to them Your skill level July 14 17, 2016 15
Rewards Food Toys Safe places Fun places Taking away pressure July 14 17, 2016 16
Where to start Sitting quietly Do everyday activities around them Dog looks at you: Reward by leaving Dog looks at you: Toss treat, leave Work through a barrier Helper dog Utilizing food Tossing treats as you walk by Tossing treats while sitting outside a gate Tossing treats while sitting inside at a distance Putting food in the bowl and gradually moving it closer Making a trail toward you Putting treats on your legs July 14 17, 2016 17
Hand-feeding Once the dog starts associating you with treats, start hand-feeding. Squat if safe Offer in front Offer to the side or behind Offer in a bowl Change position or height of your hand Helper dogs Housing with social dogs who are comfortable with people Provides emotional comfort Increased relaxation Learn by observing other dogs being comfortable with us July 14 17, 2016 18
Shy dog class Several shy dogs and one or two confident dogs No one approaches Just conversational talking Leashing Slip leash Slow, sideways approach Wide loop Attach short tab leash Have collar, harness and/or drag line put on when neutered July 14 17, 2016 19
Walks Leashless walks in enclosed space Walk another dog in the run Take for walks with other dogs July 14 17, 2016 20
Play dates Provide socialization for dogs who can t live with others Learn dog skills Have fun around people without having to interact July 14 17, 2016 21
Bret and Simon, part 2 Helper dog walks July 14 17, 2016 22
Helper human walks Hard to catch Use a drag line Follow the dog: Stop when the dog stops Gradually get closer Use non-threatening body language Herd the dog into a smaller area Feed in a smaller area Take the run mates for walks Have the person the dog is comfortable with leash him and pass the leash to a new person July 14 17, 2016 23
Training Training is not a luxury, but a key component to good animal care. Everyone who has a pet should understand that basic fact. Training is a way to enhance the quality of life for our pets. It is far more than just teaching a dog to do a cute trick. Training is about teaching a dog (or any animal) how to live in our world safely. Ken Ramirez July 14 17, 2016 24
Target training Touch Hand-feeding and walking on leash first Dog has a choice Target training July 14 17, 2016 25
Skipper Miss Missouri July 14 17, 2016 26
Safer travel A stay at the vet s Crate training Good start for house-training Familiar environment in a new home Mobile adoptions Safe method to expose them to new environments Basic training Manners Focus (name recognition) Sit Wait for food and at doors 4 on the floor Loose-leash walking Recall A trick July 14 17, 2016 27
Reactive dogs Find the Trigger Which Fears? Is the dog scared of: People? Dogs (other animals)? Noises? There could be more than one trigger July 14 17, 2016 28
Find the threshold The point at which the dog can no longer tolerate the trigger before reacting Gate-reactive dogs July 14 17, 2016 29
Move dog to a quieter location Treat buckets on all doors 1. Toss as you walk by, no eye contact 2. Pause, toss a treat 3. Wait for eye contact, toss treat 4. Ask for sit or down, toss treat If the dogs are facing each other: Put a friendly dog across from the reactive dog Use visual barriers July 14 17, 2016 30
Leash-reactive dogs Some training methods Classical conditioning Parallel walking Watch me Find it LAT: Look At That! July 14 17, 2016 31
Calming caps Expanding their horizons July 14 17, 2016 32
Go for a ride! Feeding near the car Feeding in the car Walking through the car Train to jump in and out Sit in a running car Short trips July 14 17, 2016 33
Enrichment July 14 17, 2016 34
Do it yourself Nose work July 14 17, 2016 35
Agility Chet July 14 17, 2016 36
Adoption Our adoption coordinators say that shy dogs are their favorite to place! Success story July 14 17, 2016 37
Resources bestfriends.org/resources/dogs fearfuldogs.com The Cautious Canine by Patricia McConnell: patriciamcconnell.com/store/the-cautious-canine.html On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Ruugas BlackWing Farms: blackwingfarms.com Through a Dog s Ear: soundstrue.com Dog appeasing pheromone: dogappeasingpheromone.com Clicker training: clickertraining.com Lili Chin: doggiedrawings.net July 14 17, 2016 38