Is your dog shy or nervous around other people and animals? Do they often whine or cling behind your leg when there is a situation?  If so, then your dog maybe suffering from Poor self-Confidence. While some of us might think that this is something we should not be concerned about, poor self-confidence can lead to aggression or anxiety.

Boosting your dog’s confidence requires a lot of patience and training. Dogs by nature are very sociable with people and animals. Therefore, having a dog with poor self-confidence should be a cause of concern among pet owners. Poor self-confidence can also have a negative effect on a dog’s quality of life.

Having a confident dog offers several advantages for both dog and their owners. It builds an atmosphere of trust and create a more secure relationship. This also makes dogs feel less anxious and aggressive making them more productive and less worrisome for their owners.

Signs of poor self-confidence in dogs

#1 Avoids Eye Contact

A dog suffering with poor self-confidence often avoids eye contact even with its owner. In the wild, a submissive animal lowers its head down to avoid eye contact to avoid showing aggression.

#2 Backs Away

Dogs with self-confidence issues may tend to shy away or backtrack from a person or group of persons. They tend to shy away from an outreached hand or even show some aggressive behavior while backing away.

#3 Aggressive Behavior

A dog showing his teeth or threatening to bite may not be aggressive but showing signs of poor confidence. This can be a defense mechanism whenever they feel threatened.

#4 Tail Tucking

Dogs who suddenly stops wagging his tail and tucks this between the legs can indicate fear of a person or situation. This can indicate a loss of confidence and anxiousness in their surroundings.

#5 Lowering Their Head

Another tell-tale sign of a dog suffering self-confidence issues. A dog who tends to lower their heads is clear sign of poor self-esteem.

Tips on how to build your dog’s confidence

#1 Basic Obedience Training

Enrolling your dog in basic obedience training is a great way to start building their confidence. This helps them channel their anxiety and help them focus on other activities. Training them with simple sit and stay commands and acknowledging their progress no matter how little helps boost confidence.

Remember that this is not a one-time attempt. This should be constantly done until this becomes second nature and thus build his confidence. By making them feel secure in your presence they are less likely to feel threatened.

#2 Exposure Management

Slowly exposing your dog to things or situations they are uncomfortable with helps rewire their brain. By showing them that this is something that they should not be afraid of you are also slowly desensitizing their emotions. By associating fear with treats or rewarding them for overcoming their fears, your dog becomes more motivated in showing the appropriate response for stressful situations.

#3 Gradual Introduction of New People and Situations

Dogs that suffer from poor self-confidence tend to be more aggressive to new people or situations. Let you dog gradually approach the new person or let the dog sniff them. This is a natural reaction and their way of investigating the new people. One good idea is to let a new person offer your dog a treat to help ease their anxiety and get them on your dog’s good side.

#4 Give Them Tasks

Giving your dog simple tasks whether inside the house or walking them helps give them a feeling of accomplishment. Let them carry a bottle of water or toy while walking helps build their confidence. When inside the house, dogs can do simple tasks such as fetching the newspaper or getting their toys. This training program gives them a sense of responsibility and confidence. Remember to repeat every step and reward them with treats every time they accomplish their task.

#5 Encourage Them to Explore

Letting your dog explore new things and environments makes it less stressful when faced with new situations. Encourage them to sniff around and explore new things that lets them replace fear with curiosity. Being at their side when your dog explores also builds trust and build their confidence.

Author Bio:

Ronald Uy is a researcher and regular contributor for pet insurance at ConsumersAdvocate.org. When not writing, he’s busy planning his next adventure or heading out to the beach with Lucy, a 5-year-old beagle.