Anxious Dog Case Study

Lack of confidence can affect a dog just as it can affect a person. An insecure dog may show signs of nervousness or aggression or both. As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to figure out why your dog is lacking confidence and work toward improving it. The main way to help build a dog’s confidence is by providing stability. Dogs don’t have the advanced cognitive skills to fully understand what is happening around them. This is why we always begin by establishing clear structure. An insecure dog needs a structured environment and clear boundaries so they know exactly where they stand and what to expect each and every day. This is the type of strict structure that a pack provides, and dogs need you, the owner, to act as their pack leader.

Establishing this type of rapport with a dog can difficult, especially when outside forces are at play. For example, Lizzie, the rescue dog of one of my latest clients, had a really rough past. She was almost blind and suffered from severe skin irritation. Enduring her illness and being shuffled into a new home with another, well-established dog resulted in a massive amount of anxiety for her. She acted out against the other dog and was very possessive of the owner. This resulted in a tense household and an unhappy family, all from her lack of confidence and overwhelming anxiety.

When Lizzie’s owner called me, I came for an in-home consultation to see the behavior firsthand. Lizzie was loud and anxious, while the second dog calmed down rather quickly. It was easy to see what we needed to work on within minutes of meeting her. I spoke with the owner at length about her experiences with Lizzie, asked a few questions, observed how the owner handled her and began to realize the whole picture of Lizzie’s behavior. She needed help and she needed it fast. Fortunately, her owner realized the same thing and we started training right away.

We implemented a program based on this idea of providing structure. We kept Lizzie’s environment and activities consistent and we also practiced basic obedience training and proper leash handling techniques. These helped Lizzie’s focus on her owner tremendously. Basic obedience lessons are very important when trying to communicate with dogs because it not only teaches them a few neat tricks, but also requires them to focus on and listen to you. Lizzie’s owner put these techniques into effect and began seeing dramatic results.

When I first met Lizzie, her owner was considering finding her a new home, and when we finished the training program, she was a part of the family.

I speak often with frustrated dog owners who often think rehoming is the only option. If you are feeling frustrated and are willing to commit to helping your dog’s behavior change, call me today at 800.649.7297. No matter the type of behavioral problem your dog is dealing with, I can help.