How to Help Your Nervous/Anxious/Fearful Dog

Help Them Out

Give them lots of guidance, direction & structure - when out on a walk with your dog, you might start to notice the more stressful the environment becomes, the more your dog might either pick up the pace or put the brakes on - that’s because most nervous dogs want to flee or hide - use your leash to give them lots of clear direction and coach them through the situation - give them a job to help them focus on rather than everything around them - if you’re walking give them the job of heel, if you’re stationary, give them the job of down or place

Be Your Dogs Advocate

Be conscious of the things that make your dog uncomfortable - nervous around strangers? Say no to unfamiliar greetings, regardless of how pushy the person may be (because there will always be that person that thinks they are the exception to the rule - “but dogs love me though!” - no. end of story. your dog will thank you) - the more you show your dog you are listening to them, protecting them and advocating for their space, the more they will trust you and leave you to handle the situation

Don’t Hide

If you constantly avoid the things your dog is afraid of, they will never learn how to overcome their fears - take your dog around the things that scare them and show them how to just exist around that scary thing - let your dog see that in the presence of that stressor, nothing bad happens, and if they feel scared you’ve got them 🤍