Williams: Shy dog or party animal?

The cause of many behavior problems in dogs often comes down to a lack of proper socialization. Like humans, dogs are social creatures. They are meant to live in groups, often referred to as “packs,” and expect a hierarchy or ranking system. Domestic dogs, unlike wolves, were bred to be comfortable with other dogs and humans outside of their pack. However, research shows that puppies go through a critical socialization period, which is the time where certain patterns of behavior and social skills should be initiated in order for the puppy to be more accepting and comfortable with those things later.

This critical period generally extends from 2 weeks to 16 weeks of age. The dogs are hardwired with likes, dislikes and phobias. The good news is, many dogs are comfortable with strangers and other dogs, whether they’ve been presented with proper socialization skills early on or not. However, there are things you can do that will greatly affect how your shy dog relates to the world around him.

▪ Do take your dog with you on outings as much as you can, but remember your objective is to keep all experiences positive and as predictable as possible.

▪ Do invite visitors to your home. If your dog seems a bit shy around strangers, it may be possible to lessen it with a little counter conditioning, or changing the dog’s perception of people he doesn’t know. One way to do this is to present strangers in a positive, neutral way. When a visitor comes to your home, instruct him to avoid eye contact and not to approach the dog, but rather wait for the dog to approach him. If the dog does approach, rather than reach out to the dog, have the visitor remain still, allowing the dog to sniff. At that time, you should praise and lavish your dog with lots of food rewards and attention. Get out their favorite toy and play with him. What you want is for the dog to associate all his favorite things with a stranger being present. When the visitor leaves, put the toys and treats away and return to business as usual.

▪ Expose your dog to as many unfamiliar things as possible, such as paper and plastic bags, boxes, hats, vacuum cleaners, weed whackers, lawn mowers, hair clippers, blenders, ice makers, etc. Whenever you present those items, make it a pleasant experience for your dog by giving him praise and treats for remaining calm. You want him to associate those things with positive experiences rather than reinforce fears.

▪ When it comes to exposing your dog to other dogs, it is usually safest to introduce a dog to a new dog in a neutral environment with both dogs on leash. If your dog has displayed any shyness around other dogs, first make sure the dog you are introducing him to is dog-friendly and well socialized. If the interaction goes well, you can then take the dogs to a fenced area for off lead interaction. If that goes well, you can progress to interaction with more dogs.

▪ If your dog has exhibited any aggression toward people or other dogs, an experienced trainer and behavior modification specialist should be consulted immediately.

▪ Lastly, training your shy dog to perform other behaviors can promote confidence and help him form a trusting bond with you. When your dog fully trusts you, he’s more likely to trust your judgment of people, places and things. Look for opportunities to praise and reward him. Once he understands that you like when he shows confidence and independence, he’s likely to repeat the behavior.

With consistency, praise, and repetition, your dog can be on his way to becoming a party animal!

Laurie Wiliams is a Stafford resident and former contestant on “Greatest American Dog.” Reach her at onesmartpooch@aol.com.