My adopted dog gets nervous on walks. How to build his confidence?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Issues with walking on a leash can be very common in dogs. I do recommend a thundershirt and a pheromone collar for dogs with this issue; they may help. they may not, but it is always worth a shot! I also would recommend working with some re-focusing exercises while on a walk. Typically a "watch me" command works well in these situations (there are various teaching videos available on YouTube). If it is persistent, it may be that Max may need an anti-anxiety medication to help with this issue, which would be a conversation to have with your regular veterinarian. Good luck!

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern. I would recommend socializing her more and getting her out of the house and potentially into some training classes for dogs. You can also use the below products, which can be found online. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly! 1. Adaptil collar 2. Thundershirt 3. NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin

Hello. It is good that you are exposing Oscar to new things. Overtime he should adjust, but you do have to go slow & limit these public excursions to a few minutes at a time. I am sure you are very reassuring with him, but do reward him with special treats when he seems to relax. You can also try some of the natural stress relieving products such as Zylkene. The best way to help Oscar get over his fears is to work with a veterinary behavioral specialist. Your veterinarian should be able to see if there are any in your area. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Congratulations on your new dog Hazel. New situations can be very stressful and it sounds like she may have not had a lot of training or exposure in her previous home. Find treats that she really seems to like. You may need to experiment around with different ones. Once you find the treats, reward her for approaching you with a treat. Reward her for sitting next to you or any other healthy activity that involves her being interested in you. This will quickly form a positive association. You will not always need to reward this behavior but for right now, it’s important. To train her to use a leash, hook it to her collar and allow her to drag it around. She will eventually move and get use to the weight. Then start to pick up the leash and slowly follow her as well as encourage her to walk with you. The key is to use high value treats, talk softly, keep things positive and be patient. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Awww cute pups! They look like they have the couch figured out already. I'm including some articles about new dogs/homes that may be helpful for you! https://www.petcoach.co/educational-center/care/new-pet-basics/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-you-need-to-know-before-adding-a-new-pet-to-the-family-durin/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-things-to-do-as-soon-as-you-adopt-a-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-introduce-an-anxious-dog-to-new-people/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-introduce-a-puppy-or-dog-to-your-older-dog/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-things-every-new-dog-owner-should-know/

Is she food motivated? Using treats to entice and reward her maybe helpful. Also, seeking the advice from your veterinarian about using antianxiety pheromones and possibly medications may be helpful as she is adjusting. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Oh dear, poor Axel! Some dogs have innately anxious and nervous personalities, and German Shepherds (it appears that Axel has a fair amount of Shepherd in him from the pictures!) are known for anxiety issues. Continue gently trying to socialize Axel with new people and surroundings, and offer small treats and gentle encouragement as he is introduced to a new situation. Some dogs also benefit from thunder shirts ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=24037 ) for anxiety, as well as calming pheromone collars or diffusers ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=33000 ). If all else fails, consider consulting a veterinary behaviorist to discuss behavioral modifications to try at home, and possible anti-anxiety medication. I hope that all goes well!