My dog is scared of other dogs. How can I help her overcome her fear?

If Chloe isn't comfortable around other dogs, you can help her by starting at a distance where she isn't afraid - this may mean that she needs a lot of distance at first! Praise and reward her with a treat every time she looks at the other dog. When she is able to do this comfortably from far away, you can gradually begin working your way closer as long as she is doing well. Eventually, you can allow her to sniff the other dog and say hello if you wish. It can be difficult to do this correctly on your own in some cases, so I would recommend getting in touch with a reward-based trainer who can help you in person - he/she can help you set up practice sessions with a calm, friendly "helper dog" if needed, and make sure that you are comfortable with how to work on this with strange dogs. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org

Maisy may not have been properly socialized around other dogs, and if she isn't a confident dog, she will react with fear around other dogs. Unfortunately, fear in dogs can come out as aggression, so it would be a good idea to start socializing her now to prevent this from happening. You can speak to your vet about getting her enrolled with a behavioral expert to work on this behavior. The expert can introduce her to other dogs in a safe situation, working on socialization skills, and teaching her that she does not have to be afraid of them.

Introduce her, gradually, to one dog then another and another. Do this in a neutral area, such as a dog park or field. Correct negative behavior/responses immediately and praise/reward good behavior. Use a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, to help decrease any anxiety.Given her age, get her enrolled in an obedience class and puppy socialization classes.

Gradually introduce her to one person at a time. Do this in a neutral location such as a park. Begin with a short intro from a distance and gradually increase the time while closing the distance. Correct any negative behavior immediately and praise good behavior. End each session with a small reward. As she acclimates to one person, add another then another. Take her to as many public places as possible as well. This will acclimate her further to people and crowds. The use of a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, may help decrease any anxiety. This will take time and patience. Do not rush or force her to meet people, especially if she is trying to run away. Give her a break when this happens and try again once she settles down.

I strongly recommend you consult with a professional, in-home dog trainer. You need a trainer to come to your house and see the behavior and how you react. Likely you are making this worse. This is your best bet at correcting this problem before it worsens. Shy dogs that are unsure need special care and it is not recommended that you try to correct this on your own. I found this one trainer in your area. If they can't help you they may be able to recommend someone to you. Your vet's office may also be able to recommend a trainer. ( http://www.cjsdogtraining.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=42 ) You may also want to consider getting her spayed. She is going to resent other dogs jumping on her/being around her when she goes into heat. Taking unspayed dogs is to a dog park is not recommended and it is often posted at the entrance to the park that no intact animals (male or female) are allowed because it starts fights.

Hello, poor Fiddle! He seems to be very scared by other dogs. I think the best way to approach this is by introducing him to dogs that are not overtly playful and pushy in a neutral environment. That is, you may meet with a dog you know is calm and low energy in a park just to have the other dog be around Fiddle to see if he tolerates this. Obviously, avoid any situation which makes Fiddle scared or nervous and don't encourage his fearful behavior with any rewards such as talking to him, carrying him, or petting him as this may equivocally teach him that it is ok to be afraid of other pets. Ultimately, if you're having a really hard time with Fiddle, you may need to have him evaluated by a behaviorist as it is never too late to work with them on improving a behavior. Hope this helps.

I'm sorry to hear about Maja's bad experience with getting attacked! That can certainly be a scary memory and can make a puppy fearful of new dogs. The best way to try to counter a bad experience, is to provide lots of positive experiences to help her gain confidence. This can only be done in a controlled setting, with dogs you know and trust, because we want the interactions to be positive ones. I recommend setting up play dates with friends who have dogs that are known to be social and friendly - but don't force Maja to interact with the other dog any more than she would like to. Trying to force her may only escalate her fear and make it worse. If it seems you're not making any progress and she continues to be fearful, it may be worth contacting a reputable trainer who can help facilitate her training and can offer specific recommendations based on the behavior and body language they're observing in Maja. If you don't know any trainers, your vet may be able to offer recommendations of people near you. I hope this helps!