My puppy is shy. How can I help them become brave and social?

Behavior training would be a great way to help her gain confidence. You can look into puppy socialization and obedience classes in your area. I'd also recommend asking any strangers to allow her to approach them, and to offer a treat. Sophia Yin's website is a great resource for behavior questions - this link has good information on socialization in general: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy-socialization-stop-fear-before-it-starts/

Dogs will gradually gain confidence and improve the shyness over time. I've had good luck improving this by taking my dogs to group obedience classes. The dogs become more confident and relaxed learning with other dogs and people present and a trainer there to supervise the interactions. This may take months to years to improve so be patient. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Spunky.

I certainly sympathize with your situation. My own 2 year old dog is the same way. The key to training him is to expose him to situations that are not too scary for him, but improve his confidence. This is not a quick or easy process, and will need to be continued long term. I have found the best method to be a desensitization and counter-conditioning system. When Max encounters something that is slightly scary for him (not too overhelming at first), ask him to sit or lie down for a treat. The goal is to get him to do something that he is comfortable with and receive a treat (positive reinforcement) for doing that behavior instead of being afraid. Do not give him any reinforcement (verbal or otherwise) for fearful behavior, but try to ignore it. Instead reward the behavior you want to see. It would be a great idea to have a trainer try to help you start this type of training program, so you might ask your vet for a recommendation on a trainer. I have been using this on my dog, and it works well, but requires a lot of work. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He is right at the perfect socialization stage right now and for the next few months to come. He can get used to bigger dogs if introduced to him slowly and if you remain persistent. It has to be in a controlled environment meaning that you bring the larger dog to him slowly. At least try to start with a dog who is not very active and that is for sure nice. He can definitely get used to large dogs. The main thing is associating that experience with something positive by for example giving him treats and praise. Consistency and persistence are key. Good luck with your pup!

Thanks for visiting Petcoach. We don't mind follow-up questions, in fact they are encouraged! In my experience it isn't normal for a puppy to be really shy, because this is not a behavior we would want or expect; however, we do see this in pets with anxiety issues. I would bet that Sie has some degree of anxiety. Your trainer may be able to work through these issues with you; however, in most situations you need a certified behaviorist or experienced trainer iwho can work with Sie one-on-one. It can be done, so stay the course and consistency is key to helping Sie through her fears. Here is a website link for finding certified animal behaviorists in your area, if needed. http://www.avsabonline.org/resources/find-consult I have seen many puppies who were successfullly converted into outgoing social dogs, as they gani their confidence over time. So there is hope. Best of luck with Sie and I hope that things continue to improve. Take care.

I hate to hear this is happening for both you and Lola. If you want to try to show her that humans are good, you will need to gain her trust. The first thing you need to do is find a treat that she really likes. This will be her high value treat. Basically, sit quietly close to Lola and don’t look directly at her. This can make some dogs uncomfortable. Every time she makes a move to investigate you, she gets a treat. Clicker training is something that can help in this situation as well. Any time she makes an attempt to approach you, click the clicker and treat her. The key is to be slow, patient, calm and not to make her feel pressure. You may also get a small assortment of toys and once again, sit close to her (but don’t force yourself beside her), avoid looking at her and try to get her interested in the toys. This will not be forever but it is needed for right now. The key is that Lola needs to approach you on her own terms. You may also do some reading about shy or fearful dogs to learn other techniques that benefit them. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Every pet is different in what it perceives as stress and how it responds to stress. Here is a link about introducing the leash: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-introduce-your-puppy-to-collars-leads/ Here is an article about socialization: https://www.petcoach.co/article/socialization-of-your-puppy/ Here is an article about training: https://www.petcoach.co/article/basic-dog-puppy-training-rules/ Be patient, consistent and really focus on socialization. Working with a professional trainer would be beneficial and recommended as they can show you ways to modify your behavior to get the desired response. Best of luck.