This term implies a lack of confidence in a dog and covers a whole spectrum of behaviours from being very timid to fearful aggression. If timidity is left untreated there is always the possibility of the dog becoming fearful when forced to confront particular situations and of that escalating in to aggression. Dogs exhibiting this behaviour are often handed in to shelters or even abandoned to fend for themselves by owners who cannot cope and then they become very likely candidates for euthanizing.
The main thing an owner of such a dog needs to be aware of is that soothing or gentling a frightened puppy reinforces this behaviour rather than reducing it. Although it is normal for a dog to be wary when faced with new situations, things or people who are unfamiliar a “shy” dog will tend to be extremely wary.
The main cause by far of shyness is lack of proper socialization during the critical 8-16 week period of a young dog’s life. This means that the young dog was not exposed to as many experiences as it needed to have been.
Some think there is evidence that shyness can be inherited or learned from the mother but it is not generally believed that ill treatment or abuse is a likely cause.(Dogs are so incredibly forgiving.)
Careful socialization of even older dogs can improve the behaviour. Careful here means slow and steady, the socialization must not be rushed.The dog’s confidence must be built up and he must trust his owner.This can only occur by the owner understanding the situation and carefully handling the dog. You need to spend time with the dog to get to know him
- to know what is likely to make him afraid
- to know when to push and when to back off
- to know when your dog has had enough
Some situations you may want to avoid at first and then work towards them step by step. Should the dog be showing signs of aggression take action before it can become established. Get expert help, but make sure the help is expert, as bad handling can make an unsatisfactory situation worse.
