How to Build your Dog's Confidence: through Choice and Exploration.

What if some simple changes in your dog's routine and training could shift them from anxious to resilient?

Luna's Story: During walks, Luna's anxiety is obvious; she walks slowly, head lowered, tail down. Not so obvious are the lip licks and look-aways. While her stress signals (walking slowly, lip licking, looking away) may be missed by the average onlooker, she is having big emotions in response to the environment, which affects her sense of safety and general well-being. Our job is to build her confidence by increasing the choices she makes by herself and providing lots of safe exploration.

The key areas are Agency and Exploration.

Understanding Canine Confidence and Agency

• A confident dog responds to  new environments and activities in a stable and reliable way, either neutral or curious. When their response is based in fear and anxiety (fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses), it can present as barking, lunging, lip licking, creeping and acting puppy-like.

• Confident dogs have been positively exposed to a wide variety of environments, other dogs and animals, different types of surfaces, along with many human silhouettes, e.g.: the glasses wearer, the grey haired, the hi-viz helmet wearer and more. This exposure lets a dog build a data base of experiences so new experiences become normal. This socialisation is most successful when it occurs during their Critical Socialisation period between 8-20 weeks of age, when all dogs are open to absorbing new information. If this window is missed it may take a lifetime to support a dog to feel secure in new situations with people and places.

• It is helpful to observe your own dog's responses to new situations and people if they express anxiety support your dog by moving away from whatever is bothering them and avoid those triggers in future, that way your dog will build trust in your decisions.

• Studies have shown that dog's who are provided with choice and agency over their day to day lives have a greater level of well being, reduced stress levels represented in lower heart rates and even live longer lives.

  
  

  In Luna's case her owners have become proficient at reading her cues and supporting Luna when she is feeling unsafe. They are doing this by increasing Luna's control over her choices and environments in her daily routine. They cross the road when they see oncoming pedestrians and dogs, they provide opportunities for Luna to forage for her food. This is empowering Luna to navigate her world in a more secure way and she is happier for it.

  
  

Building confidence by offering Choices

• Exercise and walks:

  • We humans often prefer the efficiency of a straight line, down the road and around the corner. Dogs experience the world through their noses, driven by scents in the air and on every fallen tree branch and post.

    Let your dog to choose their walking route, this creates a valuable and enriching exercise experience. This style of walk lets your dog choose the route, speed, and duration, transforming a routine outing into a walk tailored to their unique needs.

  • Always respect your dog's decision to avoid or engage with other dogs or people, by crossing the road or moving away.

  • Another point to note is dogs are crepuscular, that means, they are active during dawn and dusk when they would traditionally hunt in low light, a more interesting time for them to walk.

• Play and toys:

  • Play for dogs often ties in with their genetic traits, a bully breed may love tug, while a sight hound will enjoy chase and a herding breed will be keen on fetch. While this is not set, it will provide a guide as to what type of play your dog may enjoy. Following your dog's lead will provide greater benefit and reward for your dog.

  • To gauge your dog's interest in a game, observe their level of attention. Introduce new games gradually, over multiple sessions, to determine their preferences. Some dogs may need a hand to learn how to play, go at your dog's pace, offer different types of play,e.g. chase me or tug. Take breaks and have turns with your dog to make it a shared experience.

  • The same logic applies to toys, offer toys more than once, that way your dog can learn how to engage and play with them. You can lay a number of toys out in front of your dog and let them choose which they'd like to play with.

• Food:

  • Food is an easy way to build confidence in your dog. By feeding them via different delivery methods your dog will learn to interact with their food in different ways and be rewarded with the success of the food as well as the success of solving the challenge of access. Think scatter feeding for beginners and food puzzles for experts. Read my blog of food enrichement for more ideas.

  • Another way to use food as a confidence builder is to let your dog choose their favorite treat, line up a variety of treats and watch which your dog chooses first, you can do the same with food options too. Variety is key, keep offering choice as preferences do change over time.

• Safe Spaces:

  • Every dog needs a safe space where they can retreat and rest away from the activity of family life. Quiet time is essential for your dog, it gives them an opportunity to rest improving well being. This is easily done by providing a crate or bed in a quiet area add soft blankets and a chew toy or two. When your dog is in their space make it a rule that they are not to be disturbed. This way your dog will enjoy peace and quiet and the sense of safety this provides.

  • A safe place will also ensure they get enough rest. Quiet time is essential for your dog, it gives them an opportunity to rest. Adult dogs generally need up to sixteen hours a day resting, while puppies benefit from up to 20 hours of rest, depending on breed and what life stage they are at.

Physical Exploration and Proprioception

Physical exercise is an opportunity for your dog to improve their proprioception.

• Obstacle Courses:

  • Obstacle courses are another opportunity for confidence building. Interacting with different surfaces and obstacles improves a dogs ability to understand where their body is in space. With practice and success your dog will feel more confident to explore their world, moving over different terrains and obstacles.

  • For puppies make sure they are safe, guide them over any obstacles to begin, watch to ensure they feel safe and give loads of encouragement as they progress and succeed.

  • Natural obstacle courses are everywhere. Take your dog to new environments, the beach where they can experience sand underfoot and waves crashing or a forest with tree roots and undergrowth.

  • Gradually increase the difficulty of environment or obstacles over time, this way your dog will grow in confidence alongside their experiences.

• Learning New Tricks:

  • Teaching new tricks is fun to do and if your dog is interested it also builds stronger bonds. A spin is a good trick to begin with. Start with a food treat close to your dog's nose and slowly lure them into a spin releasing the treat at a quarter way around then half and then a full circle. Following the lure is easy for your dog and the success of earning the treat for the behaviour immensely rewarding for you both. Tricks build body awareness as well as confidence.

  • Focus on tricks that involve balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.

  • Always make learning easy and fun, using tasty treats, a bright voice and gradually increase the difficulty. If your dog looses interest go back a step to an easier version. The success of earning the treat will build your dog's confidence to try and try again.

Additional Confidence-Building Strategies

• Predictable Routines: A predictable routine allows your dog to know what to expect in their day leading to a greater sense of security. Check here for details

• Positive Socialisation: As with every activity you do with your dog, creating a positive and safe experience is important, especially when meeting new dogs or people, always let your dog to opt out of any interaction and respect their choice. By listening to your dogs preferences they will build trust in you as you support their choices. If mistakes happen and socialisation doesn't go to plan, it's okay, that's life and a learning opportunity of what to do differently next time.

• Providing Mental Stimulation: Try to provide some type of mental stimulation for your dog each day, whether it's their dinner as a scatter feed or a treat treasure hunt while you're at work. Mental stimulation holds boredom and anxiety at bay, reducing stress and directly benefits your dog's well being by practicing innate dog behaviours, sniffing, foraging, or running.

• Building a strong bond: Every time you have a positive interaction with your dog it's like making a deposit in their emotional account, the more you deposit the more they will be able to cope with the inevitably withdrawal, for example, the veterinary visit. The bigger your balance the more confident and resilient your dog will be.

Conclusion:

• These suggestions will help build your dog's confidence in their daily life. With self directed walks to scatter feeds, these ideas are not far from an average dog's day. By focusing on agency and exploration you will shift the focus to your dog's well being and lead to a more confident canine companion.

• It's likely you are already doing some of these daily activities, are there more you can add into your dog's day? They will love you for it!

• If you need help with your dog's confidence book a consultation or a training session and I'll gladly work with you to build your dog's confidence.