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Is your dog timid around people or other dogs? Is your dog sensitive to sounds? Many dogs lack confidence but there are ways to help them with that and to build confidence in your dog.
Use Agility Training To Build Confidence In Your Dog
Agility training is a popular way to provide the environment and structure to build confidence in your dog. Agility classes are a great place for people to learn about the sport and learn how to train. And this is something that you can practice all year long when you find an indoor training facility. A timid dog may take a long time before he is ready to venture from under your chair or off your lap, though. But by going to classes you can learn how to teach your dog the exercises at home until he is comfortable enough to try them at class.
A timid or shy dog can only learn inside their comfort zone. So, training must begin where they feel safe and behaviors must be taught in very small increments. Home will probably be the best place to train and have learning take place for your dog.
How To Train For Agility At Home
So, how do you train at home? You will need guidelines and equipment. There is a multitude of websites that can give you information on agility training. You can also invest in books and videos. They can give details and visual aids and lesson plans for beginners thru expert levels.
Click on the photos for more information on each agility book.
There is a variety of equipment that is useful and helpful to have at home. Equipment recommendations are based on your available space and location of training. Do you have a large yard that will hold 10 obstacles? Do you have a small yard where you will need to setup equipment and then tear it down before you can setup again? Will you be training in your garage or basement, or as some agility addicts, in your living room.
Click on the photos for more information on each kit.
Make sure your equipment is safe and sturdy. The pause table is a good place to begin your agility training. A 12″ high pause table, with adjustable legs for later use, is a good starting place for all size dogs. Remember with your shy dog, setup your table in an area that is very familiar to your dog. If your dog barks at anything new, just leave your pause table in your house or yard for several days. Let your dog inspect and smell it on his own or with a little coaxing.
Don’t Rush Your Dog
Don’t push too fast, remember always take baby steps with an insecure dog. With treats in a dish or his favorite toy placed on the table encourage your dog to get up on the table. This may take more than one lesson, be patient. If your timid dog looses interest in food or toys when you attempt something new, try sitting on the pause table with him. Have him on leash, place him on the table and you sit on the table with him . If he backs away coax him, only treat or reward him when he comes to you, never when he’s pulling back away from you or the table.
Eventually, you want your dog to be able to jump on the table with your cue word, “table”, or whatever word you use, ask him to “stay” on the table as you back away and then “come” when you call. Build your distance slowly so that your dog is not pushed too soon.
From Pause Table to Contact Trainer is a nice transition for a shy dog. A Contact Trainer comes in different designs. We recommend a 3-Piece Contact Trainer that has one mini A-frame side, a Pause Table, and then a mini Dog-walk side. Your dog can Sit on the table and then be coaxed down the A-frame side or the Dog-walk side. Just remember with the shy dog, training is done in increments, slowly and comfortably. Never push him too hard because if he becomes overwhelmed, it will cause him to shutdown.
You can follow the above techniques introducing new obstacles as your dog is able to succeed. As your dog succeeds on each new piece of equipment you will see his confidence grow. Be sure to give him lots of praise and rewards with everything that he succeeds with. Never give harsh punishments when he doesn’t do things properly, just try again in a positive tone. When you start to build confidence in your dog you will see his confidence grow outside of the agility training too!
