The Rescued Dog Problem Solver. Tracy J. Libby

      If your dog is afraid of a particular person, do not force him to engage.

      Comforting or Coddling?

      A good deal of controversy surrounds the topic of comforting or soothing fearful dogs. Certainly, it‘s human nature to want to comfort a fearful dog, but does coddling or otherwise rewarding a dog who shows fear reinforce that fear? For years, the accepted theory has been that if a dog is fearful and you attempt to comfort him by saying, “It’s ok honey. Don’t be afraid. Mommy won’t let anything happen to you,“ then you are rewarding his fearful actions, which inadvertently compounds the situation by reinforcing his fear.

      Fear is designed to be aversive, and many behaviorist believe that comforting a noise-sensitive dog who goes into freak-out mode at the sound of thunder or fireworks is not going to reinforce his fear. Calmly stroking his ears, scratching his belly, or talking in a soothing voice probably won‘t make him worse. According to certified applied animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell, PhD, “Fear is an emotion, and ‘reinforcement‘ refers to something than increases a behavior. You can‘t, technically, reinforce an emotion, but you can increase the frequency of a particular behavior.“

      It’s no surprise that studies support both sides of the issue. However, McConnell goes on to explain that if stroking and petting a dog who is fearful of thunder has a positive effect, and the dog is no longer pacing, panting, and whining, then maybe rubbing his belly isn‘t such a bad thing.

      That said, scolding or correcting a fearful or apprehensive dog will definitely exacerbate the situation.

      On the other hand, if your dog yelps because you accidently stepped on his foot, coddling him may reinforce some fearful or wimpy behavior. Instead, in these instances, immediately play with him and talk to him in a happy voice. This takes his mind off the situation and puts his focus on your happy, positive energy.

      Did you Know?

      Socialization and Vaccinations

      Although vaccinations are important to your puppy, so too is socialization.A hotly debated topic is the perceived risk of exposing puppies (or insufficiently vaccinated adult dogs) to other dogs prior to completing their full complement of vaccinations at around sixteen weeks.Some veterinarians adamantly oppose socialization before sixteen weeks of age because of the risk of contracting an infectious disease, such as parvovirus.The decision is a personal one and should always be made in consultation with your veterinarian.Plenty of opportunities exist to safely socialize your puppy, but until he is fully vaccinated, avoid those public places where the risk of encountering infected dogs is high, such as dog parks, pet-supply stores, and large puppy or obedience classes.

      Temperament and its Limitations

      Puppies and adult dogs are unique individuals and must be treated as such. By understanding as much as possible about the breed you have chosen, you will have an easier time understanding why he does what he does and, subsequently, how best to manage his behavior during the socialization process. For example, many dogs are attracted to moving objects, which incite their chase instinct. By exposing your puppy to these objects, including strollers, wheelchairs, shopping cars, vacuums, bicycles, and kids on roller blades and skateboards, your puppy is less likely to have an issue with them as he gets older. Of course, for some dogs, especially herding and terrier breeds, chasing moving objects is in their DNA, and you will need to work hard to curtail this potentially dangerous behavior.

      Some dogs are prone to developing obsessive-compulsive behaviors, including Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Dalmatians, Rottweilers, and Border Collies, to name a few. So, during the socialization process—and throughout the dog’s life—try your best to prevent these behaviors from developing or, at the very least, from continuing. For instance, never allow your puppy to fixate on cats or other animals, chase his tail, chase shadows, or run fence lines. And never, ever use laser lights to play with your dog. Although it may seem like a fun way to exercise your puppy, laser-light games can create stress, anxiety, and potentially life-threatening obsessive behaviors in many dogs.

      If your puppy has a bad experience at a young age, it is imperative that you address the situation right away while the socialization window is still open. Do not be fooled into thinking your puppy will grow out of his phobias. Once behaviors like fear or aggression become ingrained, they are more difficult, if not impossible, to eliminate and fix. The socialization period is the best time to address any perceived problems. If your puppy is showing signs of anything other than normal puppy behaviors, this is the time to seek advice from a smart trainer or behaviorist who can help to repair the damage.

      Rescue Tip:

      Little-Dog Syndrome Is Not Funny

      Differences exist between a well-behaved puppy who you indulge and a spoiled ruffian who bites and snaps at people.Labeled “little-dog syndrome,” this spoiled behavior tends to be seen more often in small or toy dogs.People tend to be amused by snarky behaviors in little dogs, such as a pampered Pomeranian sitting on his owner’s lap and growling at passersby or a four-pound Chihuahua sprinting to attack someone’s shin bone.You have probably caught yourself laughing at these situations, too.Some owners think the behavior is amusing, so they reward it, whether intentionally or not.Sadly, these behaviors are dangerous because they become ingrained, and these puppies grow into adult dogs who think they are invincible.It is nearly impossible to turn these half-pint hooligans into nice, happy dogs.Instead, these puppies grow into dogs who can’t be trusted and really aren’t fun to be around.Look ahead to your puppy’s future and recognize those behaviors you want to encourage and discourage so that you can instill and reward those behaviors that foster a happy, healthy puppy.

      3: Body Language