Setting Your Dog Up for Success

If your dog shows signs of fear or nervousness, don't set him up to be fearful. Limit his access to the feared objects, and slowly, methodically go in closer while reinforcing for calm behaviors.

Eeek! A Plastic Reindeer!

If your dog is nervous about inanimate objects—swing sets, rowboats, plastic reindeer, and the like—don't laugh; just stand still while he makes a fool of himself. You can place treats all around the object and let the dog move closer at his own pace.

If your dog is nervous about having company over, put her in a separate room until you can take the time to train her to accept company. If your dog jumps on people coming to the door, put her on leash while you open the door and reinforce her for sitting. If she has problems with kids and bikes going past the picture window, close the curtains.

Please Teach Me to Like Head Petting!

If your dog doesn't like petting on the head (99 percent of all dogs don't like it), then, until you train him to like it, don't pet him on the head. Think your dog does? Try this test: call him over to you and pet him on the head. If he avoids your touch, ducks his head, moves away completely, or moves his head toward your hand (as if to bite—even without a show of teeth), well, guess what? Your dog is part of the ninety-ninth percentile and is completely normal.

Can we teach our dogs to accept inappropriate behaviors from strangers, and inappropriate handling by veterinarians? Of course we can, and we must! It's important to remember, though, that dogs don't naturally like certain behaviors and we should view them as we would view any behavior that isn't natural for a dog—train them! Specific guidelines for teaching your dog to accept handling are addressed in Petting and Handling Dogs.

Until you can take the time to train your dog to accept the human world in all its complexities, manage the situations as best you can so that your dog doesn't practice nervous or fearful behaviors. After all, practice makes perfect, whether the behavior is “good” or “bad.”

Get Your Dog's Attention

When you want to attract your dog away from something else more interesting, think like prey. Dogs are attracted to movement because they're predators! Here's what to do:

• Your body posture should be low to the ground and you should approach sideways. Be careful not to loom over the dog because this is perceived as aggressive. You can lean backward, wave your arms, wiggle your fingers, or run away.

• Avoid direct eye contact or give a sideways glance.

• Use a high-pitched, excited, squeaky voice, or even a whistle. Loud, deep voices do the opposite—they repel dogs.

• Move side to side or away from the dog—the faster the better. Move right and left—act really exciting!

• Play with whatever toys your dog really likes.

• You can do some mild roughhousing with the dog to energize, but not to overstimulate her.