I do a lot of work with rescue adopters. One thing I see a lot of owners asking is how long they need to wait until their dog is confident enough for this or that milestone.
It is extremely important to allow a new dog to settle and get familiar with a new environment without pushing them beyond their comfort zone. BUT, once a dog is established in the home, simply waiting on them to develop confidence for things like having a lead put on, going on walks, having guests come over, having nails trimmed, etc. is not an appropriate strategy.
In order to tackle the things the dog finds scary or overwhelming, you as an owner have a responsibility to help them. Confidence is not gained passively.
So what can you do? Daily sessions training and playing with your dog will actively build trust in you and develop your dog’s confidence. It only takes 10 min a day!
Then, with better relationship and more general confidence, break down the thing they find scary into small steps and tackle them together. Push them just enough beyond their comfort zone to make progress without overwhelming them.
Only with an active approach will you be able to see your dog progress towards conquering their fears. They need your help, not your patience.
