The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [8]
Mealtime offers a special opportunity to shoo away Cyrus’s shyness and bolster the bond between you. Hand-feed him his meals and treats. You may need to start one piece at a time. If he backpedals, remain still until he returns to you. If he acts too scared, toss the treats a little bit away from you and resume hand-feeding when he regains some confidence.
Regular exercise will not only help Cyrus relax but will further develop your relationship. At first, stick to short walks around your immediate neighborhood. These outings allow Cyrus to build up a database of familiar sights, sounds, and smells. If a car backfiring or other noise causes him to try to bolt, move him along quickly to distract him and give him the chance to settle down. Speak in a happy, confident tone while continuing your walk.
Inside your home or fenced backyard, engage Cyrus in some confidence-building activities like teaching him a trick and offering a food reward and plenty of praise. Don’t make a big deal about appliances like the vacuum or dishwasher that may frighten him. If you treat them matter-of-factly, he will learn that they pose no threat. With consistently kind and gentle treatment, most shy dogs warm up and trust their immediate family members within a matter of weeks, and you should begin to see Cyrus’s true personality emerge.
Once this occurs, I recommend you enroll Cyrus in a basic dog obedience class so he can have the chance to be around other dogs in a controlled setting. At this stage, you can work also on conquering Cyrus’s shyness around newcomers to the house and strangers he meets when he is out and about with you. Ask your friends who visit not to make direct eye contact with Cyrus and to sit quietly. As Cyrus’s curiosity takes hold, have your friends offer him treats so he will form a positive association with visitors. Take things slowly and let Cyrus show you when he is ready to move on to the next stage of becoming a confident, happy dog.
Preparing for Puppy Pandemonium
Q My husband and I are adopting a 10-week-old puppy. We want to make sure that our home is safe for him and from him! We have nice antiques and expensive rugs that we don’t want chewed up or knocked over. Plus, we worry that the puppy could swallow something that could hurt him. How can we best prepare our home for our new family member?
A You are wise to puppy proof your house now, before your new family member comes home. Puppies are energetic and curious. In their first few months of life, one of the main ways they investigate is by taste testing their surroundings. They demonstrate a real knack for getting into trouble and can quickly destroy household items and swallow things they shouldn’t before you know it.
Start preparing your home for your bundle of joy by getting down on his level — literally. Sit down on the floor of each room where your puppy will be permitted to roam and look around for potential hazards that might be within his reach. These include electrical and telephone cords, houseplants on or near the floor, window shade and curtain drawstrings, throw rugs, trashcans or storage containers, and anything else that is on or near the floor that is small enough to fit into a puppy’s mouth or light enough to be knocked over. Think about materials such as wicker and cardboard that might not seem tempting to you but may attract a teething pup. Loose belongings such as shoes, toys, books and magazines, and other items will be fair game at first, so form the habit