Remember how everyone started getting puppies during the pandemic? I have not yet seen any specific data, but the rising prices on all dogs, and the overfilled shelters once the lockdown was over, attest to the fact that dog ownership was as high as ever.
This surge in dog-acquiring came with all sorts of issues, but here I want to talk about one specific case.
I got my puppy just when the whole wave was settling down; however, there were still at least five puppies of the same age in my neighbourhood.
Orca was about ten weeks, and we were out for a play session in our front yard. Across the street, I have noticed a Weimaraner puppy, leashed to his owner, who demonstrated a lot of interest in our play. The puppy dragged his owner across the street, but as soon as he noticed that my dog looked in his direction, he froze, which is a normal thing—he was an unexperienced puppy, after all.
His owner leaned towards his dog, petted him, and said “oh buddy, it’s okay.” My dog, also leashed, made a few steps toward the Weimaraner, who tucked his tail, backed up, and attempted to hide behind his owner’s legs. The owner picked his puppy up and apologetically said, “He is a covid puppy, hasn’t seen many dogs yet.”
Fast forward to two years from that day. I was walking my dog in a park when we met that Weimaraner again. There were no more masks, no more lockdowns, no more lack of exposure. As soon as he saw my dog, he, once again, became uneasy, gave a few short even-spaced barks, then, as we got closer, he tucked his tail and went behind his owner. The owner kept telling the dog that it was okay, and it was safe, and he kept trying to comfort him physically, through gently stroking his side.
Once we got even closer, the dog started pulling the owner away from us; its whole body seeped of stress. The hackles were up, the tail tucked. He tried to walk away fast, leaning close to the ground. This time, the owner, who also recognized me, said “He is timid.”
Treating a “timid” dog, or a dog who lacks confidence, like it has some kind of disease, became a trend. As soon as a puppy exhibits signs of discomfort, the owners are fast to lean over and reassure that it is okay in the most soft, gentle voice. After all, this is what they would have done for a human, hoping that this helps that human to overcome their fears.
However, it does not work in exact same way for dogs. Simply speaking, they are not human, and your comforting words, along with the petting, carry a meaning opposite from what you are hoping to deliver. An insecure dog who is being petted and softly spoken to after exhibiting signs of fear—barking, hiding behind you, raising hackles, trying to run away—learns just two things. First: the situation that made them uncomfortable was a huge deal, because you suddenly changed your whole disposition; a realization which will exaggerate their insecurity the next time. Second: they were correct in reacting this way, because they have received a lot of encouragement and positive (in their eyes) feedback for it. To this mix of emotions, add a later realization that, if such a dog barks, and then the perceived “threat” goes away, they would have learned a mechanism that, in their head, helps them get rid of all dangers.
What does it lead to? To dogs who bark their heads off when they see other dogs. To dogs who develop fears of falling leaves and empty bags. To dogs who are “timid.”
How to fix it? First, stop feeling bad about your “timid” dog. Believe it or not, many puppies are not sure about their first-time encounters; however, not all of them grow up timid. With that being said, genetics plays a huge role in your mature dog’s personality. Still, even a genetically fearful dog can learn how to live comfortably.
You cannot “help” such a dog by reassuring them and stroking their ears. The real help that this dog needs is a realization that none of the things that are happening around them (dogs, children, umbrellas, canes, wheelchairs, shovels) is significant in that these things do not deserve any reaction. It is a nothing and it needs to be treated as nothing by you.
Struggling with a “timid” dog and need help? We are a message away.