Dogs are individual creatures. No two are alike. Through a combination of genetics, circumstances or development one may be assertive while another is timid.
Dogs in the 'alpha' pack leader position are assertive. These types will take bones or toys away from others or be the first of the pack to enter a room and demand a great deal of attention after having done so. On the other hand, a timid dog will always eat, enter and play last. These simply remain quiet and wait to be noticed.
At first glance, shy dogs may not be in need of training as much focus is placed on deterring unwarranted behaviors. Their counterparts who are more assertive, are more suitable for training. These dogs are leashed and pulled back during walking exercises. Also they often need to be trained not to chase the neighbors cat.
Unlike their rowdy companions, these are the last to exit, do not display a tendency to dig or other undesirable behaviors. These behaviors are carried over into personal space. They distance themselves inside the home from other dogs, whether assertive or not.
Quiet dogs need to understand boundary respect by any unknown dog or human. For this reason, they need not accept treats from people you meet. This should be taught at once to be effective. Work with the dog's nature in order to set a successful training tone. Although timid in nature, the dog will still enjoy the occasional reward and play times.
When there is more than one dog in a household, reserve time for the quiet one to get some one on one time outside. This keeps the more assertive dog in the house next to you. Give them the opportunity to therefore enter the house first, feed first or get a drink of water first. During general feeding time, prevent the timid dog from being chased out of the room.
Take a toy - favored beef treated bone or stuffed ball - and go through the 'sit' and 'up' motions. Do not engage in this as long as you would with an assertive dog. Be sure to use a friendly, up beat voice when playing; Essential when working with a shy dog.
Based on physiological or genetic circumstances, not all timid behaviors can be erased through training. Keep this in mind and do not set the bar too high when training. Patience and persistence will win through and be effective in changing some of the dog's behaviors.
Consistency and commitment will go a long way in training. Be prepared to devote an hour once a day for several weeks, months or even longer to teaching your timid dog a more suitable behavior.
Article By Andrew Strachan. Find out more about timid dogs and lots more dog behavior training advice at http://www.types-of-dogs.com/training/
Source: www.articledashboard.com