Keep Triggers Away: Distance Equals Safety
Increase distance between your dog and her known triggers while you’re out walking to help keep her under threshold. If she’s acting fearful, being reactive, or won’t take treats, increase the distance between your dog and her trigger. This will help her feel less uneasy about it.
For instance, if you know your dog is triggered by sudden loud noises and you see orange cones and construction equipment ahead of you while you’re out walking her, changing direction or heading back the way you came may be better than exposing your dog to a scary sound. Tactical retreats can be a very smart strategy!
Be a Patient and Good Canine Advocate
Always take your time when trying to boost your dog’s confidence in the outdoors and provide her with an exit strategy. If your dog can only walk with confidence to the end of your driveway and back, don’t force her to walk further than she’s comfortable with.
You never want to force your dog into a situation where she’s not comfortable. Patience and encouragement for the small victories is the best way to see success!
Take some great treats and encourage her to walk a little further down the sidewalk each day until she feels good about walking in other, less familiar places. Just be sure her walking equipment is escape-proof so she can’t run away in a panic.
Correctly sized martingale collars are another option for dogs who are a flight risk.
If your dog is getting braver near her triggers, continue to reward her bravery, pay attention to her stress signals, and be her advocate.
Above all else, make sure you can help her leave a situation if she begins to be overwhelmed.
You might never know exactly what happened outdoors that scared your furry friend so badly. But, if you can pinpoint her triggers and then gradually and positively reintroduce her to the things that scare her, while helping her have other experiences outside that are pleasant and not scary at all, you’re well on your way to helping free your pooch from her outdoor fears.
Be Your Dog Advocate
One of the best things you can do to help your dog feel more confident is to be a good advocate for them. If your dog is afraid of loud noises, help them by slowly acclimating them to the noise.
Start by playing recordings of the noise at a low volume, and increase the volume gradually over time. Stay with them in new environments until they feel comfortable.
Be their advocate by letting people know that your dog is still getting used to the surroundings and needs some time to adjust. By being patient and helping your dog feel secure, you can help them feel more confident in new situations.
Puppy’s fear of going outside | Fearful Dog Training Tips | EveryDoggy
Do you have a dog scared to go outside? If so, you’re not alone. Many dogs become fearful of going outside for a variety of reasons. In this blog post, we will discuss the most common reasons why dogs are scared to go outside and what you can do to help your pet feel more comfortable. We’ll also provide tips on how to make your yard more dog-friendly!