Some dog breeds are really pre-disposed to be quite timid, nervous and even startle to various degrees. Even though it’s amusing, the excessive shyness is the main issue that arises from irregular socialization in the early stages of your puppy’s life. The lack of vital socialization periods in the first stages of life holds back the dogs from grasping the right way to act toward strange/unfamiliar stimuli.
Shy dogs need tender and dedicated owners who are ready to slowly attach to their pets and restore their confidence and trust through time. Putting down boundaries presented criteria by means of positive reinforcement training may help shy dogs do gain confidence. Timidness, however, – –– – should never be mixed up with anger or obstinacy.
Yelling and punishment should be completely banned when it comes to dealing with a shy dog as in reality they can only damage their confidence. With empathy and patience, we can not only change shy animals into dedicated playmates, but we can also teach them to cherish their little inner circle of people and be thankful of it. Those shy, withdrawn dogs depend greatly on their owners for protection and therefore will be inseparably loyal and attached to them.
1. Akita
The Akita, which can be traced back over many centuries to time period of more than three hundred years, is a dog breed that comes from the mountainous regions of northern Japan. One distinguished quality of Akitas is that even in the fiercest situations, they are known to remain steadfast and reliable and also equally sincere and honest. The Akita has been said to be almost extremely clingy with their masters. They will not put up with visitors there are, no matter whether they are a guest of the family or a complete stranger. They behave quite apprehensively.
Unaccustomed to strangers, Akitas may appear intimidating or unfriendly, alerting their owners with loud and intimidating barks. Most likely this shy dog will not attack people, unless they have been provoked but it is generally only in absolutely necessary circumstances. Openness can help a puppy to adapt to every new situation it encounters and therefore reduce the likelihood of undesirable or bad behavior. It is important to note that it is essential to help these exceptional pack dogs understand that they are secure and supervised.
2. Shiba Inu
Originally used to spook tiny game and even drive away ferocious wild pigs on outdoor adventure, the watchful and swift Shiba Inu breed of dogs which happens to be from japan has a natural suspicion toward people and circumstances which come in their interaction.
Shiba Inus would often be so attached to one person in a family so much that when it becomes like that, the dog would take the person as the very reason for their existence.
If these dogs would be properly socialized, their tendencies to be stubborn would be reduced at a tender stage of their life and can make them less of a shy dog. And it is essential to get rid of this behavior or else they might be difficult to train.
Shiba Inus gain confidence by knowing their place in the family unit but also require patient, consistent guidance from a steady leader they can trust. Overall they are a family friendly unit with complete daily adventure package.
3. Havanese
The friendly and sociable Havanese is a breed of dog that truly needs the company of humans to flourish and is known to struggle with symptoms of separation anxiety when left alone for longer periods. It is thus a highly interactive dog that cannot be detached from its owners and will show little negative behavior traits and might become kind of a shy dog, its there nature. They will follow their owners around the home and will slot themselves under your feet whenever they get chance.
It’s the perfect breed for people who are always around the house as the breed craves constant attention and is always eager to please. In other words, they are not the type of dog that can be left outside or in a room by themselves for a long time without a company. Havanese is the kind of dog that will be overly excited when they see you. This breed will definitely fill the place in your home as well as in your heart. This is why socialization with people and also social training is crucial for this breed.
4. Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees, a massive and hardworking breed that guides the range of livestock essentially the sheep and goats. The breed originates in the mountainous snowy terrain of the Pyrenees Mountains in Europe. It is such a lovable and loyal member of the family; great Pyrenees is considered as protective and can be aggressive to those who are not part of its family circle.
Like most large breeds that live alone in the wild, the Pyrenees prefers his territory and will be quick to ward off any strange dog and person from encroaching on its range or touching or getting close to its sheep. It is this characteristic that makes them suitable as guard dogs where they will alert you of any danger with their loud bark. They are very active breed and loves to be around you.
5. Chinese Shar-Pei
Chinese Shar-Pei is an exceedingly loyal dog and people in the past bred the Shar-Pei’s to serve as a fierce family defender. As per the countless folds of loose skin and sharp wrinkles running all over its cutaneous covering, no Shar-Pei dog can ever be mistaken for another dog. The Shar-Pei is an ancient Chinese breed widely known for two things: its wrinkled body surface and great protection towards family and property. But like any other they seek their hoomans company as they might develop shy dog symptoms.
Traditional dog farming in China has kept Shar-Pei from extinction and today attempts are being made to remove the challenges of its territory and keep this loyal and really protective dog at risk of disappearing. Originally, this breed was extremely useful in China prior to the communist revolution.
6. Chow Chow
Chows, the ancient Chinese breed, are large dogs with quite the distinctive features, makes our list for the shy dogs. About their appearance, they have a very thick mane around the neck and hence, require regular grooming, primarily in order to avoid skin problems. They were originally palace guards of the Chinese elite, and since then, they have refused to be anything but their own bossy boss.
These breed characteristics are still at work, making the dogs reserved about strangers, often with a slow but sure way to observe and distinguish an upright character from a false one. Chow Chows are loyal dogs, though they are indifferent and stand back when they suspect the situation and they might show a negative reaction to a house visitor. Chows can be approachable and perfect companions granted when you spend time with them.
7. Vizsla
The Hungarian breed is a very animated dog that hails from Hungary and is ingrained with the noble adventure ancestry. Like most dogs with such a behavior, they love the physical activity and bonding moments with their human friends. These dogs seek to please and hence, you should take them into activities that can keep them entertained. It’s hard not to notice these dogs as they love to be close to their owners, and they would practically stick to you at all times.
However, in case if they are not sufficiently, they can end up having severe issues including separation anxiety, being nervous at all times, and even more aggressive and destructive behavior. It’s highly stimulating if you keep them on the lead. A very good leash training would prevent them from developing shyness or from overly aggressive behaviors.
8. Border Collie
As a breed originally hailing from Scotland, the Border Collie dog breed is one of the premier and highly regarded herding dogs in the world. If not given the suitable kind of guidance and adequate exercise that they require, these breed of dogs tends to develop behavior problems such as pacing around in circles frantically, engaging in constant obsessive staring or even resorting to grabbing a person’s hand with their nibbling teeth.
One reason for this is that these dogs are extremely sensitive to any form of severe punishment or rough treatment meted to them; Where as any form of positive, reward, and motivational training would give one the best results when it comes to training the dog being discussed here; learning techniques are performed more effectively by them when they understand that they are doing something good.
Conclusion:
In short, shy dogs can look like they don’t want to come near you and even seem to be frightened at first but the right pet parenting is the key to overcoming this. Whether sufficient socialization, training, leadership, and love is given to the animals, each of them will be able to grow into their brave personalities. The simplest way to turn a scared dog into a companion is to find a combination of suitable communication, i.e., training, along with little more affection. All dogs need an informed committed owner and shy ones need a partner even more.
So are you ready to take on the rewarding challenge of turning a shy dog into a faithful companion? Let us know in the comments!