Once upon a time, dog owners let their dogs out in the morning and called them home for supper. Much of a dog's day was his own, to explore, encounter, visit, and play. Today, the dog owner must be responsible for taking an active part in the social life of his friend. Beyond genes, socialization is the key ingredient to a well-mannered, friendly dog. While the tendency towards shyness and fear may have its foundation in the genetic make-up of the dog, these inappropriate behaviors can usually be avoided or overcome through continued socialization from an early age coupled with training and behavior modification.

A young dog needs to be exposed to people, animals, and other dogs, as well as to different places and situations. Each encounter should be positive, lighthearted, and fun. As the socialized dog grows, so does his confidence. Yet, the older dog who is already shy or fearful can also be taught to be more outgoing and confident.

Basic obedience training is vital to helping your shy dog overcome his fears. Here are some tips to help you help your dog. Take your dog for a short walk. As you notice fear beginning to develop, give a command to heel, sit, or down. Immediately follow his obedience with a treat like Milk-Bone Doggie Bag Treats or a small MilkBone Biscuit. Add plenty of praise then continue on your walk, repeating the exercise as needed. Start with short walks. As your dog develops more confidence, increase the length and difficulty of your walk by adding new sights, observing strange objects, walking at night, or traveling near noisy areas. You can place a Milk-Bone Biscuit on that scary fire hydrant, then encourage your dog to investigate it. When he does, he will reward himself with the biscuit! Soon strange objects evoke curiosity, not fear.

You should walk with an air of confidence, after all your dog is keying on your behavior, So set a good example. Try to avoid coddling, protecting, or babying your dog when he is afraid. Your reactions to your fearful dog, although given out of love, may actually encourage more fearfulness.