Is my dog afraid of me? How can I rebuild his trust?
W
Wercia001
Hi, I have a question about my dog. He's 5 years old. When I'm not at home and my brother or sister-in-law are there, he stays in room 1, but as soon as I get back, he moves to room 2. The doors are open and he's free to come and go as he pleases. Could this behaviour mean he's scared of me or feels stressed when I'm around? What could be causing this? I'd really appreciate some advice. My dog had a few bad experiences with me in the past, and I get the feeling he doesn't trust me as much because of it. I'm really keen to rebuild our relationship now and make sure he feels safe with me.
He's much calmer with other people, but he runs away from me. What's the best way to handle this? Are there any exercises I can do to help him trust me again?
Translated Polish
The forum content is sometimes translated from another language, and posts may concern countries with different animal laws. Do your research before making any decisions.
Since the forum is translated by AI, the translations may contain errors.
Right, I’m going to be blunt. In my experience, my first dog, a Jack Russell (turning 7 this year), had some tough times with me. I was very strict and firm with his training. Nowadays he’s an absolute sweetheart. Why?
Because I think I never stopped talking to him and explaining things to him. It’s 5:50 am and he’s come up to wake me up with a nudge of his paw 🙂😇
Then he goes and gets his lead and collar…
Last night he wanted to play. He was being very expressive. In short, he's a total darling, and as a result, he's the one who trained his 2-year-old little brother when he was a puppy 🐶 another Jack Russell.
In your case, I think you should keep a diary (pen and paper) for 7 days to observe his behaviour and decode it. That’s what I’ve always done.
In my opinion, it’s not what you think it is.
If you are his main point of reference for training and authority, there's no reason for it. However, why are your brother and sister-in-law there? Do you live together? If so, look no further. He’s picked his side….
Hello,
It’s true that if he’s had negative experiences with you, your dog is very likely to feel uneasy in your presence and try to avoid you.
The best thing to do is to try approaching him by offering something positive. For example, you could offer him treats, a toy, or some fuss. The more you offer him things he likes, the more tempted he’ll be to come back to you. The goal is to spend as many pleasant moments with him as possible so that he begins to associate you with something positive.
However, you mustn’t force contact with him. Offer the treat or toy but **let him come to you** if he wants to, and make sure he has an escape route if he feels the need for one. Don't be afraid to use a high-pitched voice when interacting with him; dogs often perceive this as positive. Also, avoid approaching him head-on. Dogs feel more comfortable when you approach from the side and get down to their level. When you offer him a bit of kibble, it’s actually better to do so while sitting on the floor or crouching down.
For instance, you could: 1. go into the same room as your dog 2. get down to floor level, approaching from the side rather than head-on 3. hold out your hand with the treat in your palm 4. wait for the dog to come to you to eat the treat 5. let him walk away or give him a stroke if he accepts the contact.
By repeating this exercise several times, the dog will associate your presence and touch with the treat. You’ll then be able to gradually try more positive contact and strengthen your bond with him.
**Regaining an animal's trust takes a lot of patience; don't get frustrated if he refuses and never push him.**
Don't hesitate to take him out for walks, see other dogs if he’s socialised, or let him explore and sniff new places (always at his own pace), go for a run, etc.
Best of luck,
All the best,
Laura
