Many dogs, most often puppies that have not been handled by the breeder, or animals that have been abused or rescued from shelters, get scared out of hand. This is especially true in the case of a hand that goes towards your face or goes over your head. Unfortunately, they can’t tell you what negative experience they had with human hands. Many perceive this action as a threat. Usually some form of abuse, lack of socialization or neglect, is the cause of this heartbreaking behavior. Never pick up a dog with this behavior problem. It can make them more apprehensive and/or possibly aggressive! Fearful dogs can be dangerous dogs. Be patient. You can help them overcome this fear and make a positive association with your hand.
What you can do to help your dog overcome hand shyness:
1. When approaching your dog, approach slowly and at a slight angle. When approached at an angle, it won’t appear as large and threatening as if approached head-on. You can also squat or kneel so as not to project a threat.
2. SLOWLY reach out and pet your dog under the chin, keeping the hand in view. Avoid “jerky” movements with your arms. Speak softly and calmly. Praise him for letting you touch it. If they accept it, reward them with a treat.
3. Enroll your dog in obedience classes as soon as possible. Find a local trainer who practices non-punishment, positive reinforcement methods. Work on verbal corrections, a calm tone of voice, and non-threatening body language, rather than physical corrections.
4. Work on remembering, so you don’t have to grab it. Welcome, call your dog by his name and say: “COME!” Praise and reward him when he comes to you. Rub it under the chin. For some dogs, it helps if they squat or kneel when called.
5. Practice positive reinforcement. Reward your dog with lots of praise and a quiet pat under the chin. Reinforce his happiness by speaking in a soft, calm tone of voice to show him that you are satisfied with his behavior.
6. Massage your dog as often as you can. Work the entire body, but focus on the head and neck area. Talk softly to them during the massage. The more you do it, the more confident and relaxed they will become. Through this positive experience, they will learn to associate your hand as loving and good.
7. Tell family and friends what you are trying to do. Show them the correct way to approach and pet your dog. Do not hesitate to correct them immediately, if they are doing it incorrectly.
Bottom line: Your dog needs to make the human hand association non-threatening. The more loving hands are associated with a positive experience your dog feels, the sooner they will welcome it. As your dog becomes more relaxed with you and your family and friends, start taking him places where there are new people to meet. Explain to them what problem you are working on and ask them to come over to your dog. They can start by simply giving the dog a treat or toy. As your dog becomes more comfortable accepting treats or toys from strangers; Reassure yourself to pet your dog under the chin, then reward the dog with a treat or toy. In this way, your dog will associate human hands with loving, gentle touch and other good things. Be patient, calm and constant. Over time, you will see a more confident dog that welcomes human contact.
