Obedience training may help puppy overcome fears

Dear Cathy: My husband and I adopted a 3-monthold male dog from a rescue organization. I’m not sure of his breed. He’s about 25 pounds and looks like a black Lab mix. The problem is, he is afraid of our home — and us in it. He hides under the bed and behind the couch. He is afraid of many noises. I thought it was because he was a rescue and needed time.

But when we go to someone else’s home, he runs into the house, plays with everyone, lies on the couch, etc. When he comes back home, he is afraid again. We don’t crate him. He sleeps with us sometimes, goes for walks, is friendly and is house-trained. We don’t have a fenced yard, so on the second day, we had him on a long leash in the yard. When my husband opened the patio door, he ran in still leashed and jumped around, terrified. We got rid of the leash the next day and put up a temporary fence. He goes into the yard but is still afraid of our home. Any ideas? — Shari, Freedom, Wisconsin

Dear Shari: It can be difficult to pinpoint what triggers a dog’s fears. It’s important to consider any and all possible common denominators, like: Does this behavior only happen at your home? You said yes. Could the incident on the tether have frightened him? Absolutely, but probably not to this extent. Is your dog more anxious around your husband? Some dogs are afraid of men. Could there be a sound inside or outside your home that scares him? If yes, that could trigger insecurities.

While it’s helpful to know what’s causing the behavior, you don’t have to know what those triggers actually are to help your dog overcome them.

Start with basic obedience training. It can distract your pup from a potential trigger and help build his confidence. Begin by putting him on a leash in the house and training him to “sit,” “down” and “stay.” (The leash is so he doesn’t run and hide under the bed.) Use a clicker and a treat to acknowledge when your dog gets it right.

Train your dog at least three times a day for 10 minutes each session. Both you and your husband should train your dog, so he develops a bond with both of you. Once you see him more relaxed, teach him games, like fetch, take him for more walks and introduce him to puzzle toys. The busier you keep his mind with training and activities, the less time he has to be scared of things.

You also can introduce a pheromone collar to help him feel more at ease during training.