Helping an Unsocialized Dog

Here is a letter I got inquiring about help for an under-socialized dog who has been taken into a rescue. (Names and place have been taken out) and my response to it. It is a good reminder about dealing with dogs who come from bad beginnings. The exercise I outline is for dogs who are extremely under socialized and showing fears that would include trying to hide, shaking, avoiding eye contact, or peeing when a stranger is near.


Hi- I need advice for my new foster dog.  From my understanding he came from an abusive home. He is under 2, I believe ,and has never been inside a home/building. One of my main concerns is his fear of humans. If you have any tips or any advise that could help I'd appreciate it.

Sure, happy to help. 

 To start with try some target training. This means condition him to a word or sound like a clicker. I don't use clickers often because they can be a pain to carry so I say "yes" to my dogs. That means they did well and a treat is coming. To start with just get some good treats and say "yes" and then give the treat. "yes" treat "yes" treat. Do this over and over until he starts looking for the treat when you say "yes".

When he knows "yes" or the clicker is his target word/sound you can start some socializing. How afraid of humans is he? I'd try a week of the following exercise:

Put him on leash, get good treats and your friends to help. Sit on the floor in a small room with him. Have someone come in the room (this person should not look at, talk to, or touch the dog) When the person comes in you say "yes" and give a treat. When the person leaves go back to just sitting with him. Have the person (or several different people) come into the room many times. Each time a human comes in "yes" and treat. Do this in about 10 minute sessions. When he starts looking excited when the human comes in (either a tail wag, perky ears, open mouth) then you can start having the people give him the treat but still no talk or eye contact. Just a flat open hand with the treat. This could take a few days or a few minutes. It all depends on the dog and how deep his fears go.

Also remember not to act as if he is a victim or a "sad case". Dogs can pick up on this and respond that way because they think this is what you want. Treat him as if he is a confident dog who has never been a victim. That is the only way he will ever get past it. I so often see dogs who were abused years earlier and their owners are still telling the story, sadly petting the dog while they do. These dogs stay victims for their whole lives and never move out of their past, not because they can't, but because their human won't let them.

Julie Anderson

Bad Behavior /Good Dog

A Fun Trick To Try

Are you looking for a new trick to teach Fido this spring? Here is a really fun one that will get you both outside in the sun and provide hours of fun!

Teach your dog to hunt out smells:

(This can be used just for fun, or for a real job like search and rescue)

Step 1: Find a scent you want your dog to recognize and hunt for. I was just doing the game for fun so I used Basil.

Step 2: Find two or three small glass jars (glass has less of its own scent than plastic). Baby jars work really well. Place the scent in one of the jars. I shook about 1 tlbs of crushed Basil into the jar.

Step 3: Place the jars (only one has the scent in it) in front of your dog. When he sniffs the jar with the smell say "YES" and treat him. You could also use a clicker in place of the "yes". Do this several times. In fact, your whole first 10-15 minute session might just be encouraging him to sniff the jars and then rewarding only the sniff with the jar that has scent in it. Some dogs will be able to focus on this activity for a long time others may only stay focused for a few minutes. Just go at your dog's pace, and break it into as many training sessions as he needs.

Step 4: When your dog is consistently sniffing only the jar with scent have him wait and walk across the room. Place the jars down about a foot apart and tell him "find it". Then again, reward him for finding the right jar. At this point you can even start placing the jars around the corner and widening the space between them.

Step 5: When your dog has figured out that finding that scent gets him a reward take away the other jars. Have your dog sit and stay while you hide the scent jar out of his sight but still in an easy place. Again, say "find it" and when he does reward.

Step 6: By now your dog should be able to understand the game and you can move outside placing the scent jar in harder to find place. Each time reward with lots of praise.

There is no limit to how far this game can go for you and your dog. You can hide the scent in harder and harder places, go to the park and play it there. You can even start adding in more scents. When your dog gets really good at the game you can even try showing him one of your socks, or a toy. When he smells it tell him "yes" and then treat. Now you can place new objects under his nose and he will get that when you say "find it" he is to find the object he just sniffed!

Have fun learning and playing together!

You Good Dog Training Class

Small Group Class

Coming Sundays in March: Julie Anderson, with Bad Behavior/Good Dog will be offering a small group class for dogs ages 6 months and up. The class will cover:

v Teaching boundaries

v Games designed to challenge and teach

v Dog body language and what it means

v Loose leash walking without a fight!

v How to properly introduce two dogs

v Basic obedience

v Trouble shooting

This is a great chance for you and your dog to get out and have some fun together while strengthening your bond! Only $50 a dog if registered by February 20^th, and $70 after February 20th (one handler per dog). Dogs must not be reactive to other dogs in order to participate.

March 4, 11, 18, 25

1:00 to 1:45pm @ Charter Pointe Park (Lake Hazel and Maple Grove Roads)

Space is limited so please call today to RSVP 208-340-2824

Visit my website at www.badbehaviorgooddog.com

Sponsored by: Toby and Omar Dog Boutique

A Puppie's Progress

Our foster pup Ralphie during some of his training sessions. Ralphie is looking for the perfect home to call his own!


1. This is about 15 mins into his first session. I sit down on his level use a small room and only a small space in that room. I teach "follow" first so he will learn to follow my hand. This helps me postion him where I need him for later training. Lots of treats and praise.

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2898663749464

2. The Same lesson as before but now I'm off the floor and using more space.
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2905739006341

3. Stay is added in, I'm using the whole room and only giving treats after he has accomplished several commands in a row.

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3003306405465

4. This is not the first walk session, he has had many. But here he has mastered stopping when I stop with no verbal or visual commands.

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3022984897415

5. And this one is just teaching him some fun things like fetch. I use a soft toy to start because puppies have an easier time carrying soft things than they do balls.

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2905647404051

Ralphie is available for adoption through Fuzzy Pawz. Find out how to adopt him at...

http://www.adoptapet.com/pet6654863.html