We all want our fearful or anxious dogs to feel more confident. But how can we make that happen? 

During preparation for a recent talk, I reviewed several of B.F. Skinner's writings on the subject. One...

Is your dog afraid to go on walks? Maybe your dog won't go out the door at all, or perhaps they are willing to walk a short distance but then turn around and pull toward home?  

If this sounds like y...

Are you struggling to make progress with your anxious dog because you can't get them to focus?  Maybe they seem less interested in your treats than the environment? 

If your dog looks away from you, wa...

Do you ever throw up your hands during a training session with your sensitive pup, because you can't seem to get them to focus? Maybe they seem easily distracted, or stubborn, or like they just don't ...

Fireworks are tough on many dogs. What can you do to help your dog get through the fireworks season? Here are a few approaches:  

Strategy #1 For Dealing With Fireworks: Get Out Of Town

When you ...

Have a sensitive dog who doesn't love the heat, but you can't put a bandana or vest on them?  Cooling mats might be a good option for you.

There are many types of commercially available cooling mats fo...

Is your sensitive pup a slow, suspicious eater? Are you running out of ways to trick them into taking their pills? 

For dogs who quickly gulp down treats without chewing them, and will enthusiastically...

Would you like to be able to put your dog in another room or a crate when you have visitors, but your dog doesn't tolerate being separated from you? This can make it really tough to have guests, if yo...

Have you heard that you just need to "Give your dog more time"?  Are time, patience, and love really enough to build your fearful dog's confidence and change their behavior? 

In my opinion, you need mo...

You want your fearful dog to feel happier and more confident- but where to start? Enrichment games are a great way to get more joy into your dog's day. Here are some favorites from our Confidence Buil...

Are you heaping love and reassurance on your fearful dog, but just can't seem to make them feel better? The reason could be a "comfort mismatch" between humans and dogs. 

We humans have ways of comfo...

If you have a fearful dog, you likely want them to feel safe and secure. But what does that mean, and how do you go about implementing it? 

This week, I share four real-life examples from our Confide...