Build on your dog's strengths to build confidence

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 of my favorite sections (from Recent Issues in the Analysis of Behavior) included a statement about self-confidence being an "effect of success."

We might not be able to ask our dogs if they are feeling confident, but we CAN work to ensure that they have lots of success!  What is success from a behavioral point of view?  A straightforward definition might be repeated positive reinforcement of skill use.  In other words, our dogs are "successful" when they learn to use skills to get good things (positive reinforcement.)  

So here's something you can start today:  Pick a behavior that your dog already does fairly frequently, that you like, and that they're "good at."  Then, reinforce it consistently, wherever and whenever you see it.  Start building a strong history of success with this behavior in lots of different settings. 

That's it! Just one step to get started building your dog's confidence. 

I'd love to hear what behavior you picked! Shoot me an email at [email protected] and tell me what you chose to reinforce.