Does your shy, anxious dog need to be separated from guests in your home? 

Often it's kindest to maintain space between your sensitive dog and visitors, but many dogs aren't comfortable suddenly findin...

If you have a fearful dog who is stressed when you have visitors, being able to give them a food toy to work on during holiday (or any!) gatherings can make them- and you- feel a lot better. But many ...

The holidays are a tough time for fearful dogs. Between disruptions to familiar routines and scary strangers coming and going, it's no wonder stress levels, and behavior problems, tend to skyrocket th...

Are you struggling to help your anxious or fearful dog feel safer and more confident? Maybe you've considered putting them on anti-anxiety medication, but you're worried drugs will turn your dog into ...

Did you know that scent-based (sniffing) games can be great for building your fearful dog's confidence? I recommend trying out Nose Work, Scent Work, or less formalized sniffing games for your dog bec...

Is your dog anxious outside of your home? Maybe they're especially nervous in new places? If this describes your dog, a mobile safe space might be a good option for them.

I usually talk about safe sp...

I had the pleasure of chatting and sharing your questions with Zazie Todd, author of the new book "Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog." You can find the recording of t...

It's important for your sensitive dog to have one or more safe spaces at home that they can retreat to when stressed.  But how can you encourage your dog to actually relax there? 

In the video below,...

It is so disheartening when your fearful dog has a significant regression in their anxiety and behavior. It can feel like you've lost all the progress you've made, and you're starting over again. Why ...

In the last blog on how to build your dog's confidence, I encouraged you to pick a behavior that your dog is already pretty good at, and start reinforcing it consistently in many contexts.  This is a ...

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...