Positive Pup: Building Confidence
Here are some real-life examples you can use to help you create a plan to build confidence in a pup that is showing sensitivity to something in their environment. Use the Positive Pup: Building Confidence Worksheet (link below) to outline your plan.
As a reminder, if you have a puppy that is showing confidence concerns, reach out to your support team. Be sure to review Become a Dog Body Language Detective, Rules of Three, and Explore Together! Socialization to Build Confidence in Puppies before getting started.
Real-Life Examples
Step 1: Desensitization
- Play sound of knocking on phone at low level – or – have someone knock on door quietly.
- Feed high value treats immediately after knock. Regardless if puppy barks or not.
- Wait for pup to relax before playing sound again.
Ready for Next Step: When puppy is not barking at knocking on phone or door.
Step 2: Counterconditioning
- Increase volume on phone (slightly) – or – have someone knock on door a little more loudly.
- Feed treats after the sound. Regardless if puppy barks or not.
- Wait for puppy to relax before playing sound again.
Ready for Next Step: When puppy is not barking at loud knocking on door.
Step 3: Generalization
- Practice knocking on different surfaces or in different rooms of the house. Puppy can even practice at a puppy sitter home!
- Follow same steps above each time the location or sound changes.
Ready for Next Step: When puppy isn’t barking at various knocking sounds in different rooms and surfaces. Then, when puppy isn’t barking at sitter homes.
Step 4: Real-life Scenarios
- Invite people over to practice. Have them text me before they arrive so I know to expect them.
- Keep knocking lighter, at first. Then louder the next time someone comes to visit.
Step 1: Desensitization
- Show puppy the jacket. If she looks at or moves towards it, give her high value treats.
- If she touches the jacket with her nose or part of her body, give her treats.
- If she puts her head into hole of the jacket, give treats.
- If she holds her head into the jacket, give puppy treats, then take it off.
- If she puts her head in the jacket, clip the jacket on, give treats, then take it off.
Ready for Next Step: Juno can have the jacket put on and clipped without running away.
Step 2: Counterconditioning
- Once jacket is clipped, give treats every few seconds for a short period of time, then take it off.
- Put on the jacket and slowly increase the time puppy is wearing it. Feed treats and play with toys while it’s on, just for a few minutes.
- Work up to puppy wearing the jacket for longer periods of time and encourage her to walk around in a familiar place with it on, getting lots of treats along the way.
Ready for Next Step: Puppy can wear the jacket for multiple minutes while walking around without frequently attempting to rub it off or avoiding it be put on.
Step 3: Generalization
- Practice wearing jacket at home in different rooms, while playing in the backyard, when eating meals, or on short walks. Lots of treats throughout.
- Have puppy practice putting on the jacket with different friends.
Ready for Next Step: When puppy can put on and wear the jacket in a variety of environment with a variety of people.
Step 4: Real-life Scenarios
- At a club outing, have a club member take off and put back on puppy's jacket.
- Put on the jacket as you arrive to an outing.
Work It
Download the worksheet to outline your plan for building confidence in your guide dog puppy.
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