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 leader for support. Be sure to review the Rules of Three and Explore Together! Socialization to Build Confidence in Puppies documents 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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