Just like us, dogs differ in how social and extroverted they are. As your dog continues to grow, you may wonder—will my shy puppy grow out of it?
A shy or introverted dog may be more comfortable self-entertaining or spending time with close family while showing anxiety in the presence of unfamiliar people. Although your dog may develop their own (potentially destructive or unproductive) ways of coping, it’s your job to help your dog stay comfortable. You are your young dog’s advocate in social situations.
Why is my young dog introverted?
We’ll review a few reasons that your dog may have a more introverted personality, but the truth is that for some dogs, it’s just who they are! Being introverted isn’t a bad thing. It just means your dog may prefer the company of a select group of people or animals.
Lack of socialization
Some dogs may be shyer around other animals and people due to a lack of socialization during early life. During the first few months of their life, your puppy went through an important socialization period where their exposure to a wide range of people, animals, noises and experiences would affect their response to new things in the future.
If your dog didn’t receive adequate positive exposure to other people and animals during their early socialization period, they may be shyer or more wary during new introductions now.
Experiencing a fear period
Some dogs experience a fear period during their adolescence where they appear to be a little uncomfortable around people, animals or things they were previously alright with. For most of these dogs, this time period will pass so long as they don’t have this shy response reinforced.
Negative past experiences
Even if you did everything right with socialization, a negative experience can have a lasting impact. For instance, if a dog were to run up and attack your young dog during a walk, your dog may lose trust in unfamiliar dogs and respond with shyness, fear or even aggression to other dogs in the future.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety and separation anxiety, can affect dogs. In some cases, this anxiety informs how your dog responds to other animals and people. Not all dogs with anxiety will be shy, but for those with generalized anxiety or specific phobias, anxiety can lead to a shy or introverted disposition when new people or animals visit.
How to help a shy or introverted young dog
Having a shy or introverted dog doesn’t mean you can’t ever have guests over. You’ll just need to make sure that you’re considering your dog’s needs when you’re planning for a social event. Consider the following tips on how to help a shy puppy or young dog.
Provide a safe space
Your dog should have a place they can retreat to if they need a moment alone. Fill this space with their favorite bed, toys and treats. This space should be inaccessible to children.
Don’t force interactions
Your young dog doesn’t need to greet every person that comes through the door. If they’d rather stay away when people are filing in, let them do that. They may come to visit in their own time.
Use positive reinforcement
When your puppy or young dog is meeting new people, ensure they’re getting a lot of treats and gentle praise. You want them to associate introductions with rewards. You can even have your visitors give your shy dog some treats.
Try medications
If your dog’s shyness leads to anxiety in the presence of other people, speak with your VCA care team. In some cases, they may recommend medications to help take the edge off.
How to socialize a shy young dog
Your shy dog can still get some socialization, as long as they’re not aggressive. However, their acceptance of new people and animals may take time, so it will be an exercise in patience.
Let your young dog set the pace
When meeting new dogs or people, you should let your dog determine if and when they’re ready. Don’t drag or pull your dog up to new people. Some dogs will do better with one person at a time. When visitors come over, it’s sometimes better to let your dog meet them outside the home (driveway, front porch, parking lot) before walking into the home together.
Use positive reinforcement
Again, positive reinforcement is the cornerstone of changing your dog’s behavior. Provide good treats and rewards during socialization. Praise from you is a great reward, but keep in mind that strangers bending over and petting your dog may increase stress. During introductions, others should only show physical praise to your dog if your dog is soliciting attention and showing loose, wiggly body language.
Try desensitization and counterconditioning
If your dog has a specific phobia or fear that causes them to act shy, consider trying desensitization and counterconditioning. Desensitization involves exposing your dog to a stimulus at a low level and slowly increasing the stimulus as they come to accept it. With counterconditioning, you reward your dog as they’re exposed to the stimulus to encourage them to associate the stimulus with rewards. Let your VCA veterinarian guide you on the process to keep everyone safe.
Train one-on-one
Your dog may simply not like being around large groups. While group training can be very beneficial for the socialization of puppies and young dogs, it may cause stress and anxiety for shy and introverted dogs. You can still provide mental stimulation and physical exercise with individual training.
Will my shy dog grow out of it?
It’s harder to shift the behavior of older puppies and young adults than it is to socialize a young puppy. In some cases, slow and patient behavioral intervention can allow for change over time. By using positive reinforcement, you may be able to widen your dog’s inner circle or shrink their personal bubble a bit.
However, some dogs will continue to be shy and introverted during new introductions, and that’s okay. Your VCA care team can help you find ways to make introductions more positive while working with your dog’s personality type.
Learn more about how to overcome your dog’s fear with desensitization and counterconditioning.
