Perhaps you have let the first few months of dog ownership go by without really working on socialization, and now your dog gets frightened in strange environments or with unfamiliar people. Or maybe you have been working to socialize your dog, but the lessons haven't worked as well as you hoped. This could be a result of his breed and/or personality. For example, working and herding breeds are notoriously more suspicious of new people and things. Whatever the reason, don't panic! You can still work on this problem. Sooner is better, but it's never too late to try.

Here are some guidelines for working with your anxious pup:

Keep in mind that building confidence in a fearful dog is time-consuming. Don't expect miracles overnight.

Be flexible, allow for regression, and be prepared for changes to your plan.

Keep all members of the family, dog sitters, and visiting friends in the loop regarding your dog's progress. You don't want someone accidentally undoing weeks of your hard work.

Break your goals down into steps in order to see improvement in a relatively short period of time.

Develop a Plan

Having a plan is absolutely critical when working with a fearful dog. For instance, teaching your dog to make a game out of what she is afraid of, through targeting, is a great way to build her confidence. If you practice targeting enough, it will become second nature to your dog, and she will learn to play the game regardless of what else is going on around her.

Maybe your dog is afraid of strange men, for example. You might start off by using a male member of your family whom your dog likes and teaching her to target the person's hand. Once you're ready to move on to trying it with a stranger, remember that it will take time and patience. The task should be broken down into pieces. For example, try the following steps and take notes on the dog's reaction to each:

1. Have the stranger sit in a chair and ignore the dog at first.

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2. Next have the stranger drop small pieces of treats around his feet, and let your dog take her time eating them.

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3. If your dog is too scared to eat, break it down into something even easier, like having the person lie on the couch or sit a greater distance away. Your dog's appetite is a good indicatior of her comfort level.

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4. After the dog relaxes enough to eat the treats, gradually change the variables so that eventually the dog is able to target the person's hand for a treat.

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Don't jump right into targeting with strange people. This method will be successful only if you work with your dog extensively, first to teach her to target your hand and then the hands of other people she likes. Once you've built up your dog's confidence around familiar people, targeting can then be used to teach your dog to be brave around new people and other scary things. Taking the time to teach your dog to target will be one of the most important training tools you have to help her get over her fears. It will give your dog something constructive to do instead of being scared.

Be Organized and Consistent

Fearful dogs do not suddenly become confident, even with lots of training. The best approach is having a determined attitude and setting clear, achievable goals. Being consistent and specific about how you want your dog to react and behave is particularly important in the case of an apprehensive dog.

In order to remain consistent in your efforts with your scared pup, you might want to create and maintain a schedule. Get the whole family involved with your plan. Use the following chart to write out a schedule, and then make a copy to post in a visible location.

Take it to the Next Level

If you are unsuccessful with efforts to bring your dog out of her shell at home, you may want to look into some other options. After all, a phobic and anxious dog is probably going to have a difficult time in life. One option to try is enrolling your dog in a well-organized group training class. Be honest with your instructor about what your goals are, and ask if a group class would be an appropriate place to start with a fearful dog such as yours. Also, if you're considering a doggie day-care facility, talk to the staff about your dog's apprehension. There are doggie day cares that take on special cases, and often the staff is very knowledgeable about these problems. They can help make sure your dog learns to overcome her fears and has an enjoyable experience.

Use the following space to write down notes about any training classes or day-care programs you're considering. Reviewing these notes at the end of your research period, perhaps with the help of your veterinarian, will help you make the best decision.