Dog Training a Nervous or Shy Dog
Dog Training a nervous or shy dog can appear to be a challenge. Shyness can arise on its own, or it can come bundled with traits. Nervous or shy dogs can also be highly sensitive, highly reactive, or a combination both. 
These traits can create a dog who becomes rattled by loud noises, who stresses out when his owner is nervous or there is a tension in the household, or who overreacts to corrections from this owner.
When a dog has all three traits- shyness, high reactivity, and high sensitivity – working to get him to function in more stable manner not only demands some very creative techniques but can require constant reinforcement.
Training a Shy Dogs
Shyness is a trait that makes owning and training a dog more difficult. Some dogs are shy because of their genetic makeup. Shyness can crop up in any breed; however, breeds such as Shetland Sheepdogs, Belgian Tervurens, and some of the terrier breeds who have more reserved natures, are more likely to be shyer individuals. Dogs that are not adequately socialized also tend toward shyness. Although all dog owners need to socialize their dogs to prevent shyness issues, when dealing with a shyer dog, socialization can take specialized techniques and require an extensive time commitment.
Your Dog’s Social Aptitude
Most of the training of a shy dog deals with socialization, which means introducing him to people and other dogs. Dogs that are not shy are usually comfortable with people and other dogs, and many of their socialization needs can be met by attending a puppy class. However, a shy or reserved dog will require much more socialization work. A shy dog must be carefully introduced to people and other dogs of different sizes, sexes, ages, and demeanors.
A good way to approach socializing your dog is to understand his social aptitude. Although dogs vary in their degree of stability, by deciding where your dog falls in these three main categories, you can better decide how to approach successful socialization.
You can look at your dog as you would a stop light.
Green for Go
A green dog acts as if all dogs and people have been waiting around for his arrival and the privilege of hi company. This dog readily marches up to strange dogs and has no hesitation approaching people he’s never met.
Socializing a Green Dog
Green dogs take only a minimum amount of socializing. It’s easy to socialize the green dog by attending puppy class and getting him around a few adults, children, and other dogs. However, a green dog that has little or no socialization may become reserved. Luckily, it only takes a little effort to socialize these types of dogs, even at an older age.
Yellow for Reserved
The yellow dog is reserved. He is willing to accept strangers and strange dogs but prefers to do so on his own terms. If a strange person or dog rushes up to a yellow dog, he will immediately back off. However, if you stop close to a reserved dog, he’ll be more willing to approach you and make a quiet introduction. Once the yellow dog knows a person or dog, he will be comfortable when he approaches. This dog can have a fairly large circle of people and dogs that he is comfortable, as long as the socialization proceeds at his pace and is not rushed.
Socialization with the Yellow Dog
The yellow dog requires more work than a green dog. Reserved dogs can become selectively social and may feel at ease with only certain kinds of people, such as women but not all men, or certain kinds or dogs, such as calm dogs but not excitable ones.
Taking a yellow dog to a puppy class is a great way to start the socialization process, but unlike the green dog, you’ll typically need to do more work. Expose the yellow dog to many different types of people, including males who are large in stature, women, and children of different ages. Introduce the yellow dog to a variety of sizes and breeds, including some of the more powerful breeds, because these dogs can have a different demeanor: Yellow dogs must be socialized outside of puppy classes because they may not transfer the confidence they gain in class to strange dogs they meet.
Some reserved dogs remain reserved all of their lives. Others, with enough work, can socialize well enough so that they become more green than yellow. Although the younger the better for socialization, expect to continue to work with this type of dog for at least the first year of life and sometimes until he is two or three.
Red for Shy
Red symbolizes the shy dog who will want to stop or hold back in most situations. These dogs can be dog shy, people shy, or both. Ashy dog will not approach people he doesn’t know and will flee either strange dogs or people who approach him. These dogs have a small circle of people and dogs with which they are comfortable. The shyer the dog, the smaller his circle of comfort.
Socialization with the Red Dog
As hard as you try, you’ll never turn a shy dog into an outgoing one. “Shy” dogs who have reformed were probably either under socialized green dogs or yellow dogs who were able to “go green”. Very shy dogs will stay true to their nature.
You can, however, improve the shy dog. The younger you start working with a shy dog, the more success you will have. But your socialization work will never be done. Even if you work hard for the first three years to expose a red dog to things he is uncertain of, he will still tend toward episodes of shyness it’s his nature. Shyness can create insecurity, and that insecurity will work to reinforce the dog’s shyness.
How to Socialize a Shy Dog
When working with a shy dog, make sure that his experiences are positive and that he doesn’t become overwhelmed. You’ll need to learn to read your dog to determine if he is becoming overwhelmed. Many overwhelmed dogs will pull backward on the leash and not want to move forward.
Some dogs will crouch as they walk.
Dropped ears and a clamped tail are also signs, as is a hunched back. Some dogs will show worry in their eyes. If you let your dog become overwhelmed and don’t resolve the problem, he will become less secure. If you see any of these signals from your dog, get him back to a place where he can regain a comfortable, relaxed feeling.