10/14/2026
๐พ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐
๐ When we meet a nervous, fearful or newly rescued dog, one of our most natural instincts is to offer them food from our hand.
โก๏ธWe crouch down.
โก๏ธWe hold out a tasty treat.
โก๏ธWe speak softly.
And we think:
โ๐ผ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๏ผ ๐กโ๐๐ฆโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ผโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐.โ
But for a worried dog, a dog that has been mistreated, abused, roughly handled, anxiousโฆ we may accidentally be creating eอmอoอtอiอoอnอaอlอ cอoอnอfอlอiอcอtอ.
โก๏ธThe dog wants the food.
๐คBut getting the food means coming closer to the thing theyโre unsure aboutโฆ
๐๐
พ๏ธ๐.
So now two motivations are competing:
๐ I really want that food.
๐ But I really donโt want to get that close.
The food can be tempting enough to pull the dog closer than they would voluntarily choose to come.
โฏThey stretch forward.
โฏTheir body stays back.
โฏThey sn**ch the treat and retreat.
Or they creep closer, eat itโฆand suddenly realise just how close they are to the scary person.
That isnโt confidence.
๐๐ผAnd taking food from your hand does not automatically mean the dog trusts you.
โ
Sometimes it simply means the food was valuable enough for them to TแดแฐแญOแแฉแIแชY override their discomfort.
And this is where I ALWAYS do something that initially seems completely backwards:
I throw the food AWAY from me.
๐ฏYes. Away.
๐ Toss the treat behind the dog.
๐ Let them move away from you to get it.
๐ง Remove the conflict between wanting the food and needing distance.
Why?
Because distance can be reinforcing too.
For a nervous dog, being allowed to move away can provide relief and, importantly, a sense of control.
โตษดsแดแดแดแด
แด๊ฐ:
โ๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.โ
แดกแดโสแด แดแดแดแดแดษดษชแดแดแดษชษดษข:
โ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐โ๐ก โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๏ผ ๐ผโ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๏ผโ
And THAT can be incredibly ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
โ
The dog gets the food and the distance they wanted.
Then something interesting can begin to happen.
They eat the treat.
They turn back.
They look at you.
Perhaps they take one little step towards you.
So you toss another treat away.
They leave again.
They come back again.
And gradually, the dog starts discovering:
โ
I can approach this person and Iโm still allowed to leave.
๐ฏThat ability to retreat matters enormously.
Because confidence isnโt built by repeatedly persuading a frightened dog to tolerate something.
Itโs built by giving them choice, predictability, agency and control.
Eventually, you may notice something beautiful.
๐ฉตThe dog starts returning more quickly.
๐ฉตThey stay a little closer.
๐ฉตTheir body becomes softer.
๐ฉตThey begin investigating you.
๐ฉตThey choose proximity without needing food held under their nose to lure them there.
And that distinction is HUGE.
โค๏ธ We donโt want to lure nervous dogs into closeness.
We want to create an environment in which they feel safe enough to choose closeness themselves.
โก๏ธ So next time you meet a nervous rescue dog, or even a dog you are simply not familiar with, resist the temptation to hold a treat out and coax:
โCome onโฆcome and get itโฆโ
Instead, take the pressure off.
Turn your body slightly away.
โ๏ธDonโt stare.
โ๏ธDonโt reach.
โ๏ธDonโt insist on interaction.
โ
And toss that treat away from you.
It might feel like youโre teaching the dog to leave.
But what you may actually be teaching them is something far more important:
โ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐.โ
And when a nervous dog truly understands thatโฆ
theyโre often much more willing to come back. โค๏ธ๐พ
๐๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ช๐จ. ๐๐ง๐ช๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐๐ง๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐.
