Tied outside the entrance of a café, the young Border Collie-mix paced and panted. An approaching couple, assuming that a dog tethered outside of a café would be friendly, moved toward him to say hello. But before they could get within five feet, he erupted into a frenzy of barks and shrieks and then urinated. The dog’s person rushed out, coffee in hand. “Sorry—he’s a bit shy,” she said, the dog cowering into her. Untying the dog, she quickly led him away down the street. For a “normal” dog, this would have been a welcome encounter. But for a chronically shy dog, something as simple as a casual hello from a stranger can be a terrifying experience. It goes without saying that this timid dog should never have been left out there alone, waiting to fail. This example is an extreme case of shyness (extreme shyness can look like aggression), but there’s a whole spectrum of timidity. Read on to determine if your dog is shy and how you can use confidence boosting exercises to help her feel at ease.   Is Your Dog Shy? Signs of Shyness Typically, a dog’s behaviour and body posture will alert you to his timidity. A shy dog might exhibit any or all of the following: Ears flattened back to the head Cowering posture Shying away from interactions with other dogs and/or people Tail tucked between the legs Panting or shaking Dilated, glassy eyes Skulking, pacing, hiding, or escaping Whining or barking Raised hackles Fear of eye contact Sneering, nipping or biting Submissive urination Some shy dogs exhibit shy behaviour only toward people, while others show it only toward dogs.  Many, though, will display the behavior toward both, or even in stressful situations that don’t involve a person or dog. Thunder, fireworks, traffic, or any unpredictable circumstance can trigger a shy dog into a panic. Why Shy? Causes of chronic timidity in dogs are numerous, and include one or more of the following: Hereditary predisposition Improper socialization during the first eight weeks of life Traumatic occurrence during the first “fear imprint” stage, from 8–11 weeks Chronic abuse Injury or attack Medical issues, including hearing loss, thyroid imbalance, epilepsy, or chronic pain Rescue dogs in particular can suffer from shyness, due not only to trauma associated with being in a noisy shelter with many unknown dogs, but from the abrupt (and often serial) termination of comforting relationships with an adoptive family. When a dog is abruptly denied the comfort of a reliable, loving situation, and deprived of any dependable routine, he can develop anti-social tendencies. Don’t! There are certain situations and actions you should attempt to avoid with your timid, fearful dog. They include: Tethering her outside an establishment such as a café, store or library while you go inside. People coming and going will try to pet her; this will reinforce her fears, and perhaps cause a biting incident. Forcing your dog into a fearful situation, thinking it’s a “sink-or-swim” solution. It will only make things worse!  Telling friends and strangers to make eye contact with her and to reach out to greet her.  Instead, let your dog initiate the greeting. Having large, boisterous groups in the home. Putting her into a room or a crate will make matters worse, because she can still hear the noise, but not go anywhere to avoid it. Only use the crate or room if it is located far enough away for her to not hear the stimulus. The hectic activity of children should particularly be avoided.  Overbearing training styles. Forcing a shy, hiding dog out from under tables, sofas or chairs when scared. Instead, let her come out of her own accord. If you must get her out, keep a leash on her in the home and use it to coax her out. Then have her sit for a treat. Taking her into chaotic urban environs or areas with unpredictable activity, such as a skateboard park or a fireworks display. Instead, always think ahead, and choose venues you know won’t panic her. How to Help a Bashful Dog Enj