I would love to hear a discussion about hand shyness, how it is created, how it is avoided, how it is treated. The types of dogs that develop it. The types of owners that bring it on.
Reg: 12-06-2010
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Loc: British Columbia, Canada
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One thing I noticed about Jethro is that he flinches if my hand is coming in from the front and over his head. He just does not like that. So I try to remember to bring my hand in from behind and over his ears, or from the side and under his chin (which he loves).
Early on I lost my temper and bopped him one on the nose for biting at my hand, and he looked askance afterward. That was what led me to be very careful about how my hand interacts with his body, especially his face and nose (and improve my leash handling skills to settle him down when he gets bitey).
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: ross rapoport
Is this when the dog doesn't want to come to you because you've been a huge jerk to him/her?
It can be.
However, not necessarily. I think that some dogs "come with" anxiety about being touched, many around the head area.
I would go so far as to say that if the handler has not actively been a jackass to the dog, then at least the handler hasn't had the ability to recognize an inborn hesitation about physical touch and work with it, slowly acclimating the dog to it.
So I think there's a big spectrum. But that's JME and JMO.
When I adopted my dog, he did not like to be touched on the head. He would duck away like he was scared, so I just quit reaching toward him. I waited until he came to me. It didn't take long for him to get comfortable with me and my kids, but he still doesn't like "non-pack members" reaching toward him...even family who visit frequently. He wants to sniff and wag his tail but shys away from hands. I just ask people to ignore him and he warms up in his own time.
I always assumed that he was mistreated before I got him.(I know he was to an extent.) Have I handled this properly?
I had an incident recently where I reached quickly for my dogs collar, not realizing that I had cornered her. It was a really dumb mistake, I did it without thinking in a moment of frustration. I wouldn't describe the response I got as shy.
We have a really good relationship, but it was definitely a moment that reminded me that she is an animal.
Since that happened I have adopted a hands off aproach. It takes a little more patience but it is absolutely worth it. Ian dunbar says that human hands can not be trusted. I 100% agree with him.
Perhaps I mistated with the term hand shy in the other thread. Maybe a better idea of what I was trying to convey would be shy to hand.
The context I used it in was enre to a dog not coming to hand minus any other distractions, ie. possessive of something, chasing something or playing with another dog, etc etc.
Does your dog want to come to you? Does the dog want to be with you?
Or is there a reason he doesn't want to come or be within reach of you?
This is a really important distinction, especially with young dogs. My dog is constantly in contact with me. On my feet when I am hanging out. Under my feet when I am busy in the kitchen. Nudging me ALL the time.
But, young dogs like to play and look for play opportunities. So, you stand up from the couch get a play bow it may be then that you can't get near the dog...
or when the dog tries to engage you with a toy or a shoe there is no catching the dog then.
I usually turn this type of episode into MY game start a training session. Easy things first like "sit" or "touch" once distracted from the "nanny nanny boo boo you can't catch me", she's caught!!
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Hand shyness
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