Motivational Monday. What is the best game to build dogs confidence?

As I was away at a seminar working on Fufiq's (my belgian malinois) confidence and drive for dog sports I didn’t manage to make the Fearless Friday post. Therefore Motivational Monday this week will have not only reflection from my last weekend training, but also training strategies from both worlds: confidence and motivation.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I play with my dogs mainly to build a high value reward so I can motivate them better to do things in whatever training I do. This statement is still absolutely true.

What is the other reason to play? Yes, it is confidence.

And for me it is an equally important reason. I truly believe that well organised and planned tug play is by far the best option to boost your dog’s motivation and also confidence. There are few different ways to use play to do it. My personal preference it is to borrow some of the techniques from puppy bite work training for protection dog sports and apply them in tug play with any dog of any breed.

To this day I remember that at the beginning of my adventure with Schutzhund (protection dog sport) I was amazed with influence of puppy bite work on puppies confidence levels. They were leaving the training field almost proud of themselves carrying their trophy, coming back stronger and more motivated! Puppy bite work training is just an upgraded version of playing tug. It is like competition between handler and dog team against the decoy over the object-toy or sleeve. Competition that the dogs always win only by a split hair and only when they try really, really hard. We humans like to be challenged, we like accomplishing difficult tasks, we like to compete! This is why we are getting involved in various activities and sports like CrossFit, climbing, martial arts or dog sports! We like it and so do our dogs! They like the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction which builds their self-esteem and confidence. This desire has been preserving both human and dogs survival for thousands of years. It is so imprinted in our genes.

When watching basic bite work training from the outside it looks very simple. The dog is gripping an object toy or sleeve that is held by helper or decoy. However, it is very emotional moment for both, the dog and the helper. I often say I ‘talk’ or have conversation with dogs during that game in totally different language. I give them some challenges not too difficult but not too easy either. I guide them, give them feedback when they do something brave or they are trying really hard. But also I tell them, come on you’re not trying hard enough! you can do better!

The result is always a more motivated and more confident dog with higher self-esteem. In our training group filled mainly with border collies we call our sessions karate4dogs as the benefits from doing it are pretty similar to the benefits I was getting from martial arts training. I remember in my old days back in Warsaw it was common practice that agility dogs or obedience ones attended Schutzhund training especially after something upset them in everyday life. Just to make them feel better, make them feel brave again. Over the years of being involved in both dog sport and companion dog training I haven't found better way to build dog's confidence. Especially around people, noises and in different environments. Never seen dogs if trained properly became reactive or shy at any point in their lives. Quite the contrary: I could only observe raising balanced and confident dogs.

Can you do it? Yes! As I mentioned before, it is just an extension of tug play! If you become skilful player, learn how to read dog's emotions you can help your own dog to feel brave again! how would that feel for you?

Would you like to know some of the strategies and techniques you could use in your play to build your dog confidence?

Thanks for reading,

Alex