5 Gentle Confidence-Building Games for Shy Dogs

By Dr Duncan Houston

A confidence-building game should give your dog a problem they can solve comfortably. It should not test how much uncertainty they will tolerate to reach a treat.

Start in a familiar place and choose one activity. You can make it a little more interesting later, once the dog understands the game and willingly returns for another turn.

Quick Answer

Useful starter games include an easy food search, a nose target, a familiar mat, gentle exploration around stable objects and finding a nearby person or toy. Keep the first version obvious and reward voluntary participation. Stop or simplify if the dog becomes tense, avoids the setup or cannot work comfortably.

Prepare before you play

Choose a quiet room or secure area with comfortable footing. Remove hazards and give the dog a clear way to leave the game.

Use a small amount of suitable food from the normal feeding plan, or a familiar toy if that works better. Keep prescribed dietary and activity restrictions in place. Separate animals if they would compete for food or toys.

The AAHA indoor-enrichment guide describes practical search and household games. The best version is the one your individual dog can use safely and understand easily.

Game 1: Find the easy reward

Begin with a visible reward on a clear floor. Let your dog see where it lands and investigate without being steered.

1. Place a few suitable pieces of food within an obvious, small area
2. Give a consistent invitation such as “find it”
3. Let the dog finish searching at their own pace
4. Make the next round only slightly less obvious, if the first was comfortable

Do not hide food near electrical cables, rubbish, fragile furniture or places you do not want the dog to enter. Avoid making the game so hard that they begin tearing at objects to reach the reward.

Progress check: the dog understands where to search and remains interested without frantic digging or repeated appeals for help.

Game 2: Touch a target

A target gives your dog a clear action with a clear result. A still hand can work for a dog comfortable with hands; a suitable target object can be another option.

Present it nearby without pushing it towards the face. Mark a voluntary look or nose touch, then reward. Remove the target briefly before the next attempt so each presentation is distinct.

Dogs Trust’s target-training guidance recommends keeping the task clear and reducing difficulty if the dog becomes frustrated. Once touching is familiar, introduce a short cue and vary the position gradually.

Progress check: the dog approaches the target willingly. Do not use it to draw them into handling or a location they would otherwise avoid.

Game 3: Make a mat worth visiting

Place a comfortable, non-slip mat in a familiar area. Reward a glance towards it, a step onto it or all four paws on it, depending on what the dog can already do.

Deliver the reward on the mat so the location is easy to understand. Release the dog to leave after a brief success. Remaining there longer is a separate skill to teach later.

Keep the mat away from busy doorways at first. A quiet practice spot can eventually become useful in another setting, but move back to easy steps whenever the location changes.

Progress check: the dog chooses to return to the mat. Holding them there or blocking departure changes the exercise.

Game 4: Explore around one stable object

Set out a low, stable object with plenty of clear space around it. Begin by rewarding a look, then let the dog choose whether to investigate further.

Walking around a stationary object can be enough. You do not need jumps, wobble boards, narrow tunnels or elevated surfaces. Check that nothing can collapse, roll or trap a paw.

Keep food in a position the dog can reach without stretching into a worrying space. If they step away, leave the route open. Use only materials the dog will not tear up and swallow.

Progress check: the dog investigates with a loose, unhurried approach and can disengage easily.

Game 5: Find someone or something familiar

Start with a person partly visible nearby, or a favourite toy placed in an obvious spot while the dog watches. Invite the dog to find them, then reward the arrival.

For a shy dog, suddenly disappearing can make the activity worrying. Keep the first version easy enough that the answer is nearly visible. If the dog looks confused, reveal the location rather than calling repeatedly from a harder hiding place.

Play only in a secure area. Avoid hiding near roads, gates, steep steps or anywhere the dog could rush into difficulty.

Progress check: the dog searches with interest and enjoys finding the person or object. If they become worried about your absence, choose another game.

How much should you change at once?

Increase only one feature: the distance to the target, the position of the mat or how visible the reward is. Keep the other features familiar.

A short record helps. Write down the exact starting point and the easiest successful version. At the next session, repeat that version before adding a challenge.

There is no need to meet a daily quota. A few clear, enjoyable turns can be enough, and some days a familiar sniffing walk or uninterrupted rest may be the better choice.

When to stop

Pause if the dog repeatedly turns away, freezes, leaves, becomes tense or appears increasingly frustrated. Review the setup rather than insisting on one more success.

Dogs Trust’s advice on fearful behaviour emphasises giving dogs choices and avoiding experiences they cannot manage. Games are enrichment, not a substitute for individual help when fear affects daily life or safety.

Common mistakes

• Making the reward difficult to reach before the dog understands the game
• Using food to pull a reluctant dog past their comfort limit
• Choosing unstable obstacles or slippery flooring
• Allowing another pet to compete for the same reward
• Continuing because the planned session time is not over

Frequently Asked Questions

Which game should I start with?

Choose the easiest one that matches something your dog already enjoys. An obvious search can suit a dog who likes sniffing; a target may suit a dog who enjoys learning with you.

What if my dog will not take treats?

Do not force the session or assume a different treat will solve everything. Check the setting, difficulty and willingness to participate, then try another suitable activity or time.

Can these games cure anxiety?

No general game promises that. They provide manageable activities; persistent or substantial fear needs an individual professional assessment and plan.

Can I play with more than one dog?

Begin separately so each dog can learn without pressure or competition. Shared activities need to suit both dogs.

Pick one game, make success obvious and stop while the dog still has a choice. Willing participation is the most useful guide to what you should try next.

ASK A VET™ can help you organise everyday enrichment questions alongside your dog’s individual care guidance.