Be the boss dog training - utah county dog training

ONE WAY YOU ARE HURTING YOUR DOG – DOG TRAINING

Home
º
Blog

Increasing their Insecurity

“Aww…look! She’s so excited to see you she’s peeing!” My niece screamed in excitement.  After returning from an afternoon of running errands we had just come in the door and let our german shepherd dog out of the crate.  She promptly piddled all over my boots and then rolled onto her back and got a bird bath in it.  Not cool.

So….was my niece right? Was this excitement?  Absolutely not.

Barring any medical issues and normal puppy potty training issues, this is a great example of a dog (not puppy) experiencing insecurity.  They see you as the leader and being naturally shy or timid they are unclear about the rules so they do not know how to behave and revert to their default insecure state.

How to help?

  • Don’t punish or scold for submission peeing
  • Take the dog pee 2-3 times in the 30 minute period before you leave.  
  • When you arrive home ignore them.  Whether it takes 5 minutes or 1 hour for them to calm down do not approach the kennel until they are calm.  Calmness looks like: sitting down, laying down, no whining and no wiggling.
  • This is THE most important one:

              During your normal routine at home build their confidence.  You can do this by giving them structure, structure and more structure!  Teach them commands to lay down in one spot for minutes or hours at a time, sit, stay, walk nicely on a leash and go into their kennel with no fuss.  

Dogs are not children and do not require love and affection first.  Love and affection are a reward.  If I could put love and affection in a bag and market it it would appear on the shelves right next to dog treats.   

First is structure….commands and crate time.  THEN comes reward time.  This includes petting and sweet talking and free running in the backyard.  Love them as much as you want AFTER you require obedience time.  The dog will realize “Hey….I can do what Mom/Dad is asking of me! This is great!” and their confidence will increase.

Last of all, be patient.  It takes time to build confidence and if your dog is naturally shy or timid this will be a lifetime adjustment.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your fur baby!

More Tips

Check out our other posts

If Grooming Your Dog Feels Like a Wrestle Match, Read This

May 5, 2026 No Comments

If grooming your dog feels like a fight every single time, you’re not alone—and it’s not actually about grooming.

Most dogs resist because they’ve never been taught how to stay still, accept handling, or cooperate through the process. The result? Wiggling, pulling away, scratched hands, wasted time, and expensive groomer visits that don’t fix the problem.

The good news is this: you don’t need better tools or more patience—you need a better approach. When you teach your dog calm handling and stillness, everything changes. Grooming becomes faster, easier, and far less stressful for you. In this blog, you’ll learn how to stop the struggle, cut grooming time in half, and finally get through it without the chaos.

Read More »

Leash Pulling Isn’t the Problem—Your Dog Is Making the Decisions

May 4, 2026 No Comments

Leash pulling, ignoring commands, and constant distraction aren’t just bad habits—they’re signs your dog is making the decisions.

If your dog only listens when it benefits them, walks feel exhausting, or you’re getting embarrassed in public, the issue isn’t more commands—it’s clarity in leadership.

In this blog, you’ll learn why dogs take control on walks, how that affects their behavior in real-world situations, and what it actually takes to become the one your dog chooses to follow. Because once that shifts, everything else starts to fall into place.

Read More »

The Timing Mistake That’s Ruining Your Dog’s Training

April 29, 2026 No Comments

Struggling with a dog that only listens sometimes?

The issue might not be your commands—it’s your timing. In this guide, we break down how rewarding too early creates confusion, slows progress, and leads to inconsistent behavior.

Learn how one simple shift can make training clearer, faster, and way more effective for both you and your dog.

Read More »

The Truth About ‘Random’ Aggression (And Why It’s Ruining Your Life)

April 20, 2026 No Comments

Most dog owners think their dog’s aggression comes “out of nowhere”—but what if it’s actually a pattern you’ve been missing the entire time?

From stressful walks to uncomfortable moments with guests, your dog’s behavior isn’t just frustrating… it’s affecting your daily life more than you realize. The good news? It’s predictable—and that means it’s fixable. In this blog, you’ll learn how to spot the hidden triggers, understand the warning signs, and recognize the 30-second pattern that happens before every reaction.

Once you see it, you can step in earlier, prevent the behavior, and finally start enjoying life with your dog again.

Read More »
Load More