What to do if your dog is scared

At a show, their confidence matters more than a result. The FCI regulations remind us that the health and welfare of the dogs must remain the priority.

Beginner — Recognise and protect

1. Look for several signs, not just the tail. A worried dog may freeze, turn its head away, crouch, tremble or try to flee. A single yawn or nose lick isn't enough: look at the whole posture and the context.
2. Create distance. Leave the crowded aisle or move away from the noise and from dogs that seem to bother it. Keep it on a loose lead and look for a quiet spot. Avoid forced meetings.
3. Reassure it without holding it back against its will. Speak softly and move slowly. If it comes looking for contact, you can offer it; if it prefers space, respect that. Dogs Trust recommends calmly reassuring a frightened dog.

A useful phrase for the people around you: “He needs space, please leave him alone.”

Intermediate — Decide what to do on the spot

1. Offer something easy, without pushing. In a quiet corner, you can offer an exercise it knows or a small treat. If it doesn't respond, don't keep asking. Learning works best when it is short, simple and reward-based.
2. Check that it is really recovering. Is its body relaxing? Is it starting to explore calmly again? A dog that is still isn't necessarily calm. If it stays frozen, trembles or tries to flee, move it further away and stop taking part.
3. Tell the ring team. Explain to the ring steward that your dog is scared and that you want to interrupt or withdraw its presentation. If it is already in the ring, tell the judge as well before leaving. A pause doesn't guarantee a later turn: ask how your withdrawal will be recorded.

Advanced — Prepare for what comes next

1. Note the circumstances and check its health. Notice when the fear appears: crowds, handling, the floor, noise or the closeness of another dog. If this behaviour is new, sudden or recurring, see your vet to look for, among other things, discomfort. They can refer you to a behaviour professional.
2. Prepare the difficulties separately. In training, start in a calm environment: walking on the lead, passing between two markers, a person present at a distance. Reward progress and increase the difficulty gradually. For a puppy, Dogs Trust recommends controlled, positive discoveries, stopped as soon as it becomes worried.
3. Set a goal that suits your dog. For the next outing, the goal may simply be to stay relaxed for a few moments in a new place. Plan a resting spot and a way to leave. If the difficulties continue, have an individual programme put together with a professional who uses reward-based methods.

And what about the judging?

Fear doesn't automatically mean disqualification. At an international CACIB show, the FCI regulations provide, among other things, for “Cannot be judged” when the dog doesn't allow its movement to be assessed or constantly refuses the examination. Aggressive behaviour, on the other hand, falls under the criteria for disqualification.

It is up to the judge to apply the regulations to the situation observed. Forcing the dog to finish the examination is not a solution.

The reminder: “I observe, I create space, I reassure… and I withdraw if my dog stays worried.”

Sources

• FCI: Regulations for FCI Dog Shows (PDF)
• Dogs Trust: Signs your dog is feeling anxious