Slow and steady wins the race.
Before George was chased and attacked, his confidence had really developed. He was a very timid puppy but we were making really good progress.
At one of our puppy classes, I learned a lot about confidence-building. He was very timid in the class but we built on it at home.
Slow introductions
I introduced new objects and rewarded George when he showed an interest and got near (similar to muzzle training etc). Every time he approached the object (the scary blue shell for example), he got lots of praise and treats. All in his own time without forcing him.
"Paws up"
I learned that him putting his paws up on something is a confidence boost. So we practice that a lot. At home, we play "paws up" with boxes, ottomans, chairs, the sofa...he knows the cue well and is not hesitant at all now.
Out and about, in the absence of triggers (for now), we play "paws up" on benches, tree trunks and other things we find on our way. This helps to develop his confidence in engaging with the world.
This skill is very helpful now George is doing physio - one of his exercises is an elevated paw turn which he picked up very quickly.
Boxes
We use boxes of varying sizes and cones for him to stick his head in. Again starting very slowly with treats on and then near the entrance before putting them further in.
George does great with this. At a recent vet visit where he had to be muzzled, he coped OK with the muzzle despite not having done muzzle training yet (we are still waiting for our custom-made muzzle). The vet commented how well he did with the muzzle. I really think the box and cone training helped.
Inspecting/Sniffing
I let him sniff and inspect all new objects. It takes a while to put the groceries away but it's worth it! I really want to encourage that confidence to investigate and prove over and over that nothing scary happened with something new.
Pattern games
Pattern games can also help to build confidence. The predictable, repetitive patterns really help. When George was scared to leave the house, pattern games got us out of the door.
Training/games
'Normal' obedience training and games can really help fearful dogs if they enjoy it. George loves it. Our physio said that anxious dogs often love training - it gives them something to focus on and gives them a break from worrying about the world.
Movement puzzles
We've just started this with some of the free resources from The Moving Canine. George loves it, and it was very helpful during our recent lockdowns!
Scent work
Scent work is amazing for building confidence. George loves it. We don't have any classes near us (and a group class would be a disaster) but I did an online course and learned a lot. We still do it regularly. I have heard stories of the most shutdown, fearful and terrified dogs finding some confidence through scent work.
Enrichment
Other enrichment activities like snuffle mats and licki-mats can also help.
Despite his reactivity, I think George is a lot more confident now than he was. He investigates new objects, albeit cautiously sometimes, rather than shying away.
We need to persevere with the confidence-building activities as they really do work. Not to mention always improving his engagement and connection with me.