Dog Health Questions: Dog Training: recently dog more fearful?

My dog never ceases to challenge me. After we nail one thing, something else pops up. He's 2 yrs old now and has recently been acting up more fearfully whenever we go into a new indoor environment. It could be dog stores that we go to all the time, or a new dog training facility (but not houses, he's been fine in all the houses we went) I've taken him everywhere since 8 weeks of age and he's always had good experiences. However, he's now acting fearful and uncomfortable in these environments to the point where he will lose focus and disregard training cues he's known for months. He's always been a confident dog, I've never seen his tail down the first year of his life, but now in new situations he's unsure. I've been told by other trainers that it could just be his 2nd fear imprint stage.

He was never big on people petting him, even me, he use to just walk away slowly, but now he ducks and backs away in these different indoor environments when people try to pet him. I'm now counter conditioning this by petting and treating with family and friends and neighbors. He's doing better, ie. he walked up to my neighbor and sniffed his pants (he would never do this before). He has CGN (CGC) planned in 2 months, but I don't know if he's ready. He's got obedience down but his insecurities might hold him back.

Any Advice?

This is more of a frustrated trainer venting. Thanks for listening.

A Beginner's Guide to Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
You're doing the right thing by counter conditioning the approach. I've suggested to some of my clients that they go to a store (like PetSmart or PetCo) and take a chair. Sit near the front. Use your obedience cues to keep your dog's attention. Have plenty of treats. Usually you can find people who love dogs and are willing to help you desensitize your dog! I've asked, "Hi. I'm working with my dog. He's kind of scared. Would you bend down, face sideways, let him sniff and give him a treat for me?" A lot of folks will buy into this approach. You'll be surprised.

Secondly, you mention him cowering and backing away. Are folks trying to greet him by petting his head?? Ensure he's greeted under the chin or chest, not over the head. It can be perceived as threatening by a fearful dog.

They do go through anxiety periods, but by working with him and showing him how to be confident, he'll come through just fine.

Is Your Dog Training You?

• oh, ye gods - the old "shove a hand in their face for 0.2sec and then thump them on the head" approach. just today, i ran into a family while i was out walking three dogs: my 70lb border collie/retriever mix, a 65lb golden doodle, and a 6lb chihuahua mix. there was about 800 of them - mom, dad, aunts, uncles, and a gazillion kids. well, the kids all came charging up and Lucy (the GD) and Lily (the chi mix) just about lost their minds. they're not very socialized and that really frightened them.
  
  so i told the kids at the forefront to please not charge up to strange dogs, just stand quietly facing sideways and ignore the dogs until they give them a good sniff-over and either invite contact or walk away. they all nodded and smiled and then came the next wave of kids and the next and finally the adults - and it was a total waste of oxygen explaining anything to them.
  
  shoulda let my dog bite 'em.
  
  i'm a big fan of so-called "flooding" - when my dog starts acting fearful (thunderstorms was a recent one), i immediately put him right in the middle of it, remain calm and confident, and don't leave until he's calm again. works a treat.