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How to Build Confidence in Your Dog

Writer's picture: Lexie BargenLexie Bargen

Confidence is something not very many dogs have. They may seem very confident in the way they move and hold themselves, or the way that they communicate. Those behaviours are all on their own terms. 


During our training classes, I like to help build dogs' confidence by getting them up on top of different obstacles. You will need a martingale collar and a 6-foot leash. Here’s how to do it: 


  • Figure out what obstacle you want the dog to go up. The key at the beginning is finding something the dog can physically jump on. It’s not fair to have a beagle jump onto a five-foot barricade. 


A man stands with a white doodle dog, Keela, who is sitting looking at the man. Keela is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver, B.C. An obstacle, a picnic table, is beside them. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog. This table may be a little too high for this dog to jump on.
A man stands with a white doodle dog, Keela, who is sitting looking at the man. Keela is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver, B.C. An obstacle, a picnic table, is beside them. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog. This table may be a little too high for this dog to jump on.

A man stands with a large brown dog, Archer, who is sitting looking at the man. Archer is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver, B.C. An obstacle, a picnic table, is beside them. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog. This table is likely not too high for this dog to jump on.
A man stands with a large brown dog, Archer, who is sitting looking at the man. Archer is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver, B.C. An obstacle, a picnic table, is beside them. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog. This table is likely not too high for this large dog to jump up on.

  • Walk straight towards the obstacle and ensure you are keeping your leg as close to the obstacle as possible. This will show the dog the only suitable pathway is up. 


A man stands with a white doodle dog, Keela, who is sitting looking at the man. Keela is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver, B.C. An obstacle, a picnic table, is beside them. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog.
A man stands with a white doodle dog, Keela, who is sitting looking at the man. Keela is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver, B.C. An obstacle, a picnic table, is beside them. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog.

  • Place your hand close enough to the clasp of the leash to have better control over your dog. 

  • Apply pressure up and forward, almost at a 45-degree angle, to show the dog you want it to jump up. 

  • Keep your momentum on the leash moving forward.

  • Place the dog into a sit by applying pressure straight up on the leash, once the dog sits, release the pressure and praise the dog. 


Two men stand beside a picnic table with their dogs who have jumped up on an obstacle, the picnic table, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver. The two dogs are on leash and sitting. Challenges such as this can boost confidence in your dog.
Two men stand beside a picnic table with their dogs who have jumped up on an obstacle, the picnic table, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver. The two dogs are on leash and sitting. Challenges such as this can boost confidence in your dog.

Keep the dog in a sit for 10-15 seconds before bringing it down and finding another obstacle. You may notice your dog not wanting to jump up onto the obstacle. Do not repeat “up, up, up,” to the dog. Keep the pressure consistent and watch to see if the dog is using its nails to clamor up and try to complete the jump. 


Introducing different terrain and obstacles will help build confidence in your dog


If you want to add to it, try getting your dog to walk across the obstacle. The different terrain will make your dog more comfortable moving on surfaces other than grass or concrete. Take this slow, especially if there are small holes, as nails can get caught. 


When people first begin our classes, I will often hear, “It’s too high for my dog,” when the dog struggles to get onto the obstacle. Dogs are master manipulators; they don’t want to jump onto the obstacle because they are not the ones deciding to do it. The dog has no problem jumping onto a couch or a bed, which are sometimes higher than the obstacle itself, but it’s the dog making that choice. This is something that takes a few tries to get consistent and fluid.


A man guides a white doodle dog, Keela, up and over an obstacle with fluid motion. Keela is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog.
A man guides a white doodle dog, Keela, up and over an obstacle with fluid motion. Keela is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog.

Park benches or picnic tables are great tools to use for this exercise. Other options are barricades, tree stumps, high steps, logs, or boulders. 


Four dogs sitting and staying on obstacles, tree stumps, in a forest during a dog training class. Helping your dog get up and sit on obstacles will build confidence in your dog.
Four dogs sitting and staying on obstacles, tree stumps, in a forest during a dog training class. Helping your dog get up and sit on obstacles will build confidence in your dog.

Two men and two dogs at an outdoor evening dog training class. They are learning how to build confidence in your dog.
Two men and two dogs at an outdoor evening dog training class. They are learning how to build confidence in your dog.

Once they are showing great confidence on lower obstacles at a walking pace, you can move to things that may seem a bit of a struggle for the dog. When moving to higher obstacles, give the dog more room for a running start, this will allow them to jump and clamor up. If you see your dog struggling, give them a boost. This will also help build the bond between you and your dog because the dog physically needs you to help complete the task. You want to ensure you’re giving your dog lots of praise after completing the obstacle, especially if you see them truly trying to do what is being asked of them. You are letting them hear and feel how proud you are of them. When doing this with my dog, the excitement she shows after reaching the top is very beautiful to view.


A man stands with a white doodle dog, Keela, who is sitting on a picnic table. Keela is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog.
A man stands with a white doodle dog, Keela, who is sitting on a picnic table. Keela is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog.

If you are interested in building your dog's confidence and creating a lasting bond, please email us! Vancouver/Burnaby classes take place every Wednesday at 6:30 pm and Saturday at 8:00 am. Surrey/New Westminster classes take place every Monday and Thursday at 6:30 pm. 


A man stands with a large brown dog, Archer, who has jumped up on an obstacle. Archer is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog.
A man stands with a large brown dog, Archer, who has jumped up on an obstacle. Archer is wearing a glowing dog collar, at an evening dog training class in Vancouver. Having your dog encounter challenges such as this can help build confidence in your dog.

Two dogs, Keela and Archer, sit up on concrete obstacles during a dog training class in Vancouver. Obstacle training will boost confidence in your dog, as well as strengthen your bond with your canine companion.
Two dogs, Keela and Archer, sit up on concrete obstacles during a dog training class in Vancouver. Obstacle training will boost confidence in your dog, as well as strengthen your bond with your canine companion.

Unlike on social media and the marketing saying you can have a perfectly trained dog in 30 days, simply is not true. The great part about training dogs is staying in tune to the maturing stages that dogs go through. Think of it this way a toddler cannot drive a car, for multiple reasons. The same goes for a dog, they need to grow and mature in order to become capable of achieving certain success. In time your dog can become a phenomenal canine good citizen.


Another point I will share is, the more you become interactive with your dog and focus on what your dog is not capable of doing the greater the bond between you and your dog will become. Dogs love movement, they thrive off of challenges and they absolutely love building confidence. The struggles will be real, the challenges will be obvious. And that's healthy!!! Have fun, keep training and embrace every day you have with your dog.



About the Author

Lexie Bargen is alumni of the Hustle Up Dog Trainer Course, taken at the Hustle Up Dog Trainer Academy. She is a Certified Dog Trainer Educator (CTE), Search & Locate Instructor and Dog Training Class Instructor in Vancouver, Surrey, & New Westminster, B.C. and owner and operator of Lex Trains Dogs.

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