Empowering Shy and Fearful Dogs
Cautious Canines
Gentle, Reward-Based Help for Dogs Who Feel Unsafe or Overwhelmed
Does your dog bark and back away from people or dogs? Hide behind you on walks? Freeze, avoid interaction, or seem overwhelmed in unfamiliar situations?
The Cautious Canines Program is designed for shy, fearful, anxious, and easily overwhelmed dogs who respond to stress by avoiding or increasing distance from triggers.
Using gentle, reward-based training, we help dogs across Adelaide build confidence and feel safer in everyday life.
Is this the Right Program for Your Dog?
The Cautious Canines Program is designed for dogs who feel worried, overwhelmed, or unsure around people, dogs, visitors, or unfamiliar environments.
Your dog may:
Bark and back away from people or dogs
Hide behind you or avoid interaction
Freeze, retreat, or try to escape when worried
Startle easily
Feel nervous about visitors
Struggle with confidence in new environments
Appear overwhelmed rather than confrontational
These dogs are often trying to create more distance from things they find scary.
How is this Different from Feisty Fido?
While both fearful and reactive dogs may bark or growl, Cautious Canines dogs typically respond by avoiding, retreating, or shutting down.
Feisty Fido dogs are often more likely to:
Bark and lunge towards triggers
Become highly aroused or frustrated
Display more explosive or confrontational behaviours
Struggle with impulse control around dogs or people
What if My Dog is Nervous About Handling or Grooming?
If your dog is primarily worried about:
grooming
nail trims
vet visits
handling or restraint
our Cooperative Care Program may be a better fit. This program specifically focuses on helping dogs feel safer and more comfortable during care procedures, and is available as both private training and small-group classes.
Still Unsure?
If you’re unsure which program best suits your dog, please contact us before booking and we’ll happily help guide you towards the most appropriate option.
What’s Included in the Cautious Canines Program?
🏠 2-Hour Initial Consultation
We begin with a detailed in-home consultation to better understand your dog, your goals, and the situations they are struggling with. Together, we’ll create a personalised training plan tailored to your dog’s individual needs.
You’ll also receive a “Nervous Dog” bandana to help communicate to others that your dog needs space.
📆 2 x 60-Minute Follow-Up Sessions
Follow-up sessions are typically scheduled every 1–2 weeks and include:
Reviewing progress
Troubleshooting challenges
Adjusting management strategies
Introducing new training exercises and skills
💬 Ongoing Support Between Sessions
We’re here to support you throughout the program with follow-up guidance, encouragement, and answers to your questions between sessions.
📚 Training Resources & Management Tools
You’ll receive customised handouts, training resources, and practical management strategies to help support your dog at home and out in the world.
Total Program Cost: $630
Help your dog feel safe, more confident, and better able to cope with everyday life.
Cautious Canines Success Stories
“After 3 sessions with Lena, and us reinforcing the things we have learnt, Belle has responded to all the training and her anxiety has reduced. We highly recommend Lena and her Cautious Canines Program.”
— Therese and Belle“We have had the pleasure of working with Lena across two entirely different circumstances – private classes for an anxious dog and puppy college with our newest addition. Her depth of knowledge, experience and dedication to her craft is a cut above the rest.”
— Abby, Teddy, and Alby“Paws & Reward provided us with the support and guidance to help our dog in ways we never thought possible. It has brought a sense of peace to both us and our dog.”
— Maddy, Paul and OscarOur Approach
Fearful dogs do not need to be “pushed through” their fears or flooded with overwhelming situations in the hope they will “get used to it.” In many cases, this can actually increase anxiety and reduce trust.
Instead, our approach focuses on helping dogs feel safe, supported, and emotionally capable of learning.
When a dog feels safer, they are better able to think, engage, and gradually build confidence around the things they previously found worrying.
Training may include:
Building confidence through positive experiences
Reducing stress and emotional overwhelm
Teaching calm engagement around triggers
Helping dogs feel safer in new environments
Practical management strategies to prevent setbacks
Reading and responding to canine body language
Reward-based behaviour modification tailored to your dog
We carefully work at your dog’s pace, adjusting the environment and training setup to help keep them under threshold and successful.
Our training is effective because we focus on changing the dog’s underlying emotional response — not simply suppressing behaviour. Rather than teaching a dog to “stop barking” through punishment or intimidation, we help them feel differently about the situations causing the behaviour in the first place.
This creates more meaningful, long-term improvement while also strengthening trust between you and your dog.
Help Your Dog Feel Safer in the World
Living with a fearful dog can feel stressful and isolating, but you don’t have to navigate it alone.
With the right support, many cautious dogs can become more confident, calmer, and better able to cope with everyday life.