It could be that they’re not used to being around people, or they might be shy.
Regardless of the reason, there are a few things you can do to help your dog feel more comfortable around people.
Why dogs may seem aloof
If your dog seems aloof, it’s important to first identify whether this behavior is normal for their breed.
For example, many small breeds are naturally timid and reserved.
They may also have a tendency to think before acting.
If your dog doesn’t like strangers, but does enjoy playing with other pets or when interacting with family members, then it’s likely that they’re just shy and need some extra attention.
For example, German Shepherds tend to be very friendly and outgoing towards new people, but they can become nervous or anxious if they don’t know the person well.
This is especially true of puppies who haven’t been exposed to many different people.
Once they get to know you better, however, they will generally warm up and become much friendlier.
Similarly, Doberman Pinschers are known for their aggressive nature, so they may appear aloof or standoffish at times.
However, once they start to trust you, they’ll be happy to play with you and even jump into your lap!
Dogs that are extremely fearful of strangers are more likely to display this behavior.
For example, pit bulls often have a reputation for being aggressive and dangerous.
But these dogs aren’t inherently bad, and in fact, many are incredibly affectionate and loyal.
But because pit bulls are bred for fighting, they tend to be wary of unfamiliar people.
As such, they may initially appear aloof or standoffish, but once they learn to trust you, they’ll usually warm up and become much more friendly.
Some dogs display this behavior because they were raised by wolves.
These dogs were born in wolf packs, where they learned how to behave around people and other animals from an early age.
Because they weren’t socialized as pups, they may be uncomfortable around strangers.
You should try to introduce your dog to a variety of people and places, so they can get used to meeting new people.
How to tell if your dog is aloof
Dogs that have been raised in an environment where they’ve never met another human face-to-face will often come across as shy when meeting new people.
They might be hesitant to approach others and they may want to retreat back into their own space whenever someone gets too close.
However, dogs who are shy don’t always appear withdrawn or scared.
Many times, they just aren’t comfortable with other people and it shows in their body language.
If you’ve noticed that your dog isn’t approaching strangers or even moving away from them, but they still look wary or nervous, then it could be because they’re trying to figure out how to read the situation before making any moves.
If this sounds like your dog, here are some tips on how to get them to be more comfortable around people.
1. Spend time with a friend
The best way to see if your dog is aloof is to spend some one-on-one time with them, so having a friend over for dinner, coffee, or a walk is a great way to test the waters.
Your dog will be able to relax a bit more if they know that you trust them to behave themselves around a friend, so try to stick to short interactions.
This way you’ll be able to gauge whether your dog is more reserved around people than they were at home.
2. Make your dog more comfortable around people
Before you start spending time with your dog and friends, you should make sure that your dog is more comfortable around people.
If they’re hesitant to approach strangers, but love going for walks, it’s likely that they’re just shy.
To increase your dog’s comfort level around people, you need to show them that you trust them.
You can do this by getting your dog used to treats and rewards.
When you go out with your friends, give your dog a treat after every 10 minutes or so, and praise them each time they sit next to you.
Once you’ve got your dog conditioned to being around people, you’ll notice that they’re much more relaxed around people.
They won’t need to hide behind you anymore!
3. Work on your dog’s confidence
Sometimes, a dog’s lack of confidence stems from their experience with humans.
Maybe they’ve had bad experiences with strangers in the past, or maybe they’ve seen someone hurt another person in front of them.
Even though these incidents were probably years ago, they could cause your dog to believe that they’re unsafe around people.
To fix this, you need to work on building your dog’s confidence.
Start slowly with small steps, such as bringing your dog out to meet a friend or family member once a week.
Ways to make your dog less aloof
If your dog is aloof, it doesn’t mean they don’t like other animals – in fact, many dogs love all kinds of different animals!
The main thing is that they may be uncomfortable with people.
Some breeds tend to be more aloof than others, and while this isn’t always the case, there are a lot of factors that play into it.
For example, a small breed dog may have a harder time fitting in a room full of people, whereas an older dog will be more at ease.
It’s important to remember that all dogs need socializing, even if they aren’t very outgoing.
And if your dog has been raised by humans, then it’s likely they’ve never had much exposure to other animals or people.
This is one of the reasons why socialization classes are so important for puppies.
If you haven’t taken your puppy on a class yet, now is a great time to start!
The best way to get your dog used to people is to spend as much time as possible with them.
If you work from home, try taking your dog out for a walk during your lunch break.
Your dog will learn how to interact with other dogs and other people, which will make them more comfortable with strangers.
Another option would be to enroll them in a dog obedience training class.
This will teach them basic commands, such as “sit” and “stay.” You can also use these commands to help train your dog to be friendly towards other people.
Of course, a good trainer will understand that not everyone is going to want to come over to your house to meet their new friend, so you should try to find someone who will be patient enough to wait until your dog is ready to greet them.
As for the most common causes of aloofness in dogs, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:
Dogs who are aloof may be nervous about strangers. They don’t know what to expect from people, so they don’t trust anyone.
Dogs who are aloof may be frightened of loud noises, especially fire alarms.
Some breeds are naturally more aloof than others, such as pugs.
Why some dogs are more aloof than others
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and each breed has their own personality traits.
Some dogs are naturally more outgoing and friendly, while others are more reserved and shy.
If you have a shy dog, it may take them awhile to warm up to new people and situations.
They may also need extra training to get used to other animals and strangers because they don’t understand how to communicate with humans.
Here are some common reasons for your dog being aloof.
They aren’t used to being around people
They may be afraid of something they see (such as another animal)
They may not want to be touched by someone
They might be scared of loud noises
They may be stressed out from having too many people around
If your dog is particularly shy, you should consider taking them somewhere quiet where they won’t be bothered by noise or crowds.
A good place to start would be a local park or pet-friendly shopping mall.
When visiting a new area, try approaching your dog slowly and gently so they don’t become startled.
You should also avoid sudden movements when greeting them, such as jumping up on them or grabbing them.
While some dogs will always be more shy than others, there are ways to work through this issue.
With patience and consistency, these dogs can learn to enjoy being around people.
How to use aloofness to your advantage
The truth is, if you have a dog who is shy and/or has never been exposed to other humans, it may take longer for them to warm up to people.
As with most things in life, the best way to approach this is slowly and gradually.
If you want your dog to get to know people, start by introducing them to strangers.
This can be done at work, school, on the street, or anywhere else where you see people in close proximity.
Once they’ve overcome their fears, move on to a friend’s house, or even a restaurant.
Remember, the goal here isn’t to make your dog overly friendly.
The point is to get your dog used to being around people, so when it comes time to introduce them to friends, family members, and eventually, new owners, they won’t be afraid.
If your dog is already outgoing, however, simply spending more time with people will help them become more comfortable with human interaction.
You can do this by taking them out on walks, letting them hang out in an empty room while you clean, or simply sitting down and talking to them.
The more they spend time with people, the easier it will be for them to get used to being around people.
They’ll also learn how to interact with people, which will give them something to talk about when they meet new people.
In short, just getting your dog used to people will go a long way towards making them less aloof.
When to worry about your dog’s aloofness
If your dog is very shy and doesn’t like to interact with people, it’s important to understand that this isn’t a problem that will go away on its own.
It can take months or years for dogs to develop their social skills, so if your dog has been having trouble interacting with other pets or strangers, it may be best to seek professional help.
It’s also important to note that dogs who are aloof don’t necessarily mean they have bad intentions.
They just may not want to interact with certain people or animals because they’re scared or uncomfortable.
If you notice that your dog is acting strangely when it comes to interactions with other pets or humans, it’s best to bring it to someone’s attention immediately.
This will allow them to determine whether your dog needs some extra training or just a little more exposure to new things in order to get over its fears.
The good news is that many dogs who act aloof can be trained to overcome these problems.
There are several ways to train your dog, including using food rewards, positive reinforcement, and even positive punishment.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
