Although dogs are known for their unconditional love, many things can impact their
ability to trust people — even the person caring for them. This can range from lack of
socialization as a puppy, not being exposed to sights and sounds like car rides, children,
and fireworks, to emotional scars from a history of abuse or surviving a traumatic event.
Also, genetics can make some dogs more predisposed to being fearful. And a dog in a
brand new situation, like recent adoption, may take some time to trust and warm up
to unfamiliar people, a different home, and a change in routine.
Dogs that appear to trust you do so because they are not fearful or anxious around you
or in their environment. Building trust is all about making your dog feel safe. Trust
provides a dog with a level of certainty that interacting with you will result in something
good happening. So, those interactions not only increase, but trusting dogs will actually seek out
opportunities for interactions with those they trust. This also creates
more confidence in your dog.