Building Confidence Through Training – Betty the Lagotto 💙

Zoe Best
May 28
3 min read

A few weeks ago I met the lovely Betty, a young Lagotto who was initially very unsure of me. Like many sensitive or slightly nervous dogs, she responded to a new person entering her home by barking and trying to create distance between us.

Rather than pushing interaction, we kept everything calm, simple and reward based. Our first priority was not obedience — it was trust.

By using careful reward placement, giving Betty space and allowing her to make her own choices, we quickly started to see her confidence grow. Every small interaction was rewarded and we made sure she always felt safe and supported throughout the session.

Why Confidence Matters in Dog Training

Many people focus immediately on behaviours like loose lead walking or heelwork, but a dog’s mindset plays a huge role in their ability to learn.

If a dog feels overwhelmed, overstimulated or unsure, they are far less likely to absorb information or make good choices consistently. This is why confidence building is such an important part of training.

For Betty, introducing new objects such as targets, steps and training platforms highlighted that she lacked confidence in unfamiliar situations and environments. So instead of rushing ahead, we slowed things down and focused on helping her feel comfortable exploring and interacting at her own pace.

Our Training Goals for Betty

Betty already has an amazing recall, which is fantastic. However, we want to make sure that reliability remains strong even in situations where she may feel uncertain or distracted.

Our current training focuses include:

Loose lead walking and heel position
Confidence building around new objects and environments
Impulse control and emotional regulation
Lowering arousal levels
Place/settle training
Toy engagement and reward variation
Maintaining recall around distractions

Everything links together. A calmer, more confident dog is often far more capable of learning and making good decisions consistently.

The Importance of Place & Settle Training

One of the biggest foundations we introduced with Betty was place/settle work.

When teaching settle, I always explain to owners that we are not just teaching a command — we are trying to capture an emotional state.

The goal is for the dog to genuinely associate the mat or place area with calmness, relaxation and safety. Over time, we want that “muscle memory” to kick in so that when the mat comes out, the dog instantly starts to feel more relaxed.

In many ways, it’s similar to us putting on our favourite comfy clothes or pyjamas after a long day. The object itself starts to create a feeling of comfort and security.

For dogs that struggle with over excitement, stress or arousal, this skill can become life changing. Loose lead walking especially relies heavily on mindset. If a dog is too excited or overstimulated, they are often physically unable to learn effectively in that moment.

Building Positive Associations Through Play

During our follow up session, Betty was already much more comfortable with my presence. The barking had disappeared and although she was slightly hesitant initially, she quickly remembered the “treat lady” had arrived 😊

We also started working on introducing toy play and building toy drive. Some dogs naturally prefer food rewards, but having multiple reward options can be incredibly valuable in training.

Betty was unsure of several toys at first, so we slowed things right down and rewarded any interaction with them. Even looking at, sniffing or briefly picking up a toy became something positive. This helps build confidence while also creating stronger positive associations around play and engagement.

Progress Is Built Through Small Steps

One of the lovely things about Betty’s journey so far is seeing how quickly trust and confidence can start to grow when training is adapted to the individual dog in front of you.

Last session we worked on heel position, place training and using the environment around us to naturally build confidence through exploration and success.

She is already making lovely progress and I cannot wait to watch this fantastic girl continue to grow in confidence over the coming weeks 💙

At Best Pawtential Dog Training, we always aim to build training around the dog’s emotional wellbeing, confidence and relationship with their owner — because real life results come from understanding the dog in front of you, not just teaching commands.

Looking For Help With Your Dog?

Whether your dog struggles with confidence, loose lead walking, over excitement or general manners, training should always feel supportive, achievable and tailored to your dog as an individual.

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