Instructions
Call out to the dog in a loud yet non-confrontational voice. Many people don't understand that a dog is like a child in that in can tell voice tone. If you're screaming out to a shy dog in a harsh voice, the dog will most likely either sit there or run in the opposite direction. A good way to yell in a “nice” way is to tell whether or not the back of your throat hurts from yelling. If it does, you're probably not yelling in the proper way.
Slowly and carefully walk towards the dog, exposing both of your hands while doing so. You don't want the dog to believe that you have anything in your hand or are a danger to the dog in any way. A good way to approach the dog is to place the palms of your hands facing up while taking short steps towards the dog. When you're doing this, it's appropriate to speak softly to the dog, calling it by name and reassuring the dog, telling him that “it's alright.”
Place a treat in your pocket and pull it out as you approach the dog. You should choose a treat that will has a very pleasant scent to the dog. A standard dog biscuit or other dog treat should work for this. The point of using the treat is to get the shy dog to come up to you.
Let the dog come to you. A shy dog is unlike other dogs in that this dog will most likely trot or run away if you continue walking towards the dog. You should stop about 7 to 10 feet shy of the dog with the treat in hand. Continue talking quietly and nicely to the dog, reassuring him. Use the dogs name during this time as well as a way to let the dog know that you're a friendly face.
Grab the dog as soon as the dog is either eating the treat or within arms length. Hopefully, the dog will be wearing a leash that you can grab hold of as the dog gets closer to you. If the dog isn't, let him come right up to your body before giving him the treat. Then, quickly place your arms underneath the torso of the dog after it has finished the treat and pick him up. Hold onto the dog tightly as it will most likely struggle.
How to Catch a Shy Dog
Every now and then, a dog may escape from the backyard, the house, its leash or simply its owner. Getting this dog back can be somewhat of a challenge, especially if the dog is particularly shy around other people. You must be careful that you handle this situation delicately yet promptly, as you don't want to push the dog either further away or into danger, such as into traffic.