Rescue dogs are desperately in need of love and affection. They may have been abused, malnourished, neglected or abandoned. Because of this, rescue dogs are usually skittish and distrustful of humans. Many people warn that a rescue animal will always be wary of humans, and this belief tends to limit their likelihood of being adopted. However rescue animals can make loving, grateful companions after they gain trust. The following suggestions will better prepare you for caring for a rescue animal. With patience, you will see improvement within the first few weeks.
What to Expect
Your new four-legged friend will probably not be very playful and loving at first because he probably never had the opportunity to play or to love without punishment. Expect the dog to be nervous and mistrustful. Let him learn on his own that you are not going to hurt him; you can’t rush him into being your friend. Try to appear non-threatening and don’t use any force. Often, rescue dogs who have been abused cower when approached. If your dog does this, instead of approaching him face on, approach him walking backwards with your palm up and hand outstretched to make him feel less threatened. As he begins to realize you mean no harm, you’ll be able to approach him face on.
What to Provide
Your first responsibility is to provide the dog with a safe and comfortable environment. Give him a special place of his own to foster a sense of security. A lot of rescue dogs respond well to crate training because they have a safe place just for them. Give your dog the necessary comforts—shelter, food and water—and don’t expect him to run to you right away. His physical needs must be met consistently before he will grow emotionally.
How to Train
For the first few weeks, limit training. For instance, when walking him on a leash, let him lead and don’t push him to walk specific distances or run by your side. Once he begins to trust you, you will be able to train him on the leash, but it’s important to allow him crucial time for emotional development.
Don’t rush your dog into obeying your commands right away; just give him time to get used to you. Speak in gentle tones, and be aware of your body language. He might associate common commands as a prelude to some form of punishment.
It probably goes without saying, but never, ever, hit your dog even if it’s just a gentle swat. Abuse will send the dog back into his shell, even if he’s already begun to respect and trust you. You’ll need to re-train him not to fear. Fearful dogs often can dangerous, so it is really important that you allow your dog time to adjust. There will be time to show him who is master later, right now just focus on getting him to trust you.
Within 1-2 weeks you will see marked improvement in your pet’s behavior. As he begins to trust you more, you can begin the dog training. Most likely, he’ll love you so much by now that he’ll be an avid learner, desiring to please the one who has taken such good care of him. Within a few months, your rescue dog will be a loyal and loving friend.
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