Essential Training Tips For Your Rescued Dog

Training a dog takes patience and dedication. But you will need double the patience and dedication to train a rescued dog. It’s a lot of work, but in the end it will be worth the effort.

Spaying and neutering has been common practice for a few decades, unplanned births continue to occur. The result is that the number of puppies born far outnumber the number of available homes. When we add the number of dogs that get lost or wander away, rescue missions and shelters everywhere are filled to capacity. Many of these dogs will never find homes in time and be euthanized.

For a some lucky dogs, there is a second chance. Some will be adopted into the care of a loving family or rescued from the street. The new owners, however, are often not quite sure how best to deal with the rescued dog.

Dogs that are brought to shelters are generally not in the best condition. They often have a history of abuse or neglect and sometimes lived in horrendous conditions. And in some circumstances dogs are released into the wild to take care of themselves.

A dog’s nature is to be a pack animal. Because of this dogs that are in the wild usually do not do well in isolation. Domesticated dogs are used to human and animal interaction so do poorly when released to the wild. Wild dogs such as these are usually fearful and distrustful of humans, but with proper training they can learn to overcome these traits.

A rescued dog will need a full examination by a vet as the first step in the rehabilitation process. You will not be able to start training your new dog if he is sick or in pain. It’s crucial to give them enough time regain their health.

If possible try to get any information regarding the dog’s history. Knowledge of past abuse, general temperament, or medical history will help you as your train the dog.

Slow and steady is the order of the day when establishing trust with the dog. It is important not to force yourself on the dog. They will need to learn that they can trust you before they seek you out. A suggestion would be to work on trust with a treat. After placing some food on the floor you can back up a bit. Staring directly at the dog should be avoided at this point. When the dog takes the treat, praise him enthusiastically.

It is not uncommon for some rescue animals to initially seek out physical contact . Others may take a few days or weeks. Once established you can try to roll them onto their back and place your hand on the chest. Dogs that tend to be aggressive may resist but a passive, fearful dog may accept . Neither aggression nor fear is good. In normal training, you would force the aggressive dog to take on a passive role. This will not work with a rescued dog. Remember to take your time when establishing trust. In the fearful case, the rehabilitation will be easier and you can calm the dog by providing a belly rub and speaking softly so that he learns that being on his back does not mean punishment.

Be patient as it is often difficult and slow to train a rescued dog. The challenge often comes from their age, temperament and history. Hang in there. You will be rewarded in the end.

Don’t feel sorry for the dog. Training can be hindered by doing this. Be patient, loving and understanding but don’t let the dog have the run of the house. By letting the dog know that you are in charge you are establishing yourself as the pack leader.

Your rescued dog will reward you with unconditional love.

 

Stefan Hyross is a writer for All About Dogs ‘N Puppies. Correct common dog behavior problems and other issues. Feel free to visit the site for puppy potty training techniques and tips for you and your dog.

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