Training a dog takes patience and dedication. A rescued dog will require double the patience and dedication to achieve the desired results. 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. As a result of this there are just not enough homes for all of the puppies that are born. And if you combine this with dogs that are lost or have runaway, the animal shelters are spilling over. Many of these dogs will never find homes in time and be euthanized.
For a some lucky dogs, there is a second chance. They are either found on the street or adopted from a shelter and brought home to compassionate and caring family willing to give them a better life. But to the inexperienced dog owner it can be a mystery as to how best to proceed.
Rescued dogs are often in poor shape when they are brought in to a shelter. They often have a history of abuse or neglect and sometimes lived in horrendous conditions. Other times, for a number of different reasons, these dogs were released into the wild to fend for themselves.
A dog’s nature is to be a pack animal. Even wild dogs don t do well on their own. Domesticated dogs are used to human and animal interaction so do poorly when released to the wild. However, with some training, these wild dogs can learn to tolerate human touch and stop barking at the smallest noise.
A rescued dog will need a full examination by a vet as the first step in the rehabilitation process. If the animal is sick or in pain your training efforts will be wasted. It’s crucial to give them enough time regain their health.
It can be difficult to find out the history of the dog but any information can be of use. Knowledge of past abuse, general temperament, or medical history will help you as your train the dog.
It is important to establish trust with a rescued dog slowly. It is important not to force yourself on the dog. The dog needs to learn to trust you and will then seek you out. The use of treats is a good way to build trust. Try stepping back a bit after putting a treat on the floor. Avoid direct eye contact. Once the dog takes the food make sure they get enthusiastic praise.
A few dogs that are rescued look for physical interaction from the beginning. Some can take weeks or more. But once you have established it, try to roll the dog over onto his back and place your hand on their chest. You will have two possible reaction, either resistance from an aggressive dog or fearful acceptance from a passive dog. Aggression or fearful responses are not desirable. Forcing an aggressive dog into a submissive position is done under normal training. A rescued dog will not respond well to this. Establishing trust will take time. Make sure that a fearful dog understands that being on its back is not a punishment by given it a belly rub and talking in a calm voice.
Be patient as it is often difficult and slow to train a rescued dog. They are often older dogs, mixed, and with difficult temperaments which makes training more challenging. Don t give up. You will be rewarded in the end.
Avoid at all cost feeling sorry for the dog. It can make the training even more difficult. Be in control but also offer love and caring to them. Be a pack leader and let the dog know that you are in charge.
It’s a lot of sweet and hard work but you will have a companion for life.
Stefan Hyross writes for the site All About Dogs ‘N Puppies. Correct common dog behavior problems and other issues. Visit the site to discover proven basic puppy training methods and other tips and trick for you and your pooch.
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This post was written by Noel DCosta on June 7, 2009
Great article. I think I saw something similar on another site recently. I’ve also found a great Dog Training Tip or two here.