While normal dog training requires a patience that is only bested by childrearing; training a rescued dog takes even more patience.
There are all too many unwanted dogs around – even though spaying bitches and neutering dogs has been common practice for many years there are still more dogs than there are owners and the problem continues to grow. Inevitably a large number of dogs end up in facilities where if they cannot be re-homed they are put down.
Some dogs however, are lucky enough to get a second chance – whether they are rescued from the street or from a shelter. These dogs find homes with owners who are committed to giving the dog a better life. However, sometimes well meaning people take on more than they had bargained for.
Many rescued animals have been abused and badly treated by former owners before they are found. Occasionally an owner will have unrealistic expectations of a dog and the dog is released to get by on their own resources. When they are isolated from the pack even wild dogs fail to flourish – untrained domestic animals left to themselves fare even worse. Patience and skill are needed to train such animals to tolerate human contact and to refrain from barking at each and any provocation.
If you have a rescue dog then the first priority is restoring their physical health and getting a vet to examine them. Malnutrition is a common problem with rescue dogs and needs to be dealt with first. It may not be possible to get the dog’s history but knowledge of past abuse, temperament, health and general conditions will be helpful.
Don’t force physical contact on the dog, trust takes time to establish. It is better to offer inducements so that they come to you. Be cautious when offering treats, it is far better with a potential biter to lay the treat on the floor and then step back several paces, praise the dog when it takes the treat.
Some dogs may seek contact immediately, whenever this happens try rolling the dog over and placing a hand on their chest – an aggressive dog may resist this action while a passive dog may be fearful. Take things slowly, if the dog is aggressive then don’t be too quick to make it accept a secondary role. If the dog is fearful the rub its belly and talk to it soothingly so that it doesn’t equate being on its back with some form of punishment.
Rescued dogs often come from painful circumstances, they may be older and they may have a difficult temperament. This makes it more difficult to teach the dog a range of appropriate behaviors so patience is needed – some rescue dogs never fully recover from what has happened to them. You will need to exhibit extra care and patience without letting the dog take over the house. Even rescue dogs need to know that the human is the leader. Your time and patience will be rewarded by a a devoted and loving companion, one who is grateful for your kindness.
