Tips For Training A Rescued Dog
Monday, May 18th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Patience and dedication are a must when training a dog. A rescued dog will require double the patience and dedication to achieve the desired results. All of the hard work will be rewarded in the end.
Unplanned litters continue to be common even though the practice of spaying and neutering has been around for decades. 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. For many of these dogs being euthanized will be the sad reality.
Some of the lucky ones will get 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. 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. It is not uncommon for them to be victims of neglect, abuse of even terrible living conditions. Other times, for a number of different reasons, these dogs were released into the wild to fend for themselves.
In nature a dog is a pack animal. Wild dogs generally do poorly on their own. A domesticated dog that has been released into the wild and no longer has human or animal interaction do poorly. However, with some training, these ‘wild’ dogs can learn to tolerate human touch and stop barking at the smallest noise.
The first thing you should do after you have rescued a dog is to get a full health examination. You will not be able to start training your new dog if he is sick or in pain. It is very important to give the dog enough time to regain weight and energy.
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.
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Take your time when trying to gain the dog’s trust. Try to avoid imposing yourself on the dog. They will need to learn that they can trust you before they seek you out. The use of treats is a good way to build trust. Place a treat on the floor and back away a few steps. Staring directly at the dog should be avoided at this point. 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. Dogs that tend to be aggressive may resist but a passive, fearful dog may accept . Aggression or fearful responses are not desirable. In normal training, you would force the aggressive dog to take on a passive role. This technique typically does not work for rescued dogs. Remember to take your time when establishing trust. 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.
You may find that the training is slower and more difficult with a rescued dog. They are often older dogs, mixed, and with difficult temperaments which makes training more challenging. You can do it . The dog will reward you for your perseverance.
Feeling sorry for the dog can actually do more harm than good. This is counter-productive and will only hinder the training. Be patient, loving and understanding but don’t let the dog have the run of the house. 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. Also visit the site for tips on puppy
potty training and other lessons for dogs.
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