Adopting a dog is an exciting and happy experience for a person. Perhaps even a core memory for some. It is an ethical and kind act, in fact, if the dog you are adopting is from a rescue shelter.
While you may not have heard a lot of good stories about dogs one got from the shelter, I am here to help you out with any problems. After all, most people do not want to put in the effort of helping a scared and traumatized dog from the shelter become a loving pet.
So, if you’ve taken up the initiative of taking care of a rescue dog, read on to know about how you can help them!
Is It Safe To Adopt A Rescue Dog?
Yes, it is completely safe to adopt a rescue dog. While some may have an aggressive nature, in the beginning, there is no dog that cannot be trained and loved into being a cuddly pet.
Most of the time, we are scared to adopt a rescue dog because it may feel ‘unsafe’ or ‘difficult’ because of its behavioral issues.
However, not every rescue dog has a sad past or a peculiar nature. Rescue dogs can come from just anywhere – some may even be born at the shelter or found at an early age as a puppy. So it is safe to say that they will not be as troubled as the rest.
Hence, you can find the perfect, ‘safe’ dog for you when you go have a look for yourself at the shelter.
Understanding The Problem: Why Is My Rescue Dog Scared Of Me?
Before you try to solve the problem, you need to find out the reason behind why it is happening. Considering your new pet is from the rescue shelter, you have to understand that sometimes even the rescuers will not know the full story of what the canine has gone through. Rescue dogs usually always have a bad history which often involves abandonment, owner abuse, violence, and sickness.
Dogs, being highly sensitive and emotional animals, do not take that so well and can be traumatized for life by these things. Your rescue dog is not particularly scared of just you. It is scared of humans in general for the things it has gone through.
A lot of time and patience would be required, but it is possible to overcome this stage. Your dog can learn to trust again, but it is all dependent on your efforts and love.
How To Gain The Trust of My Scared Rescue Dog?
The first step to helping your dog become more comfortable in your house is to gain its trust. There are a few things that you can do in order to make your fearful rescue pet trust you.
- Let the Dog Approach You First
Adopting a rescue dog that is scared of you as a companion is all about taking baby steps in your approach. Let the dog inside your house and go about exploring it the way they want to. Instead of bombarding them with affection like you might want to, let them take their time to get adjusted to the new smells and sounds.
- Pet Your Dog in a Safe Way
Avoid petting your rescue dog on the head, ears, tail, or paws at first. These are sensitive areas for a canine and they may not like letting people they do not trust touch them. Let them know that your touches are all safe and avoid giving too much physical affection.
- Bring in Toys and Food
The best way to show that you can be trusted is to let your dog know you want them around. This can be done best through the use of toys and food. When you shower them with things they like, it is a given that they will associate you with nice things and it will help develop trust.
What To Do To Bond With My Rescue Dog?
A scared rescue dog can be timid and untrusting. They might cower in fear and try to hide when you first bring them from home. Your presence might even feel threatening to them. So how to bond with a scared dog like that? Here are a few tips.
- Give Them Space
It is important to let your dog take its time to approach you, but it is also important for you to give them space.
Let them be confined to one area or room so that they do not get overwhelmed and adjust to the smells and sights around them at their own pace. Give them a space like a blanket or a comforter to return to at times when they feel scared.
Do not force them into things and go about your actions like feeding and petting them very gently. They will eventually get used to everything.
- Have a Feeding Schedule
Being punctual with feeding times can help assure the dog that there is a person who will be a provider of food at all times without it having to struggle for it. Since animals are simple beings, they associate good things with food and know that the person providing food cares for them.
- Walk Them in Quiet Places
Physical activities are a must for dogs. However, remember to never force your rescue dog into going if he does not want to as it can lead to danger. Do not walk them too soon and start with quieter places.
Your dog probably has already gone through a lot and the outside may scare them at first. Carry a lot of treats with you at first to have something to calm them with when you go walking.
- Reward Good Behavior
Rescue dogs need a lot of encouragement to gain back their confidence. Remember to reward your dog plenty when it displays good behavior like coming out of its hiding spots, starting to walk around the house more, or listening to your instructions. This will help them accept you as well and keep them happy.
Just make sure that you do not hand over the treat directly to them at first and start by dropping or keeping the treat close to it on the ground just to be safe.
What To Do When Everything Else Fails?
Though adopting a rescue dog is a fulfilling and gratifying experience, we understand that not all rescue dogs will show positive results. There are times when it seems completely impossible to open up your fearful dog.
- Talk to a specialist in order to understand what your dog is going through. These trainers might be able to find the root of the problem and help you understand what you can do for your dog in particular.
- You can also invest in calming aids after consulting with your vet if your pet suffers too much anxiety. These can help take the edge off and help in letting your dog feel more relaxed around you.
Final Thoughts
Adopting a scared rescue dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a lifetime. The efforts you put into comforting and taking care of a living being will not only teach you several lessons but will leave you with a fulfilling purpose.
Going from seeing your rescue dog cowering and anxious to looking at you with assurance and happiness will transform you as a human too. On top of that, you will have a loyal and dedicated friend for life!