Tips For Training A Rescued Dog

Patience and dedication are a must when training a dog. To achieve the desired results in rescued dog will take double the dedication and patience. All of the hard work will be rewarded in the end.

The practice of neutering and spaying of dogs has been around for many years but unplanned births continues to be a reality. Because of this it is hard to find loving homes for all of these newborn pups. And if you combine this with dogs that are lost or have runaway, the animal shelters are spilling over. For many of these dogs being euthanized will be the sad reality.

A second chance awaits a lucky few. They could be adopted from shelters or missions or taken in off of the street and into the care of a willing family. But to the inexperienced dog owner it can be a mystery as to how best to proceed.

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. And in some circumstances dogs are released into the wild to take care of themselves.

Dogs are pack animals. 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 is very important to give the dog enough time to regain weight and energy.

It may be a tall order, but whenever possible try to get the dog's history. Your training efforts will be helped if you have information on the dog's past abuse or medical history.

Take your time when trying to gain the dog's trust. Do not force yourself on the dog. The dog needs to learn to trust you and will then seek you out. Many dogs are food driven so using treats to build trust can help. 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.

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. You can expect that the dog will either resist if they tend to be aggressive or a fearful dog will accept. Aggression or fearful responses are not desirable. An aggressive dog would be forced into submission under normal training. A rescued dog will not respond well to this. Establishing trust will take time. 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.

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 . Your perseverance will pay off.

Feeling sorry for the dog can actually do more harm than good. Training can be hindered by doing this. 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.

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