For the dog lovers in the country, you’ll be all too aware of just how many pooches are in rescue homes requiring a forever home. If you’ve made the decision to rescue one yourself, you can’t expect your furry friend to shower you with love and respect straightaway. Try and put yourself in their… paws. Your dog is going to be terrified in their new environment, especially if they haven’t had the best start in life.
It’s your job to do everything you can to help your rescue dog settle in quickly and feel right at home. With that in mind, here are some ways on how you can get your new canine companion to love, trust and respect you.
Give Them Space
When you bring your rescue dog home, as much as you’ll want to shower them with cuddles and kisses, you need to give them as much space as they need. Your furry friend could’ve been in a shelter for many months or even years. This means when they arrive in a brand-new environment, it could shock them and cause anxiety. Therefore, giving them space to come to you rather than the other way around is key. Before you know it, your pooch will feel more relaxed and come into their own.
Provide Comfort
As your rescue dog starts to settle in with your home dynamics, now is the perfect time to offer lots of comfort. As you start to give your pooch cuddles, they’ll feel more at ease and comfortable in your presence. As well as lots of affection, make sure your dog has a comfortable bed to sleep on. Time for Paws can help you with this. They sell a range of dog beds, food, and other supplies that will give your pooch the best start to their new life.
Use Positive Training Methods
If your beloved dog has come from a sketchy background, they may not be house-trained. This means it’s your job to lay down the law and teach them positive training methods so they obey and respect not only you and your loved ones but your home. Once you show your dog how to behave, this will correct bad behaviour straight away. What’s more, your dog will learn that you’re a trustworthy person who is worth listening to.
Go For Walks
Try and find a dog on this land that doesn’t love going for walkies – we’ll wait. Your rescue dog is sure to enjoy a stroll outdoors so make sure you go on lots of them! They’re beneficial for the both of you. If you have a breed that requires lots of exercise, going on leisurely walks will tire them out and ensure they settle once back at home. There are tons of health benefits attached to walking that you’ll benefit from too. These include maintaining a healthy weight, preventing, or managing various conditions like high blood pressure, and strengthening your bones and muscles.
Learn Your Dog’s Preferences
What makes dogs special is they all have their own unique personalities and preferences. While some are more than happy to play fetch, others may roll their eyes if you dangle a stick in their face. Whatever you do, you must avoid forcing your pooch to do anything they detest. If you don’t understand your dog’s preferences, this can weaken the bond that you’ve created between you both. You may find your dog is frightened to go on long walks because they’re scared of other dogs and loud noises. Bear this in mind. If they need exercise, you could take them somewhere quiet and somewhere closer to home.
Understand Canine Body Language
You may not know it, but dogs wag their tails both when they are happy and nervous. Canines communicate with their entire body. Therefore, figuring out how your rescue dog is feeling is essential. When you understand your furry friend’s body language, you’ll have a better idea of their emotions. This kind of understanding is what will take your bond to the next level.
Communicate Effectively
To create the strongest bond between you and your dog, you need to communicate in the right manner. For example, in some cases you may be fine with your dog barking at a stranger outside. However, when it’s a friend or loved one, your pooch is barking out, you may yell for them to stop. This will send mixed messages to your hound. With that said, it’s vital you stay consistent in how you respond in these situations, so your dog knows the difference.
It’s going to take time for your dog to feel comfortable in their new surroundings. To ease the transition, there are lots of things you can do to make your canine companion feel loved and cared for. From providing space to lots of cuddles, you’ll soon form an unbreakable bond like no other.
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