How to Train Your Shelter or Rescue Dog
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Congratulations if you recently acquired a dog from a shelter, rescue group, or other organization! Dogs rescued or adopted from dog shelters can make fantastic pets. Whatever the cause, shelter dogs can be trained to become loving, well-behaved family members with a little time, patience, and guidance.
The most important thing will be to train your rescue dog. But are training rescue dogs more difficult? Depends, really. Your recently adopted dog might already have some obedience training, or it might not. Another possibility is that anything from its past will set off behavioral problems. It's crucial that you provide your newly acquired buddy the attention and socialization that they require.
Expect a Period of Adjustment
A dog or puppy you take home from the shelter has a past. Remember that the dog may be apprehensive in its new surroundings due to the trauma of being surrendered to a shelter and anything else the dog may have gone through in the past. For this reason, it's crucial to be aware of a few pointers on how to welcome a rescue dog into your home and ensure that your new dog feels secure and at home.
The secret is to be patient. As you learn how to teach a rescue dog, allow your pet some time to become used to its new surroundings and family. The time it takes a dog to adjust to a new environment might range from a few hours to several months. Your dog will start to feel secure if you are calm and gentle with them.
Predictability is important. Whether the transition process lasts for hours or months, try to maintain consistency and predictability in the new environment. Routine changes can make your new dog anxious. For instance, rather than attempting to choose the "ideal" location for the food and water dish, keep the animal's food in one place and stick to it. It's the same with bedding.
Make your new pet as physically comfortable as you can because comfort counts. Your dog will feel more secure at home as a result. Provide your dog with a lot of food and toys, and if you are keeping him in a crate, make sure the space is outfitted with a plush foam dog bed and warm blankets.
Dog-proofing for safety will help to foster your dog's confidence by keeping it out of harm's way as soon as it enters the house. Raise houseplants off the floor to prevent the dog from being tempted to dig in the soil, install child-proof cabinet locks on doors to cleaning supplies, and keep doors to rooms you don't want your inquisitive new pet to discover closed.
Set Boundaries
Keep in mind that teaching your new puppy begins the moment you bring him home. To try to make up for the time spent in the shelter, it may be tempting to spoil it for the first week or two. Never do it!
It will be far more difficult to train your shelter dog to quit acting in a particular way later if you let it act a specific way when you first bring it home. Included in here are some of the most noticeable behaviors, including urinating on the carpet or biting on table legs. Early on, set boundaries for your dog, and make sure everyone in the household is aware of and upholds them.
Get on a Schedule
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Dogs appreciate routines. It's possible that part of the reason a dog was stressed out after spending several weeks or more in a shelter was because of how unpredictable its life had become. You can start giving your dog some stability by setting a schedule for feeding, walking, playing, and going to bed. This will typically make a considerable difference in the dog's ability to acclimate to its new home.
Assume It Has no Training
Similar to how you would treat a new puppy moving into your home, treat your shelter dog nicely. Assume it has never received any instruction. Even if the dog has already had obedience training, after everything it has gone through, it may need a refresher course.
The best course of action is to assume that your dog is ignorant. If the dog is already housebroken or is familiar with some basic commands, you'll be pleasantly surprised. However, if your expectations are too high, you won't be setting the puppy up for failure.
Make sure to use positive reinforcement when training your new puppy. Keep workouts positive and stress-free.
Plan on Crate Training
As soon as you can, you should start your shelter dog on crate training, just like you would with a new puppy. By doing this, you may work on housebreaking the dog while also having confidence that it won't cause trouble if left alone.
A crate is useful because it provides your shelter dog with a personal space. Your dog can be really stressed out from living in a shelter and moving into a new house. The dog can adjust much better if it has a safe haven to go to when it gets too much.
Enroll in Obedience Class
You shouldn't put off enrolling in an obedience course just because it might take your shelter dog a bit to adjust to its new home. On the other hand, frequent training sessions might assist in establishing a routine for dogs.
Setting boundaries for your dog from the outset of a training program can also help. A dog's behavior is set up for success in an obedience class, making it simpler for it to join your family as a happy and healthy part. Remember that dogs prefer to feel secure when they are aware of the rules. One of the nicest things you can do for your new pet is to properly teach them from day one since dogs need structure and predictability.
Problems and Proofing Behavior
A rescue dog could have a few behavioral issues. The following are the most typical problems you and your dog could run across while you adjust:
Bonding: Although training should start right away, you should go at a speed that is comfortable for your dog. Some dogs might not be prepared for a formal obedience class straight away, so you can decide that spending the first few weeks working on your relationship with your dog at home is preferable. Without a professional trainer, you can still use the fundamental training methods.
Socialization: It's important to socialize your dog, but with rescue dogs, it could be more difficult. Similar to training, it's crucial to acclimate your dog to the surroundings, people, and other animals it may come into contact with throughout its new life with you. This should likewise be done gradually and to the extent that your dog is comfortable.
A crate could be challenging for your dog, especially if its previous owner used it as a means of punishment or if it spent an excessive amount of time there. Make the process of crate training enjoyable for the dog and don't force it in at first if it doesn't want to.
Watching: Keep an eye on the dog at all times, especially when it's outside, as it becomes used to its new home. Even if your yard is enclosed by a fence, your dog could be inquisitive about or scared by sounds, sights, or odors outside the perimeter. Your dog won't be able to find its way back to the new house if it escapes because it doesn't know the area.
Common Mistakes
Assuming too much (or too little) about the dog's past is one of the most frequent blunders new owners with rescue pets make. Not all dogs at shelters have experienced trauma, and on the other hand, not all of them have been properly socialized or trained. Approach your dog as a blank slate waiting for your instruction, training, and affection in every aspect of its care.
Prior to adoption, it can be helpful to enquire about the dog's past, but you should still take this information with a grain of salt. Given that a shelter is very different from a household and that the staff may not know much about the dog's past, it is possible that they have only ever interacted with the dog there. Start over if you want to improve your relationship with your dog!