Often you will come across a dog that has been abused at one point in his life. These dogs are difficult to deal with as the normal things we do causes them anxiety and fear. You can, however, increase your chances of teaching an abused dog to trust with a few simple changes in approach and a lot of patience.
When interacting with this dog, bend down to appear less
threatening. When talking to him, keep
your voice low and cheerful. A loud or
frustrated tone will cause him to fear.
Call him to you; don’t approach him.
If he makes an effort to obey, praise him. Don’t wait for him to obey completely. Remember, he may be used to getting hit when
he approaches someone.
When you do get to pet this dog, avoid his head. Keep your hand palm up as it approaches him
and gently rub under his chin or on his chest.
Rubbing either spot tends to calm a dog.
If he moves to step backward, let him retreat. In time, he will stay longer.
When a dog is nervous or scared, he will often wet the floor
involuntarily. If this should happen, it
is important not to allow your frustration to show. It is not a deliberate attempt at disobeying
and will likely disappear as he gains trust in you.
Keep any sessions short, with just a few minutes of actual
touch each time. You can gradually
increase the time as his trust grows.
Often, just sitting quietly and waiting for him to approach you will
make him feel comfortable. If your
initial attempts fail, try this.
A once-abused dog can be as trusting and loving as any
other. All it takes is patience on the
part of those in his life. A crouching
position, low voice and appropriate touch will win him over eventually.
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