{"id":3744,"date":"2018-04-24T08:52:08","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T13:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.diamondpet.wearewoodruff.xyz\/?p=3744"},"modified":"2026-02-17T10:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T16:08:16","slug":"building-trust-rescue-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/adoption\/rescues\/building-trust-rescue-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Column: Building Trust in a Rescue Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>\u201cRescue Me\u201d is a recurring column by Samantha Randall, editor-in-chief at\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/topdogtips.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Top Dog Tips<\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0She provides personal anecdotes and perspective about her life as a pet lover with a passion for cat and dog rescue. Today, she talks about\u00a0how to build trust in your new family member.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Adding a rescue dog to your household may be a challenging step for some people, and <a title=\"Should I Adopt a Rescue Dog If I Have Small Children?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/adoption\/rescues\/rescue-dog-adoption-tips-having-children\/\">for a good reason<\/a>. Adoption gives you a chance to provide a dog with a life he or she couldn\u2019t otherwise have, but it also comes with a set of challenges. I\u2019ve rescued many dogs in the past, and many rescues often come from troubled homes or situations. Some have been abandoned, some have been mistreated and others have lost owners. They often have trust issues!<\/p>\n<p>The truth is that in the case of adopting a rescue pet, you\u2019re rarely bringing home a newly born puppy that you can raise and \u201cmold\u201d into the type of dog you\u2019ve always wanted. Statistically, most rescues are adult dogs with formed behavioral habits and their own inherent fears. That isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing as long as you understand how to build trust with the animal.<\/p>\n<p>I found that being mindful of the psychology and predetermined behavioral habits of a rescue dog can make life together much happier. Hopefully you\u2019ve adopted your pooch from a reputable animal shelter \u2014 one that screens their dogs and future owners \u2014 rather than a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/adoption\/10-ways-avoid-puppy-mills\/\">shady puppy mill<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But how do you establish that relationship and start building trust? It\u2019s best to start with understanding your new companion and knowing what to expect. Experts at animal shelters observed that most rescue dogs have one or more of these traits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They may be scared.<\/li>\n<li>They are often shy.<\/li>\n<li>They may be overprotective.<\/li>\n<li>They have severe separation anxiety.<\/li>\n<li>They seek affection but run away from it at the same time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these characteristics are understandable considering what many rescue dogs have been through. And as long as the folks at the dog rescue\/shelter have done their job by screening the dog and introducing you properly, these problems are fixable. There are a lot of things you can do, either with the help of professional dog trainers or veterinarians, or by educating yourself on the subject.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-14262\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/sully-rescue-story-021423.jpg\" alt=\"An interior graphic detailing a story about a rescue dog named Sully.\" width=\"2083\" height=\"2101\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/sully-rescue-story-021423.jpg 2083w, https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/sully-rescue-story-021423-768x775.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/sully-rescue-story-021423-1523x1536.jpg 1523w, https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/sully-rescue-story-021423-2030x2048.jpg 2030w, https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/sully-rescue-story-021423-75x75.jpg 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2083px) 100vw, 2083px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here is some general advice on building trust with your rescue dog from my personal experience.<\/p>\n<h3>Be calm and respectful.<\/h3>\n<p>For a dog to be calm and comfortable in a new home, you need to show that the pet can feel secure in the new environment. <a href=\"https:\/\/topdogtips.com\/dogs-emotionally-like-humans-chimps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Studies have shown<\/a> that emotionally, dogs are closer to humans than chimps are. This means not only avoiding negative punishment but maintaining a very calm and soothing attitude in general, for the first few weeks in particular. The dog will be in an unfamiliar environment and will look to you as a \u201cmirror\u201d to understanding that environment. If you are calm and collected, this will show the dog that there\u2019s nothing to fear.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u2019t pressure the dog, and let them dictate your interactions.<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s true that dogs don\u2019t bite the hand that feeds them, but nevertheless it will take time for the rescue to get used to you and the new home. Expect that at first, all your actions will be carefully observed and will cause Fido at least mild stress. This is normal. When it comes to your interactions together, let the dog be the one who approaches you, who looks for affection, and who initiates the play time. It takes time to build trust with a new pooch, so don\u2019t bother the dog needlessly. When you want to distract your pet with a toy or treat, be mindful of the dog\u2019s space.<\/p>\n<h3>Be the leader your dog needs.<\/h3>\n<p>New <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2014\/08\/wolves-cooperate-dogs-submit-study-suggests\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">studies have observed<\/a> that dogs need a leader. While their closest ancestors, wolves, often cooperate, canines prefer to submit to the leader in search of protection. In your rescue dog\u2019s new home, you\u2019ll need to establish your leadership to show the dog that you can protect him or her. This has nothing to do with the outdated concept of \u201calpha dog\u201d training but everything to do with establishing trust with your pet. It requires you to pay attention to your dog\u2019s emotions and step in when necessary. Dogs will often return the favor in protecting or comforting their owners.<\/p>\n<h3>Find out what the dog loves and focus on that.<\/h3>\n<p>Every dog is different, and it\u2019s likely that your new rescue already has some likes and dislikes preset. Don\u2019t force new toys and new ways to play on your dog when he or she clearly prefers something else. While this may work for new puppies, adult rescues often have already formed behaviors and preferences, and as long as they\u2019re not dangerous or destructive, it\u2019s easier for everybody to accommodate the pooch. Offer your pet choices \u2014 get the dog a wide variety of toys and see which toys, games and activities they gravitate towards.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u2019t hesitate to comfort the dog.<\/h3>\n<p>A lot of dog owners restrain themselves from comforting their dogs when dogs are afraid of something or experience anxiety. This is because comforting can be a positive reinforcement for the dog that he or she should be afraid, because they\u2019re being comforted. However, the opposite is also a problem \u2014 letting your dog cower in fear. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mnn.com\/family\/pets\/stories\/should-you-comfort-your-dog-when-hes-afraid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Experts say<\/a> that there\u2019s a good balance between the two \u2014 a simple petting can go a long way. Especially with a rescue dog, giving the comfort he or she needs is a great way to build trust.<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u2019t isolate the dog at night.<\/h3>\n<p>Some dog owners don\u2019t let their dogs sleep in their close vicinity. Even if you don\u2019t want the dog to sleep in your bed \u2014 which is understandable \u2014 you should let a new rescue sleep in the bedroom with you, or at least close by, where the dog feels safe. Just get a comfortable dog bed, put it next to yours or in the area where the dog can sense you, and let the dog sleep and feel calm and protected in your presence.<\/p>\n<h3>Try hand-feeding the dog at first.<\/h3>\n<p>After the two of you lived together for a while, it\u2019s best for everyone to feed the dog the regular way, from a bowl. However, when it comes to new rescue dogs, consider hand-feeding. While there are no studies proving the pros or cons of hand-feeding one way or another, there\u2019s plenty of anecdotal evidence of its benefits (like in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Dogtraining\/comments\/3f2qfd\/handfeeding_only_as_a_method_of_dog_training_does\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this Reddit thread<\/a>). Some rescues may be afraid to eat out of a dog bowl at first because they fear punishment for approaching the food. By hand-feeding your dog, you demonstrate that there\u2019s nothing to be afraid of, and you build a lot of trust between the two of you.<\/p>\n<h3>Gradually work through the dog\u2019s separation anxiety.<\/h3>\n<p>Most rescue dogs have a lot of built-up separation anxiety. This is something to pay a lot of attention to after adopting a rescue dog. Make sure you have plenty of time to care for the pet so that the dog won\u2019t be left home along for long hours in the first several weeks. At the same time, however, don\u2019t let the dog get dependent on your presence \u2014 once the dog settles in and becomes calm and comfortable in the new environment, start teaching him or her to be alone for longer periods of time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cRescue Me\u201d is a recurring column by Samantha Randall, editor-in-chief at\u00a0Top Dog Tips.\u00a0She provides personal anecdotes and perspective about her life as a pet lover with a passion for cat and dog rescue. Today, she talks about\u00a0how to build trust in your new family member. Adding a rescue dog to your household may be a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5466,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"How to Build Trust in a Rescue Dog","_seopress_titles_desc":"\"Rescue Me\" is a recurring column by Samantha Randall, editor-in-chief at Top Dog Tips. 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