Dogs bring joy to the lives of so many people. If you’re considering having your own furry friend to bring you joy, then you might want to think about adopting a rescue dog.
While there are plenty of cute puppies out there, rescue dogs may have had a sad time and really need a loving home to live in.
Often, rescue dogs will have been sent for rehoming under quite sad circumstances.
Before you get your rescue dog, there are some things that you’ll have to think about.
Here’s everything that you need to consider when rehoming a rescue dog.
Toilet Training
While you may be getting an older dog when you rescue one, there is a chance that they won’t have been toilet trained. Or, they may have developed bad habits due to the emotional stress involved in leaving their last home.
It is possible to teach old dogs new tricks though, and you can use potty training puppy style for dogs of all ages.
Separation Anxiety
Your new dog will have been through a lot. They may have been attached to their previous owners and losing them under any circumstance will have been very upsetting for them. They may be worried that when you walk away from them, you’ll never come back either.
Separation anxiety is a common problem that can manifest as barking when you’re out of the room or the home.
To overcome this problem, start off small. Leave your home with your dog inside for a few seconds, and come back. Repeat this process building up the amount of time you’re gone for on each time.
Your dog will learn that you always come back. It may take some time, and you’ll need to be patient.
Unwanted Behaviors Around Food
Your dog might have some behaviors that are less than desirable around food. These might include trying to steal your food, jumping up at you when you’re eating, or protecting food from others by becoming aggressive when anyone is near their food.
All of these things can be changed with the right training.
Use positive training methods and reward desired behaviors instead of punishing the bad. For example, ask your dog to sit while you’re eating and reward the dog for listening to you and obeying.
If your dog is jumping at food, tell your dog ‘off’ or ‘down’ will let them know that you don’t want them to jump up at your food. Reward your dog with treats or affection whenever they listen to what you’ve asked them to do and they’ll soon learn how they should behave.
Making Your New dog Feel At Home
Your rescue dog will bring lots of love and joy to your home. You’ll both bond and find a lot of happiness in each other’s company, but as rewarding as rescuing a dog might be, it’s important that you understand that you’ll need to be patient and work with your dog to help them settle into their new life with you.
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