Last updated: September 11, 2024
It’s a lovely thing to bring a rescue dog home and provide them a nurturing, warm place to live their life. Rescue dogs don’t always come with a tough past, but many of them can. This might involve trauma, abuse, and perhaps time as a stray, which doesn’t come naturally to modern dogs so divorced from their canine ancestors.
For this reason, it’s generally accepted that a rescue dog is not advisable for a new pet owner, as they can come with additional challenges. They may need training, they may take a little more work to accept your authority, and some might not ever be so secure around children. For that reason, being mindful and focused on their care and behavioral training is key.
Before you start that process, however, preparing your household can be a good place to start. But how can you prepare for a rescue dog in such a way, to make sure (at the very least) your home environment won’t contribute to their difficulty? It’s not always easy to tell, but in this post, we hope to help you get started:
Talk To Your Relatives About Being Mindful & Gentle
It can be wise to encourage your family members to move slowly around the dog, speak in calm voices, and avoid sudden movements or loud noises. It’s also important to teach children (and some adults, let’s be honest) not to crowd the dog or try to hug them right away. As tempting as it might be to shower your new pet with love just because you are smitten with them, give them space to come to you when they’re ready.
Rescue dogs can be puppies, but adult dogs have fully formed personalities and need to learn to trust you.
Be Careful With Television Volumes
We often don’t realize how loud our everyday noises can be to sensitive canine ears. Your rescue dog might have had limited exposure to the sounds of modern life, making things like TV volumes potentially startling or stressful for them. That’s why it’s wise to keep your television (and other electronics) at a lower volume than usual.
Gradually increase it over time as your dog becomes more comfortable, and pay attention to their reactions – if they start panting, pacing, or trying to hide when you turn on the TV, that’s a sign to dial it back down or be a little more mindful about where they are when you want to settle down with an action movie.
Consider Walking Routes & Neighbors’ Pets
Most dogs benefit from being walked (unless they’re tiny toy dogs), and so finding a stress free route you can go on reliably will help them feel less contained in the house. Remember though, you may meet other dogs on the way, perhaps from your neighbors. Maybe start by letting the dogs see each other from a distance, then gradually decrease that distance over time.
And always, always ask the other pet owner’s permission before allowing the dogs to interact, and make it clear it’s a rescue. If you head to training sessions, you can help them learn exposure which helps in this situation.
Understand The Signs Of Anxiety
Dogs can get anxiety too, especially if yours came from a home with an abusive owner. Understanding when your rescue dog is feeling anxious is essential for their well-being and your ability to help them adjust to your home life. But here’s the tricky part – dogs don’t exactly come with a manual on how to read their emotions.
That’s why it’s good to refer to dog resource blogs or other owners of the breed, such as those that teach you how to react to your dog panting and trembling at night. this helps you take actionable steps to find the right solution.
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