How to care for a rescue dog?

Introduction

Rescue Dogs take a little longer and demand a little more patience than non-rescue dogs.

Their prior existence has left them with a lot of behavioural and physical issues.

Ascertain that your family and home members are prepared to receive the dog.

Respect your new addition and maintain a calm demeanour.

Early on, establish a pattern so that your Dog feels safe and secure with you.

Preparing Your Home

Dog proof the house

When you bring your Dog home, making your home secure for him will spare you a great deal of stress.

Keep home chemicals out of reach of your dog.

If the Dog will be sitting on your furniture, cover it with a slip or throw cover.

Check for any tassels, long cords, or dangling anything that your Dog might find appealing.

If you possess a yard, ensure sure your fence is in good working order.

To get away, your Dog should never be capable of jumping over it or even digging underneath it.

Gather all of your supplies

A crate, water, food bowls, baby gates, bedding, flea comb, 20-foot (6.1-meter) leash, toys, food, and grooming tools should all be purchased.

Take your dog's leash, buckle collar, ID tag, and harness/collar with you when you pick him up.

These items are available at the local pet store.

It is critical that you obtain these items before bringing your Dog into the home.

You want to get off to a good start.

It's best if you can create consistency as soon as possible.

Establish ground rules for your home

If you live with others, sit down and talk about the dog's house rules.

What will happen to the dog's crate, bed, and bowls? What is the dog's routine going to be like? Also, when encountering the Dog for the first time, advise everybody to be calm and welcoming.

Hugging, kissing, or petting the Dog on the head is not a good idea.

Talk about how the Dog is going to be introduced to each family member.

Only one person should be introduced to the Dog at a time.

Find out about his past

Attempt to learn as much as possible about your dog's former life.

This will assist you in dealing with your dog's behavioural or medical difficulties.

The following are some questions to consider:

• Was the Dog harmed in any way?

• What happened to the Dog that brought him to the shelter?

• Has the staff detected any behavioural issues?

• How is his health?

Building Trust

Give him space

It will take some time for your Dog to adapt to his new surroundings.

During the first few days, confine him to one or two rooms while you keep an eye on him.

This will prevent him from becoming overawed by his unfamiliar setting.

As you begin to show him around the house, he'll want to inspect and smell everything.

While his collar is still on, take him on a trip to the house and enable him to adjust to his new surroundings.

At first, the Dog may pant, pace, have a tummy ache, or drink or chew more than normal.

This is very normal behaviour.

He's simply a little excited and a little nervous.

Be Patient

Your Dog may be shy and haven't been socialized or housetrained because of his past.

As a result, your Dog may be fearful of new things or display undesirable behaviours such as eating his faeces or marking his territory.

Pay close attention to how the Dog reacts and make necessary adjustments.

If your Dog feels tense or starts gazing out of the edge of his eye while you're attempting to teach him a new command, you should give him some space and halt what you're doing.

When Dogs are terrified, they like to flee.

Keep your dog's crate door open, so he can withdraw whenever he feels overwhelmed.

Be firm but kind

At first, do not penalize your Dog for misbehaving.

Your Dog will be oblivious to the link between punishment and bad conduct.

Your dog, on the other hand, will be terrified of you.

If the Dog misbehaves, put a halt to it and reward him or her with a treat.

For instance, if the Dog is biting your shoes or peeing in the incorrect place, firmly tell your dog, "No, don't do that." Give your dog a treat and some praise when he comes to a halt.

Gradually introduce noises

When you're around your dog, don't yell or make loud, unexpected noises.

You don't want to make him nervous.

When speaking to or even around your dog, use a calming tone.

Slowly introduce new sounds, such as the television or the vacuum cleaner.

For the first several weeks, strive to maintain the house quiet.

For instance, after a few weeks, you may begin to watch TV in the presence of the dog.

You can vacuum around the Dog once he's become accustomed to the TV.

Always evaluate his response.

If he appears to be afraid, assure him all is alright and let him return to his crate.

Make absolutely sure that everyone in the house is also keeping it quiet.

Recognize separation anxiety symptoms

Separation anxiety is common when moving to a new setting.

When you leave your Dog alone at home, he may feel anxious and behave out.

In most cases, Dogs do not engage in these actions in front of their owners.

The following are some of the most common symptoms of separation anxiety:

• When you leave him alone, he will urinate and defecate.

• When left alone, barking, howling or howling

• When left alone, destroying things (e.g., door frames, doors, and household items).

• Attempting to flee a confined space

• When left alone, eating faeces

• Walking in a straight line or even in a circle.

Deal with separation anxiety

When you initially bring your Dog home, could you not spend all of the time with him? If you're at home all day, take a 5- to 10-minute break to give your Dog some space.

To avoid your Dog being distressed when he expects your departure, try to change your pattern by leaving at varying times in the mornings or night.

When you leave, give the Dog a snack or a toy so that he identifies your absence with something good.

Take short breaks before leaving your dog alone at home while you're at work.

Start with 5- to 10-minute absences and work your way up to 40-minute absences.

The first 40 minutes of your dog's alone time are when he exhibits most of his worrying behaviour.

If your dog's nervousness persists, speak with your veterinarian about their behaviour.

Allow him to sleep in the company of others

Your Dog should share a room with you or your other housemates.

This demonstrates to your Dog that he is a part of the group.

Your Dog should sleep in his crate or have his bed.

Ascertain that your Dog can be able to see you from his sleeping position.

Allowing the dog to sleep on your bed is not a good idea.

Your dog could interpret this as an indication that he is in authority.

Establishing a Routine

You should feed him two times a day

For the first several days, keep the Dog on the same eating routine.

At the shelter, he most likely ate once or even twice a day.

Maintaining the routine will prevent your Dog from developing diarrhoea as a result of the new medication.

You could start transitioning him to eating two times a day if he was eating once a day.

Split his meal in half and serve the most of it to him at the first meal.

Raise the quantity of food he takes at his second meal gradually until he feeds twice a day.

Offer him the same meal he was fed at the shelter if feasible, then move progressively to the meal of your choice.

If the Dog was living in a shelter, he might even have to struggle for food.

As a result, he may get possessive of his meals.

Feed your Dog in a bathroom or a crate if you observe him howling or lunging when you approach too close to his food.

Your dog will eventually understand that he does not require to guard his food.

Potty train your dog

Take the Dog outside to relieve himself first item in the morning, an hour after a meal, when you get home after work, and right before sleep.

When your Dog goes to the bathroom, praise him.

Do not penalize your Dog if he has an accident or pees in the incorrect place.

This will instil terror in him.

Keep your Dog in his crate if you won't be around to take him to the restroom.

In most cases, Dogs will not utilize the bathroom in their own home.

Every day, try to take the dog to the restroom at the same time.

This will assist him in developing a routine and a sense of security.

Exercise regularly

Your Dog will require at least one daily exercise session, but his specific demands will determine the amount and length of that exercise.

You should also pay attention to your dog's preferences.

Some Dogs may be content with a simple walk, while others may like more strenuous exercises such as running or retrieving.

It's time to cease the workout session; if the Dog is breathing excessively and no longer wishes to partake in, you're doing.

Take a break if, for example, you were playing with the stick and he no longer wishes to bring it back.

Make an appointment with a veterinarian

During the first week of his arrival, your Dog should see a veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will perform a general examination, offer preventive health care advice, and identify if your Dog has any particular needs.

If possible, plan the appointment before you get your Dog home.

To assist with the expenses of care, consider purchasing pet insurance.

Developing a relationship with your dog

It's tempting to try to speed up the bonding process with your Dog by petting him or perhaps even picking him up.

All this cannot be very comforting to a dog.

It's much preferable to take matters slowly and let the Dog come to you simply spending time together in the same room, sitting quietly, and chatting gently can quickly convince the Dog that there's nothing to be afraid of.

Once you've gotten through the initial barriers of the Dog trusting you, you can concentrate on developing that particular relationship using a variety of ways.

The dog must find you as a source of entertainment, so engage in free and passionate play with him.

However, ensure your dog understands that you control when and how much playtime they get; this is crucial for training a well-behaved dog.

Frequent grooming and handling can also aid in the development of trust.

Allow the dog to become accustomed to you touching various parts of his body, notably his head, ears, feet, tail, and nose.

This can be a lengthy process with several rescue dogs, but it will eventually result in a strong bond between you.

How to care for a rescue dog? Conclusion

Dogs might end up in a rescue centre for a variety of reasons.

It's all too easy to dismiss these creatures as "too demanding" or "problem dogs." On the other hand, a rescue Dog can be just as gratifying as any other dog, if not even more, with some forethought, patience, and kind, positive handling.

Why not try adopting a Dog that has been rescued if you're thinking about getting a new dog?