Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Provide the dog with its basic needs
• Method 2 of 3: Give the dog love
• Method 3 of 3: Train the dog
• Tips
• Warnings

Unfortunately, animals are still abused by humans every day and the abuse can leave lifelong physical and emotional scars on animals that survive the misery. Animals that have been abused not only need help to escape the situation they are in, they also need to have a new home as soon as they are rescued. If you plan to get a pet and are able to spend a lot of time on it, you might want to consider getting one that has previously been abused. Taking in an abused animal takes a lot of patience and care, but building a relationship of trust with an abused dog can be a life-changing experience for both you and the dog.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Provide the dog with its basic needs

1. Make sure your dog is wearing something that makes it easy to identify. Put your dog on a collar with a dog tag. Make sure the dog is not bothered by the collar. An abused dog may startle and escape, so you should make sure it is easily identifiable when that happens.
2. Feed the dog. Give the dog its favorite food at set times during the day. It is recommended to feed a dog twice a day.
   • Your dog should also have access to clean drinking water at all times.
3. Give the dog its own place. This is usually a basket or a dog cushion where the bug can get comfortable. Pet stores have a wide variety of pillows, blankets and baskets in their range for you to choose from.
   • The basket or cushion is a place where the dog can withdraw or relax. If the circumstances feel overwhelming to the dog or if it becomes anxious, let the dog find its own place and leave it alone for the time being.
   • You could also give the dog some dog toys so that he can enjoy himself. Most dogs will not like all toys equally, but will instead pick out their favorite toy and ignore the other toys.
4. Name the dog and try to teach it to respond to this name. Always call the dog by its name and do not change its name. A change in name will only confuse the dog.
   • Having a name that the dog responds to will strengthen the bond between you. Use a cheerful and energetic tone when calling the dog by name. This will help build trust between you and the dog.
5. Buy a treat to use while training the dog. Try a wide variety of treats until you determine which one is his favorite. Reward the dog with a treat when it shows good behavior, follows a command, or does a trick.

Method 2 of 3: Give the dog love

1. Pat the dog gently. Abused dogs will often be skittish, which means that they are very anxious when they are approached by hands. Stroke the dog with the palm of your hand up under its head, but not over its head or back. It is not an offensive move if you stroke with your palm up.
   • You should make sure the dog has seen you before you pet it. While you may be able to get closer to a fearful dog by quietly sneaking up to him, this will not build trust and the dog may even try to bite you out of fear.
2. Make sure the dog gets plenty of exercise and play with him. You need to build a relationship of trust with an abused dog, so again you need to be careful if you want to play with the animal. After about a month, the dog will likely trust you more. Play soccer together, let him fetch, run around nicely, and let the dog do the things he likes.
   • The more you walk your dog, the more confidence you build.
3. Give the dog enough attention, but be careful not to go crazy in this. You have to find a balance in giving enough attention and giving enough freedom. Set aside time every day to play with the dog. However, all your attention can also stress the dog if he is still somewhat suspicious. Temporarily leave your dog alone if all the attention seems to be getting too much.
4. Try to socialize the dog gently. Your dog needs to build trust with other people and dogs, in addition to the trust he builds with you. However, this can be a difficult task if the dog has been severely abused. Start slowly by showing your dog other dogs or people that are a good distance away. Slowly but surely let your dog get closer. Look for someone who will willingly play a passerby to whom you can introduce the dog, as you don't want to startle an unknown person with a dog that may be aggressive.
   • Once you and the dog have become best friends, you may want to consider bringing another dog home. If that simply isn't possible, you could take the dog for a walk as often as possible so that it meets a lot of other dogs.
   • Dogs that have not been properly socialized but have not been abused can appear as if they have been abused. Try to socialize any dog ​​that shows maladaptive behavior, as this can help even dogs that have not been abused.

Method 3 of 3: Train the dog

1. Use rewards instead of punishment. You should encourage good behavior rather than punish bad behavior, as most dogs understand the connection between actions and rewards better than when they are being punished for something.
   • You should never hit a dog. If the dog does something you don't like, a simple and quiet “no” or “fie” will usually suffice.
2. Create situations where the dog is exposed to his fears in a controlled way. This is especially helpful if your dog has specific fears. You create situations in which the dog is slowly but surely, and partly unconsciously, more and more exposed to things that cause fear. You nudge the dog in the right direction by luring him with something he loves.
   • For example, if your dog is afraid of bicycles, you could put his favorite toy or treat near a bicycle. After successfully luring the dog in the right direction, you should slowly but surely (over a period of several days or weeks) move the toy or treat closer to the dreaded item.
3. Teach your dog the basic commands On. Learning the commands may not go very smoothly if you have an abused dog in your home, but remember that when enough trust is built between you and your dog, he will eventually want to obey your commands.
   • Start with the “sit” and “here” commands. These commands lay the foundation for further training, such as “stay”, “down” and a wide variety of other commands.
4. Be patient. An abused dog has been through a lot and deserves time and patience on your part. It's okay to have some behavioral expectations, but don't be too unrealistic. The dog has no reason to trust you as it may have only had bad relationships with people. Give the creature time and show it time and time again that it can trust you.

Tips

• There are no exact figures on the magnitude of the problem when it comes to dog abuse. The ASPCA is in the process of creating a database to better map animal cruelty. This will provide a better picture of the number of animal cruelty cases in the United States in the near future.

Warnings

• Don't allow everything the dog does. Make sure the dog follows your rules. You want the dog to like you, of course, but your bond will be stronger over time if you set clear boundaries. While you shouldn't expect the dog to be perfect from the start, you can expect it not to mess up your house or hurt anyone.
• Do not give the dog too much freedom at first, as he could run away if someone or something scares him or if he is afraid of you.