Whether you’ve come across a long-time stray or a neighborhood pooch that’s escaped the yard, earning the trust of a stray dog can be tricky. The goal is to catch the dog without harming them or scaring them off completely, but we have to make sure we keep ourselves safe, as well. A scared dog can become aggressive when they are trying to defend themselves. Remember, they don’t know you’re there to help. Regardless of how you found the dog, you’ll want to keep these tips in mind when building trust.
#5 – Stay Completely Calm
First off, when approaching any dog for the first time, you need to remain calm. This can be tough. You see the cutest dog and they look so happy, excited and they seem to be welcoming. On second thought, they don’t if you approach them improperly. We need to come in peacefully and once you have earned their trust, we can gradually pick up our energy.
#4 – Give The Shy Dogs Their Space
The worst thing you can do when trying to build trust is to be over the top. Sometimes giving too much affection can make your dog feel uncomfortable. Remember not all dogs like to be hugged as it can make them feel confined. Give them some space to start off with until you know each other better.
#3 – Be patient
Don’t get agitated to show that you are annoyed if your dog is taking a long time to get to know you. Some rescue dogs have been through awful ordeals and it can take years for them to get back to normal. You will see small improvements but don’t expect a miracle. If you put too much pressure on your new rescue dog you could make them worse. Every dog is different, it depends on their background and temperament as to how long it will take them to trust you.
#2 – Feed them and offer dog treats
One of the best ways you can get any dog to trust you is to give them food. However, if your rescue dog is not very food orientated you may have to try other rewards such as giving them a toy. Simply giving your dog their daily meals will help to improve your relationship.
#1 – Play with them
The play is an excellent way to build a bond with your dog. Spend lots of time with your new rescue dog playing different games such as fetch and tug of war. Find out what sort of toys your dog likes the most by trying out a range of toys.
And there you have it. 5 ways to get your dog to trust you. As you may know, trust is in the first stage of really bonding with a dog and experiencing their unconditional love on many heights.
