Common Issues & Concerns With Rescue Dogs

By Sara Reighard


These days, more and more people are bypassing breeders and instead adopting dogs from an animal shelter or dog rescue organization. With so many homeless dogs out there, this is an excellent option but as with any new pet, rescue dogs take time to adjust to their new "forever" home and might have a few special needs.

While you might find an amazing dog that is well-behaved, well-adjusted and 100% healthy, it's likely that your rescued animal might be timid or in need of some health care. Ideally, you should plan a visit to the veterinarian quickly after adoption to assess your pets overall health. Often these animals are healthy, but in great need of proper dental care and you will want to schedule a cleaning. Grooming is another big issue that you will want to tackle quickly. In addition, while your pet might have been listed as "housebroken," often dogs will be confused and have accidents, so you will need to provide some potty training, too.

Everyone in the household may require a bit of adjustment when adding a new pet to your family, and the same is quite true with your new dog. New surroundings and an unfamiliar environment can cause them to feel stressed even though being rescued and taken cared by your family is a wonderful experience. This makes dogs feel reluctant in bonding with you and your family. Time should be taken into consideration before they get used to you and your ways since these dogs have been ignored or mistreated in the past. A gentle and soft, soothing voice really helps as well as patience. Let other family members practice this also at least for the time being.

Veterinary care and grooming is essential as well as obedience training and this should be in the top priority list after you bring your dog home. You might believe that rescued dogs might feel intimidated by training but in contrast, this is actually not true. A stronger bond can be created between the dog and the owner through obedience training. This is because you spend a huge amount of time with your dog and they do love the extra love and attention. A dog's confidence increases as you praise them in every activity. Furthermore, you will learn more about your dog's personality.

Dogs aren't born learning how to behave and a rescue dog will not know the rules of your home, so it is imperative that you follow through with dog obedience training. Through proper training, you can teach your dog to behave and curb irksome behavior such as barking, chewing and scratching, running away, dragging you on a leash and not coming when called. You can teach your dog to obey boundaries in your home and yard and in public places. Your dog will be safer and won't run away, your home will be happier because your dog will truly be an excellent and well-behaved companion.

Programs that promise perfect obedience with your dog in a day or two should be avoided since obedience training takes effort and time. This takes about a month to six weeks to be able to see permanent results. One option might be to contact Seattle Family Dog Training for those seeking dog training in Seattle. These professional Seattle dog trainers can help you train and better understand your dog's unique personality.




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