With animal shelter populations constantly on the rise, more pet parents every year are adopting their furbabies and taking in rescue animals instead of buying them from pet stores and breeders. Not only is adopting from an animal rescue significantly cheaper than buying a pet, but it also opens up more shelter space and potentially saves another animal's life as well.

However, pet parents need to know that rescue pets are not the easiest to connect with at first. Many of these rescue dogs have traumatic backgrounds. As a result, they may be shy, anxious, or fearful of new people and new situations. Therefore, if you bring one home, you may need tips on how to get a scared dog to trust you.

Keep in mind that being a pet parent to a rescue dog can be challenging. These animals often need extra time and attention so you need to make sure you are capable of providing that to them. They may also need help with aggressive or destructive behaviors resulting from their mental health struggles. However, if you intend on doing the noble work of giving an anxious dog a loving home, they are lucky to have you. But how should you build a healthy bond with your new furry friend? To learn more about that, we spoke with veterinarian Dr. Liza Cahn of Embrace Pet Insurance. She breaks down everything you need to know to provide a scared rescue dog with a place where they can feel safe and form a companionship with you over time.

Why Your Rescue Pet Might Be Anxious

Sadly, many times, dogs that exhibit signs of extreme anxiety come from abusive or neglectful backgrounds. These dogs haven't had the benefit of experiencing healthy human relationships or "safe" people before, and it will take them time before they start to let their guard down enough to form a bond. It isn't impossible by any means, but it takes a lot of time, patience, and empathy from their new parents. That being said, even rescue dogs with less severe backgrounds can still have serious anxiety issues.

"Anxiety in rescue dogs may result from a variety of factors, including the stress of living in a shelter environment with loud noises and other animals, the loss of a previous home, or the instability experienced by stray dogs," Dr. Cahn explains. "In some cases, anxiety may even have been part of the reason a dog was surrendered in the first place."

Understanding the possible causes of your dog's anxiety can help you identify potential triggers and curate a safer, more welcoming environment for them. Still, even with the most loving and supportive home, Dr. Cahn warns that it can take months for a new rescue dog to fully settle in. "Give your dog plenty of grace starting out, and focus on slowly but surely building a bond with them," she suggests.

How To Get a Scared Dog To Trust You

Building a bond with a scared dog isn't something that happens overnight. You need to work up to each milestone slowly, letting your dog set the pace as much as feasibly possible. If your dog is so nervous that they're not ready to even approach you yet, give them some time to simply observe you from a distance so that they can see you're not a threat. With time, your dog will start to feel safe enough with you and their new environment to approach you. Then you can start tackling other milestones together!

Even after you and your rescue pet first start interacting together, though, it's gonna take some time for them to gain confidence and heal from their anxiety. The type of environment you curate for your dog can go a long way towards improving their mental health faster. Dr. Cahn tells us that these are the key things parents of nervous rescue animals can do to help earn their trust.

Consistency

"Establish a consistent routine," advises Dr. Cahn. "Predictability is the fastest way to build trust with a new dog. Do your best to stick to a consistent schedule for everything from mealtimes to walks."

Patient, Positive Training

Training is where a lot of pet parents, especially newer ones, falter. Training can feel like a frustrating exercise in patience at times, and it's easy to get frustrated when it's taking longer than you hoped. Nevertheless, it's crucial that pet parents (especially those with anxious pets) keep their training sessions calm, consistent, and positive.

"A new rescue dog is often scared and confused," reminds Dr. Cahn. "Give them space and don't force interactions; let them come to you. Use only positive reinforcement (like high-value treats and praise) to reward good behavior."

Pay Attention to Body Language

Learn to read your dog's body language earlier on. Remember, you're letting them adapt to their new home slow and steadily, and that means not forcing them into scenarios that heighten their anxiety. If you can tell when your dog is getting anxious, you'll know when to back off and give them space—and they, in turn, will learn that you're a safe person who respects their boundaries and doesn't push them into uncomfortable situations. "Lip licking, yawing, a tucked tail, "whale eye" (visible whites of the eyes), freezing, cowering, hiding, or turning away are all body language signifiers of anxiety," Dr. Cahn explains. Conversely, an at-ease dog will typically have relaxed facial features, a tail that's relaxed or wagging gently, and loose or "wiggly" body language.

Additionally, she says to be mindful of the body language you use when you're interacting with your dog as you may unintentionally be sending them a threatening message. "Pet parents should refrain from looming over their dogs, staring at them directly, reaching over their head, cornering them, or forcing physical contact," Dr. Cahn shares.

Build Their Confidence

Training your dog can (and should) be about more than simply discouraging unwanted behaviors—it can also help your pet feel more confident and secure in themselves.

"Teaching your dog new skills, such as basic obedience or even simple reward-based games, is a great way to bond while increasing their confidence," vouches Dr. Cahn. This is where the patience and positive reinforcement we discussed before really comes into clutch. If training is fun and exciting for your dog, and they're consistently getting positive feedback every time they learn something new, they'll be all the more enthusiastic to keep picking up new skills, and their bond with you will grow even stronger.

Help Them Feel Safe

Remember that anxious dogs can react aggressively if they feel endangered or overwhelmed. Even if your dog has never displayed threatening behavior, it's incumbent on you to keep yourself and other people safe by taking precautions when you're out and about, or introducing your dog to new people.

"Use secure leashes/harnesses, be careful around doors and transitions, and avoid overwhelming public outings too early," Dr. Cahn advises. "Seek urgent help if you are concerned about self-injury, inability to eat, escalating aggression, or distress that is not improving."

Observe Them

Lastly, for foster dogs in particular, Dr. Cahn advises parents to observe and advocate. "As a foster dog settles in and starts to bond with their foster family, keep notes on their personality, quirks, and likes and dislikes," she explains. "Foster parents are key observers of health and behavior, and any concerns should be communicated to the shelter."

How to Help a Scared Rescue Dog Adjust To a New Home

Even if your rescue dog is fairly good-natured and not overly anxious, that doesn't mean they'll immediately feel right at home with you. Moving into a new house is a big change (especially if they've gotten used to a certain environment), and your dog will need some time to settle in, so don't rush the transition.

"Remember the 3-3-3 guideline," Dr. Cahn advises. "It often takes an animal in a new home 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to learn routine, and 3 months to feel at home."

You might think that letting your new dog explore the whole house starting day one might help them settle in faster. However, this can be overwhelming for them at first, so start small. Instead of immediately giving them the run of the house, Dr. Cahn recommends establishing a "sanctuary"—a small room or even a crate stocked with all their basic needs—where they can ease into their new environment first.

"This can serve as a home base for your dog and provide a calm environment that they can later retreat to if overwhelmed," Dr. Cahn explains. "Calming treats or pheromones may also be helpful for some dogs."

"Initially, it’s a good idea to try to maintain some consistency," Dr. Cahn adds. "This may mean bringing a special toy or blanket from the shelter, and feeding them the same food (if you later wish to transition, do so gradually to avoid GI upset)."

How to Help a Rescue Dog with Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is not the same thing as generalized anxiety. As Dr. Cahn explains, separation anxiety is "essentially a panic attack that occurs when a dog is separated from their person." Dogs with separation anxiety will often display symptoms such as excessive vocalization, attempts to escape, anxious pacing, heavy drooling, and urinating or defecating indoors, even if they're house-trained. Separation anxiety will also frequently exhibit through destructive behaviors: dogs will chew up furniture, scratch doors and windows, and destroy their toys.

There is no one simple "how-to" when it comes to helping your dog with separation anxiety. Depending on how severe your dog's separation anxiety is, the treatment may be different: some need better training and behavior modification, others with more severe symptoms may need anti-anxiety medication. "The first step to helping a dog with separation anxiety is to talk with your vet," Dr. Cahn says. "They'll be able to assess your dog's symptoms and suggest appropriate treatments based on their individual needs."

Source:

Dr. Liza Cahn of Embrace Pet Insurance