4 Ways to bond With a Shelter Dog
One of the top reasons that people do not want to bring home a shelter dog is that they do not want to bring home the problems that can some from a dog that has been through the trauma that put them in the shelter in the first place. Most of the time, they have either been cast aside because no one has wanted them, abused, or surrendered making them loose everything that they have ever known. This can make them scavengers, have high anxiety or just be a little edgy.
In this post we will talk about how to bond with you shelter dog. It usually takes at least 48-72 hours in a new home for a dog to start to feel comfortable. From there another 2 weeks to decompress from the trauma from being in a shelter and another 2 months for the dog to view that as home. A dog that has been fostered might work through the steps a little quicker but still will feel the stress from a new home.
1. Spending time with your dog
2. Playing with your dog
3. Training with your dog
4. Building routine with your dog
Adopting a shelter dog can be an amazing journey. It can help you save a life that might otherwise have been easily cast aside. It is a noble undertaking but it can have some draw backs. With some proper bonding, it can be an amazing experience. Lets get started!
1. Spending Time With Your Dog
When you bring a shelter dog home, often they have lost everything in their world to get them to that point. Imagine what it might be like if you lost everything and were suddenly thrust into a new life. Dogs cannot express how they are feeling in the same ways that humans can so we need to try and help them work through these feelings.
Spending time with your new dog is a great way to promote bonding. You don’t have to do much to make this suggestion help. First have the dog in the same room that you are. Allow them to be in close proximity to you. Sit on the floor with them when you watch tv, pet them a lot, hang out with them.
The more time that you spend with them, the more you will enjoy spending time with them.
2. Play With Your Dog
It may take a few tries to figure out what kind of play your dog likes. One of my dogs likes to play chase. One dog likes to play fetch. My third dog likes it when I shove him a little and grab a toy for him to play tug with. Dogs can be very individual in how they like to play. They may like several types of play.
Trying different styles of play is the best way to see what your dog likes best. Once you figure out what works best for your dog, it is best to build on that type of play. Make sure you spend some time each day playing with your dog. It will help keep your dog healthy and promote deeper bonding with your dog.
Our shelter dog Ruger likes to play all sorts of games. She will do a little dance during play and by getting her to do this dance, we taught her how to paint. To her this is a form of play and she loves doing it. We sell her paintings and part of the proceeds go to the local SPCA to help other dogs get adopted into loving homes. We made her play into something amazing. You can view her paintings here.
3. Training with Your Dog
Every time you take your dog out and you experience new things together, it is a form of training. Everyone always loves a well trained dog but there a few truths about having a well trained dog that you should know. Set boundaries. Your dog should clearly know what is allowed in your house and what is not. Be consistent. If you don’t want the dog on the couch, don’t ever let them up just this once. Dogs think in absolutes so if there is ever an exception to the rule, they will have trouble obeying the rule.
Work with your dog every day. Dogs have short attention spans so 15-20 minutes is sufficient. Go over basic commands that you have taught them and introduce new material as you feel they are ready. Use lots of positive praise. The more you praise your dog and get them excited about doing the right thing, the more they will want to please you. I am not a professional dog trainer and am not an Animal behavioral specialist. Please consult with your vet or certified trainer about any training methods that you use.
4. Build a Routine With Your Dog
Dogs feel more comfortable when they have a routine. They like to know what to expect and when to expect it. It makes them feel safe. My dogs know that they go in their crates when I get up to go to bed. They automatically jump up and go to their crates if I stand up after 10:20 at night. They get really confused if I don’t go shut the doors.
Not everything has to be the exact same every day but in the beginning, it makes the bonding go smoother if you build a routine of when and where things happen. When you let your dog out, when you feed your dog, when you play with your dog. All of these things are important parts of your dogs world and putting them in order.
Bonding with you new dog is a process. It is not something that is going to happen over night. You need to take time and care in how you work to build a bond with your new dog. They have probably suffered a trauma to get to where they are. Be patient, with a little work and love you and your new dog will have a long happy life together.
