When we go to adopt a dog This may have gone through bad situations. This is the case of dogs that have been abused by their previous owners. Unfortunately, there are still cases of this type in which dogs suffer many types of abuse, whether physical or psychological. For example, having a dog tied to a small chain all its life is another type of abuse, even if there are people who do not see it that way.
El problem with a battered dog is that he will have many fears and will have behaviors that are not what he should have if he were a balanced dog. That is why we must know how to remove the fear of an abused dog, to give it a second chance so that it can lead a full life with us, without fear and with total happiness.
Know if the dog has been abused
When we adopt a dog we do not know about its previous life. There are cases in which it is known who the dog was with and the treatment he received, but in the vast majority of cases they are abandoned without explanations, so we must know to see if it has been a dog that has suffered some type of abuse. Dogs that have suffered abuse, whether physical or psychological, have many behaviors that indicate what has happened to them. An example is when the dog is afraid if we make a sudden movement or speak loudly. There are some things that tell us that the dog could have been abused. The most common is for the animal to avoid contact with people, to stay in a corner and turn its back on us. Many of them also tremble, do not control their sphincters or show their teeth in an attempt to defend themselves against something that scares them. It is easy to know if that dog has suffered abuse because he will not be curious about the person, something that is natural in dogs, but will be afraid of him.
Give you your space
If we are going to adopt a dog of this type, the first thing we must do is give it its space. Whether you show your teeth or are afraid, the best thing is that get used to our presence without being invasive, since many dogs, if they feel cornered in this sense, can bite out of fear. Sitting close but with enough distance for the dog to feel safe is a good start. We should not look directly at him or caress him or invade his space. We simply have to be calm and speak to him in a low, conciliatory voice. The natural curiosity of dogs will come to the fore and we will see how it will gradually approach to meet that human who is nearby.
It is important that you get used to our presenceWell, habituation is the only way to open a gap in that fear. As time passes they will realize that we are not a threat to them because we have not done anything to them, and they will begin to use their nose and become curious about us. This process can take time, but we must know that with a dog that has been abused, all patience is little. We must let the dog take its own rhythm without harassing it, only then will it lose its fear.
Let me be curious
Dogs will be curious about their surroundings, as it is common for them to want to smell everything and meet people. Dogs with trauma and fear stop using their smell because they become blocked. That is why we must let use your nose with us, that they smell us and that they look around the house. In this way they will begin to know their environment and everything that surrounds them. It is the way they have to know their space. So they can begin to feel at home. We must let him explore and smell everything, as this phase is a good sign. It indicates that the dog is losing its fear and wanting to know everything because it is more confident. Do not get frustrated if at times the dog feels afraid again and stays in a corner or if it barks at us every time we appear as if it does not know us. This process is long and has small changes that occur daily, until it is a balanced dog.
Give him love
Abused dogs are really lacking in affection. Many of them do not know what a caress is and sadly they cringe when we go to caress their fur. Little by little, when we see that the dog has enough confidence and approaches us, we must initiate physical contact, which is the part that is most difficult for them. The caresses can be gaining his confidence and we will see how with time he approaches in search of more. Trust will be gained day by day, but we will know that the dog will trust us from that moment until the end of his days.
Go out on the street
This can be a challenge for dogs that have been abused. In the street we can't control the noises or other people, so it may be somewhat difficult at first. It is better to start the exits to the street in places where we will see few people and at times when there is little traffic. In this way, the dog will be less exposed to noise and changes that can scare it.
It is very important that you also get used to the noises of the street and other people and other animals so that you learn to relate again. They must not only communicate with us, but with many more people, so that they can become sociable and fully balanced again. Many of these abused dogs can have problems with behavior with other dogs, so first we must cautiously approach another dog of someone we know, giving notice in advance to see their reaction. This way we will know if he gets along with other dogs. Contact with other animals can greatly improve your mood and make your outings easier.