How to gain the trust of an abused dog

Understanding how to gain the trust of an abused dog always begins with observing what we can perceive in their behaviour. Most professionals, however, do not pretend to know everything the dog has experienced, but rather try to get closer to the causes to understand and focus on treating the consequences and positively modifying the dog's emotions.

Broadly speaking, a dog that has been abused will have gone through complex situations of fear, stress and frustration, so:

•    You may observe behaviours of insecurity, fear and avoidance: for example, it shuns or rejects objects such as  brooms, it is scared of quick movements, etc.

•    Exaggerated (reactive) or aggressive behaviours without apparent functionality: it tries to bite our hand if we try to pet it, it "warns" us by barking at us, it tries to run away...

•    Apathy, sadness, lack of attachment… We feel that we cannot "connect" with the dog or that the human-animal bond is fragile

For all this, when we bring an abused dog home with us, it is important to keep in mind that positive and constant actions will be our greatest allies to gain their trust. First of all, you must ensure that the dog does is not in pain or is not physically harmed with the aid of a vet. Next, it is recommended that you create a secluded space where the dog can feel safe and calm: even if you want to give it all the attention that it has never had, keep in mind that it barely knows you (yet) and that the priority now is that it gets used to you and that it can begin to relax.

Three keys to gaining the trust of an abused dog

#1. Offer a space of comfort and safety to the abused dog
It is imperative that the dog always has access to water and food on a daily basis and that we offer it a comfortable, pleasant environment without too many stimuli: we are not going to overwhelm it, nor should we force any contact, or introduce it to other dogs, children or other people, all at once and out of the blue. The evolution will depend on each animal and it is necessary to be aware of how it acts, if it starts looking for us, if it wants to start exploring the house...

#2. Progressive approaches and rewarding positive interaction
Little by little, the dog will begin to show it wants to start exploring and socializing. In the early stages, let's start by allowing it to get close to us and then reward it (a lot) for this kind of behaviour. In the same way, in order to gain their trust more quickly, we can induce the dog to approach us with snacks and treats, thus creating positive experiences from the beginning, but never forcing or imposing what we want.
Let's make sure that:

•    The experience does not cause overexcitement, fear or inhibit the dog's behaviour... We offer security and support

•    If the dog's behavious is exaggerated (blocked / runs away / aggressive), it is best to seek professional help, as it may be necessary to carry out specific tasks: desensitization, counterconditioning, teaching alternative behaviours, etc.

•    On a professional level, I am not in favour of leaving food available for the dog: we can use the meal times to generate a positive and useful experience between the trainer and the dog

#3. Bonding with the abused dog
Taking care of a dog that has been abused is a slow process in which we must be aware of the desired behaviour and reward it with petting, treats and kind words.

In the first weeks, however, we may even have to accustom the dog to physical contact (touching), for such, we must make sure we understand that there are many ways we can reward it and that we should follow the following order:

•    Reinforce the actions we want with the words: good, great, super, very good… you know it!

•    Reward with food: snacks and treats will ease the job

•    Reinforcement with petting and manipulations as the dog gains trust in us

In the case of abused dogs, the manipulations should always be subtle, gentle and slow at first, as they may have generated a bad association that we must reverse with new experiences.
I hope these tips are useful to you!

Javier Ruiz, dog trainer on Dogventura and environmental educator for the UB. Copywriter and author of: On How Animals Live and Die.