Question:

Hi, my family has just taken in a stray dog that no one in the neighbor hood would claim. I think this poor thing was beaten since none of us can get near her. She seems know that we want to help her because she has claimed us and not the other way around. It is just so sad to see her. It’s obvious that she wants love and attention but she doesn’t trust anyone. What can we do to win her over? She has won our hearts. How do we win hers?

ANSWER:

Food, food and more food! Stray dogs have an incredible ability to forgive all the sins heaped upon them by unkind humans as long as food is involved in the apology.

Begin by feeding her by hand her meals. You want her to associate you as the giver of food – her heart will be yours soon enough. Once she has learned to trust you, have each member of your family do the same thing and she will come around to the family a few kibbles at a time.

I also suggest you develop a routine and stick to it day in and day out. Dogs thrive on routine and an abused dog even more so. If you get up at 7am weekday mornings, then get up at the same time on the weekends. If you take her on two walks a day during the week, do the same on Saturday and Sunday. She will adjust well to the routine and will begin to count on that routine as part of her new way of life. Eventually you will be able to change this but for now, routine is important.

Lastly, try to keep your household as stable and calm as possible for the next few weeks. Ask the kids to only bring friends home after school that like dogs and know to behave around them. If their friends do not behave, lock the dog in a bedroom or their crate – anywhere quiet that feels safe. Loud noises, arguments, noisy games all can upset the pooch so for the first few weeks they are a part of your family it is necessary to try to keep the house as consistent as possible.

Remember the old adage ‘time heals all wounds’. She will come around and you will have a wonderful friend in her. Good luck!