by Dana Meldgaard

Created on: April 15, 2008

Rescuing a dog from the streets or a shelter is often the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Anyone who has rescued a dog from such a situation can attest that these dogs seem capable of genuine gratitude. While it may be a temptation and an amusement to shower your new pet with affection, toys and treats in an effort to comfort them after their recent hardships, nothing will provide your rescued dog with more comfort then establishing their place in the family.

While obedience training is always good idea, as it promotes the relationship between master and dog, as well as providing socialization, the introduction to the family usually happens long before formal training begins. The dog needs to learn who you are, just as you need to learn who the dog is. Plan to dedicate the first day or two that the dog is home to determining how the family will work. Every reinforcement, positive or negative, must be implemented immediately. Consider how you would feel if someone speaking a foreign language came up to you and either gave you a lovely treat or started yelling at you. You would be hard pressed to associate it with any particular thing you had done throughout the day.

The first few hours the dog is home, he should be observed constantly. Watch for both good and bad behaviors, and reward or discourage them as they occur. This is a great time to discover what the dog loves, start with a couple of different treats, and see what the dog seems to like best. Bits of low-fat low-sodium hot dogs are usually a good pick. Also find out what the dog absolutely hates. A handful of coins in a can shaken the instant a dog misbehaves makes a pretty persuasive deterrent. Watch the dog carefully for the beginning signs of problematic behavior, such as sniffing around for a place to potty, so that problems can be averted, rather then dealt with.

Be especially wary that a dog in an unfamiliar environment may be nervous, easily distracted, and even outright frightened. They may have been denied food, or in pain, or under-socialized, and this may manifest as aggressive behavior in a new home. During the dog's initial adjustment period, do not put the dog in any situation where they may feel provoked. Children should never be left unsupervised, but especially so with a new dog. Do not chase or corner the dog, or otherwise make him feel trapped by you. In no training situation should a rescued dog ever be provoked to be aggressive.

Once the dog begins to be comfortable in the household,

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