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that most rescue dogs that have been subjected to repeated abuse will be very timid and will almost cower at the mere sight of a human hand coming near them. Within a week or so of being in the home of a loving family a timid dog can show extreme progress and can seem to be like a completely different dog. When this happens, providing the dog does not become aggressive, can show that the dog is becoming to feel comfortable in his or her new home and that he or she is becoming at ease with your family.

Slowly approaching a timid dog and showing him or her that you are not a threat will eventually lead to them coming around and not cowering at the mere sight of a human hand. A timid rescue dog can easily be integrated into a new home and come to love and accept a new family and flourish in their environment. There will always be underlying quirks to a rescue dog that cannot be undone and you always have to be aware that the dog did endure an abusive environment at one point in their life and that does not just go away. Keeping that in the back of your mind and being aware of changes in your dogs demeanor that may suggest aggressive behavior are important to the safety of your family.

Sadly, not all rescue dogs can get beyond their past and sometimes the damage has already been done and it is very difficult to undo all the abuse that has been done to them. Time, patience, and love are the keys to successfully integrating a rescue dog into a family and bringing them out of the shell they became because of the circumstances that they were subjected to. Keeping mindful of what the dog may have endured and trying to get as much background information about the dog as possible does make helping them easier. To rescue an abused dog is a wonderful thing and if your family can be aware of the challenges that go with saving an animal that may have otherwise been lost in the system. Knowing that some rescue dogs are not a good fit for some families will also save additional heartache and guilt in the event that the rescue does not work out.

There is something in a rescue dog that can draw you to them, a sadness in their eyes, a want in their expression, or a nervous wag in their tale. Whatever the case may be, most of us can see the potential in a dog that could have done wonderful things if someone would have taken the time to love and care for it the way it should have been loved and cared for. Many of these dogs still have the capability to be wonderful pets and companions, it just takes time, patience, understanding, and love.

Learn more about this author, Rae Anna Blake.
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