How To Tame A Stray Dog
Stray dogs can come from a variety of backgrounds. Some strays are friendly, social dogs who accidentally ran away from their owner and just need help finding their way home. Other stray dogs, though, have faced many hardships and find it difficult to trust humans. These dogs could have come from a variety of backgrounds. Some may have been abused or starved. Others may have been abandon by owners who could no longer care for them. Many stray dogs have had unhealthy human contact, which has caused them to become aggressive or shy. They may have been kicked, had rocks thrown at them, or yelled at to get away. Most stray dogs are simply hungry, cold, and scared- and are in dire need of a loving home. And with a little effort, you can befriend a stray dog and find it the love it deserves.
Do not approach the dog: The most common mistake people make is that they walk towards the dog. This causes many dogs to run away in fear. So its important that you dont directly approach the dog. Instead, walk slowly towards them until you are within 10 to 20 yards of them. Slowly sit down- this will make you appear smaller and less threatening. Stay still, make no sudden movements, and be quiet. Always let the dog come to you. The less intimidating you appear, the safer they will feel getting closer to you.
Begin by offering food on the ground, then leave: The first few times you see the dog, offer them food. Simply set the food on the ground and walk away. This will give the dog a reason to stay near you. All stray dogs face hunger regularly, so if they find a place where food is readily available, theyre more likely to stay in that place. Leave, let the dog eat, and come back the next day- around the same time- to feed them again. Continue this process until the dog begins to wait for you to bring them food.
Offer food, and step back: As the dog begins to associate you with food, they will begin to take refuge around your property. At this point you can offer them food and then stay as they eat. Take a few steps back, sit down, and stay still. It may take the dog a while to approach the food with you sitting near by, but stay still and be patient. Let the dog finish eating before you get up to leave. Most likely they will leave before you do. This is fine. Your goal is to simply let the dog get accustomed to your company.
Offer food in your hand: When the dog becomes comfortable eating around you they will no longer be skittish. They wont flinch when you move and most likely they will run up eagerly after youve set the food on the ground. When they begin to act this way, offer a little bit of food, and then step away with food in your hand. The dog will eat the small amount of food and then see your hand extended with more. Be very still and keep your hand extended as far from your body as possible. Let the dog eat from your hand, then pull back and offer them more. Continue this process until the dog begins to come to your hand without caution.
Let the dog sniff your hand, then attempt to pet its head: When the dog finishes eating and seems comfortable around you, let the dog sniff your hand- empty of food. This will allow them to know your scent, which is how dogs determine whether or not you are a threat. Once they have gotten your scent, slowly move your hand and attempt to pet them between their ears. At first they will probably run away- this is okay. Always stay calm. If they growl or try to bite, slowly move your hand back in front of them to show them you are not a danger to them. Over time, the dog will begin to trust you and allow you to pet them.
Wait until the dog is comfortable then attempt to pet other parts of its body: When the dog shows signs of calm such as sitting, panting, laying down, or relaxing their eyes, you can slowly try to pet other parts of the dogs body. Once again its very important to stay calm and move slowly. Offer soft words of reassurance and attune to the dogs behavior. If they become nervous or aggressive, retreat and try again when they have calmed down.
Continue with the feeding and love, until the dog trusts you enough to follow you: Patience is the most important thing you can offer a stray dog. Some will trust humans right away while others take a lot of nurture before they decide to love a person. As your dogs trust in you grows, they will begin to follow you around, show excitement at your arrival, and lay and sit in your company. At this point you can begin training the dog or introducing it to other people to get it accustomed to humans.
