How To Train A Rescue Dog

October 31, 2024

Shelter and rescue dogs, like all dogs, require training and socialization to help them become well-adjusted, well-behaved pups. But if you’ve never trained a dog before, it can be tough to know where to start.

In this article, we’ll walk you through some basic techniques for how to train a rescue dog. With these tips, a little patience and consistency, and some trusty training treats, your adopted pup is sure to make progress.

Is Training A Rescue Dog Hard?

When it comes to how easy or hard it will be to train a rescue dog, the answer is: it depends on the dog. Your pup’s breed, their history, their previous level of training, and their experience in the rescue or shelter will all contribute to how quickly they’ll adjust. So yes, training a rescue dog may be challenging at times, but it may also turn out to be easier than you expected. Effort, patience, and consistency are the keys.

How Long Does It Take For a Rescue Dog to Adjust to their New Home?

Many rescue dogs were removed from their first (or even second) home, and moved into a shelter. During that process, they lost whatever routine they had, and went into a brand new environment where they had to adjust all over again. Then, you adopted them and took them to a new home again — that’s a lot of change for a pup to handle!

A shelter can be a very stressful place for a dog, and your adopted pup will need some time to decompress after you bring them home. They’ll need to get used to a new environment, a new bed, a new routine, and more — and that can take some time. While the time it takes a rescue dog to adjust varies from pup to pup, it will likely take at least a week for your furry friend to settle in.

Training a Rescue Dog to Respond to Their New Name

It doesn’t take long to train your rescue dog to respond to a new name, even if they’re older — just use the “Name Game.” Here’s how it goes: Use your pup’s name around them frequently, and whenever they look at you, reward them with a tasty training treat. Within a few days, your pup should start to associate their name with positive rewards, and may start responding to it.

House Training a Rescue Dog

Potty training is obviously a very important part of training your rescue dog. Some rescue dogs will have more experience with housetraining than others, and puppies may take a little extra time and effort. For a step-by-step guide to house training puppies, check out this article.

To make the house training process go as smoothly as possible, follow these three tips:

Start small: Introduce your dog to a small area of your home at first, before giving them free rein. Use baby gates to limit the areas of the house that your pup is allowed in, until they are potty trained enough to roam without supervision.
Stick to a schedule: Keep potty times consistent. Adult dogs should have at least three to four chances to relieve themselves every day. Add more walks or potty breaks if your pup is having accidents in the house regularly.
Use positive reinforcement: Keep treats on hand, and reward your dog whenever they successfully go to the bathroom outside.

Crate Training a Rescue Dog

When done right, crate training is a great way to teach your new pup that they have a safe space of their own — a place where they can relax and decompress. To get started, follow these tips for crate training a rescue dog:

Make crate time fun: Place treats or enrichment toys in or near your dog’s crate, to help them associate their crate with positive experiences.
Practice closing the door: Once your pup is comfortable spending time in their crate, close the crate door then immediately open it. This will help you assess how your pup feels about the crate. If they stress out when you close the door, you’ll need to try more of our first tip.
Gradually increase their time in the crate: If your dog is comfortable with their crate door closed, start leaving them in the crate for longer periods of time. Every dog is different, but 30 seconds to 1 minute is a good place to start. Over time, you can gradually increase the amount of time they’re left in the crate.
Stay calm: Don’t make a fuss when you open your pup’s crate door. You want to show them that their time in the crate is not a big deal — it’s just a normal part of their routine.

Learn more about crate training dogs and puppies in this article.

Leash Training a Rescue Dog

Daily walks are essential — not just for your pup’s health, but their wellbeing. Sure, walking your dog on a leash helps them maintain a healthy weight, but it also helps them burn off excess energy, engages their mind and senses, and gives them the opportunity to socialize with other people and dogs.

Follow these steps for leash training your rescue pup:

Use a harness: Let your dog get used to their harness by having them wear it for short periods of time at home, while you’re playing with them and giving them treats.
Practice indoors: Before you walk your dog outside, practice with the leash while indoors.
Use positive reinforcement: With your pup on a leash indoors, take a few steps together, and reward them with a training treat whenever they look up at you. If they get distracted, go back to standing in one spot and try again with just one step.
Work your way up: Gradually increase the number of steps you take with your pup before reinforcing with a treat. Once you see success with this indoors, you can move to a quiet spot outside. Follow the same steps outdoors as you did indoors.
Stop and wait: Your dog is likely to be more distracted in this new environment, so be patient. If they get very distracted and start to pull the leash, stop walking and wait until they give you their attention again before continuing the walk.
Leave time for exploring: Don’t forget to let your dog sniff and explore — it’s an important part of their walk!

Check out this article for more tips on successfully leash training your pup.

How to Socialize a Rescue Dog

Just like with any dog, socialization is an important part of training a rescue dog. The right techniques can help you gradually introduce your pup to new people, environments, or other dogs. For a step-by-step guide on socializing dogs and puppies, check out this article.

As with other types of training, positive reinforcement is key throughout the socialization process. You’ll want to keep these positive reinforcement tips in mind:

Find the right type of reinforcement: The best kind of positive reinforcement is one your dog is excited about. Delicious treats are ideal, but toys, playtime, and affection are all forms of reward.
Be mindful of your pup’s triggers: Remember that many things may be brand new (and potentially scary) for your rescue dog. Triggers could include other dogs, people, cars, bikes, doorbells, and more. If your dog is having a fearful reaction to any of these triggers, don’t wait for them to calm down before offering them a treat or praise. Pairing the scary trigger with a reward can help them learn that the trigger is actually a predictor of a good thing — not a bad thing.
Double up on positive reinforcement: Consider pairing treats with a training clicker. Before offering reinforcement, click or say a positive word you haven’t introduced before (like “yes” or “great”). This allows you to “double up” on positive reinforcement with an auditory signal. Your dog will then start to associate this sound with a reward, and likely turn to you whenever they hear it.

Sadly, some rescue dogs have a history of abuse, neglect, or other experiences that may contribute to fearful or anxious behaviors. These pups may require a socialization approach that uses the same positive reinforcement techniques listed above, but at a slower pace. If you see any signs of fearful or reactive behavior from your dog, it’s best to reach out to your rescue organization right away. They may be able to help you with training classes and other resources.

It’s also important to note that some behaviors can indicate underlying medical issues. If a dog has chronic pain, a thyroid imbalance, or neurologic abnormalities like seizures or tumors, they may act more aggressively than usual. If you suspect that this may apply to your pup, contact your vet.

Common Mistakes When Training a Rescue Dog

Many pup parents make one of two mistakes when training their rescue dogs: 1) moving too fast and expecting perfection, or 2) not providing enough structure while their dog is learning new habits. Finding a middle ground is the key to successfully training your pup.

Do your best to avoid these common mistakes when training your rescue dog:

Introducing them to other pets immediately
Introducing children to your dog immediately, without educating the kids on how to behave around dogs.
Giving your adopted pup free rein of your entire house and yard as soon as you bring them home.
Not addressing problem behaviors because of your dog’s history of neglect or abuse.
Trying to do too much too soon, without giving your pup time to adjust.
Allowing anyone to approach your dog when out for a walk.
Expecting perfection from day one.

Every dog is different, so pay attention to your pup’s needs and take it one day at a time. Focus on building a close relationship with your rescue dog, and you’ll start to see training wins in time.

Top Tips for Training a Rescue Dog

Give Your Dog Some Time To Relax In Their New Environment

When you bring home your rescue pup, give them some time to "just be" and adjust to their new environment. Create a quiet, calm space for them to decompress, like their crate. Help them adjust by feeding them all of their meals in the crate, and give them plenty of rest time.

Teach One Command At A Time

When training a rescue dog, don't try to teach them all of the commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “drop it” at once — it will overwhelm them. Work on one command at a time, and remember — repetition is key. Practice the command every day until your pup gets the hang of it (and don’t forget to have plenty of training treats on hand to reward them when they do!).

Be Consistent

Dogs thrive on consistency, so make sure you follow the same daily routine with your adopted little buddy. Keep the same meal times and play times everyday, as well as walks, potty breaks, and bedtime rituals. By doing this, your rescue pup will start to learn exactly what is expected from them.

Be Patient

Remember, your rescue pup needs time to adjust to their new home and family members. Depending on their experiences and temperament, this process may take days or even weeks.

Give your four-legged friend time to settle into your home before beginning any training sessions with them, so that they don’t feel stressed out by too many changes at once. You’ll want your pup to feel safe, secure and comfortable, so they can focus on learning new skills.

Some pups may seem uninterested in training at first, but then surprise you by becoming eager students once they settle into their new environment. As mentioned throughout this article, patience is key — take it one day at a time, and celebrate every small win!

Understand Your Dog’s Behaviors

Like all dogs, some rescue pups may pick up some inappropriate behaviors like chewing or excessive barking. If this happens with your rescue dog, remember — dogs are curious and energetic creatures who need lots of mental and physical activity. When they can’t expend energy through toys, exercise, or playtime, they may turn to unwanted behaviors. Try exercising your pup more, or giving them chew toys and puzzle toys to keep them engaged.

Stock Up on Training Treats

You may have picked up by now that positive reinforcement is a powerful tool in training a rescue dog — or any dog, for that matter! If you’re considering adopting a canine companion, you’ll want to have a variety of dog treats on hand for training and snacking. Our soft and tender Tiny Treats are made with slow-smoked beef or chicken, plus banana for a touch of sweetness — your pup won’t be able to resist the taste! And because they’re low in calories, they’re perfect for repeat rewarding during training sessions with your pup.

Good luck, and remember — stay patient and hopeful. With time, consistency, and the tips in this article, we’re confident that your rescue dog will make great strides in their training.

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