Many times people end up with an adult or even an older puppy that has been abused by the previous owner. Dog lovers have such a big heart for all dogs, and especially these poor canines who have suffered at the hands of idiots, that we go out of our way to find them a good home, or bring them into our homes. This is admirable, but can lead to a daunting task when you begin training an abused dog. These dogs are going to very wary of humans and possibly show aggression towards you so always use patience and never force the dog to do anything.
You must earn the trust of an abused dog before meaningful training can begin. Have a leash, collar, treats, and training clicker on hand. These will be your primary tools when training an abused dog.
Begin by earning the trust of the dog. Sit down on the floor or out in the yard and give the dog a command word to come to you. It can be a word like here or come. The dog will usually ignore this command, so using a gentle and calm tone repeat the command . If the dog looks your way toss him a treat. If he shows an interest in coming to you but hesitates toss another treat. When he does come to you give him a treat and speak in a happy, reassuring tone of voice telling him “good boy”.
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