The way a dog behaves depends on their age, breed (or type), personality and past experiences. However, dog behaviour is hugely tied to how you look after them, so it is important to understand how to train your dog and care for their needs.
Top tips!
- Training your dog takes time and patience, but it can also be a lot of fun for you and your dog! Good training makes your dog easier to control, as well as enhances their quality of life and your bond with them.
- You can use rewards to train your dog to behave from any age, whether they are a young pup or adult dog. Always encourage good behaviour with rewards – never shout at or punish your dog.
- Rescue dogs have often have an unpleasant or upsetting past, which means that they need extra care and attention when it comes to making them feel safe
- Your dog needs to be able to avoid things that scare them; you can do this by providing constant access to a safe hiding place where they can escape if they feel afraid. This should be in a quiet area of your home, where the dog feels calm and comfortable.
- New owners often underestimate how much regular exercise dogs need to keep them fit, active and stimulated. You should aim to take them out at least once a day to walk or run (unless your vet has recommended otherwise).
Take at look at the National RSPCA advice page for further information.
