Magical Moments Of Rescue Doggos Building Trust With Their Humans

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kalila courban
Mar 11, 2022 12:00 PM EST

Adopting a rescue doggo is no small task, it can take years to get to a place where your dog fully trusts you and is able to flourish.  It can be emotional, and stressful, but also extremely rewarding. This requires going on a journey with your doggo, to gain his or her trust and any potential adopter needs to be mentally prepared for that. When you adopt from a rescue, you take on the risk of adopting a dog with a troubled past. This requires going on a journey with your doggo, to gain his or her trust and any potential adopter needs to be mentally prepared for that. 

Building trust with your doggos is no casual walk through the dog park, especially if they have a rough history or used to be a stray. The dogs discussed in this heartwarming Reddit thread all came from difficult pasts but were given a second chance. Dogs are very cautious creatures, it can take years to fully gain their trust, but when you finally do, magic happens. 

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  • 01
    Human body - Posted by u/Mischiefy69 1 day ago 2 7 10 2 My super abused rescue dog just rested his head on my lap and fell asleep
    via Mischiefy69

    Building trust with a rescue doggo takes so much time, patience, and hard work. But these sweet moments make it all worth it. 

  • 02
    Font - I'm crying so hard right now. It's taken me almost two years to get him to trust me. I love him so much. I'm sorry for the sappiness, I just had to share this with someone who would understand. Edit- Oh my God, thank you so much for all the love! I'll be sure to pass it on to the lil guy who's now barking furiously out in the balcony :) Also, I upvoted all of you. I'm so grateful for all your comments and upvotes :)
    via Mischiefy69

    Do not apologize! The sappiness is welcomed and appreciated!

    "It's taken me almost two years to get him to trust me. I love him so much."

    Spoken like a true rescue dog parent. We applaud you, OP.

  • 03
    Font - WingedGeek · 18 hr. ago Isn't that the best? My now-senior rescue mutt came to me from death row at a county pound, where she'd been attacked by another dog and had been languishing for weeks. She was at least a year old when I got her, and skittish AF. About six months into our time together (10 years ago :)), she rolled over to show me her belly to get scritches, and started playing with toys. It's like a switch flipped and she suddenly remembered how to dog.
    via WingedGeek
  • 04
    Font - Niawka · 23 hr. ago Congratulations! Patience with dogs is always rewarded. I remember when my abused rescue dog had a moment with my sister. She was scratching his belly, she stopped, and he put his paw on her hand while looking in her eyes. Made both of us cry, it was so sweet. He has huge trust issues, basically I'm the only he's not afraid of, so him showing this small affection towards my sister was so emotional to us.
    via Niawka
  • 05
    Font - A2ZKIRBY71 · 21 hr. ago One of the dogs that my husband and I got from a family member, going through a hard time and not able to properly care for her (but she wasn't abused), after about a year or so was finally not petrified of people she didn't know. She would hide behind me when a stranger approached (she was 75 Ibs border collie retriever mix. I'm under 5'0. LOL).
    via A2ZKIRBY71
  • 06
    Mammal - AutomaticYak · 21 hr. ago I love when a rescue dog with anxiety finally shows signs of relaxing. Makes me so happy to be part of their rescue.
    via AutomaticYak
  • 07
    Font - zoey_amon · 18 hr. ago Maybe 8 years after getting my rescue dog, he still has trouble trusting us and flinches whenever we pet him. It breaks my heart so much because he's such a sweet dog and a puppy at heart, but those moments of him putting his head on my lap or running towards me to go on a walk make me so happy I can't even describe it.
    via zoey_amon
  • 08
    Font - sparkplug86 · 15 hr. ago My rescue didn't like men at all when I got him. A few weeks after he came to live with me and was comfortable, my brother came and stayed the weekend. He won him over with soft pets and voices and lots and lots and lots of bites of steak. Then he met my dad and was introduced to a very particular ear scratch and pork rhinds. About a year in he was much more trusting of men in general, but those two he would follow to the ends of the earth and he ALWAYS got a snac
    via sparkplug86
  • 09
    Font - Tommy7549 · 20 hr. ago Congratulations! Two years with a lot of ups and downs, but that feeling is worth everything. You are such a great person. Most of us don't have the commitment to do what you did. Keep it going!
    via Tommy7549
  • 10
    Font - Roadgoddess · 19 hr. ago What a joy for you! He is so lucky to have found a home filled with love and compassion. I understand the comment it takes to gain the trust of a dog like that and once it's earned, it's magical. My first dog was very abused for the first 5-1/2 years of his life. He made small but wonderful changes like this the entire time I had him. About 3 years in, it was like he had a huge exhale and finally trusted the people around him and allowed people to love him. He cou
    via Roadgoddess
  • 11
    Font - Onewarmguy · 18 hr. ago Mine was 25 pounds underweight with cigarette burns on his belly and ears. It took hiim about 6 months before he accepted that I wasn't going to hurt him and that he'd get fed regularly. He still flinches whenever I give him a tummy rub, but he's turned into a gentle friendly 80 pound fur bucket. If I ever meet the one that owned him first I swear I'm going to break both their arms.
    via Onewarmguy
  • 12
    Rectangle - griever48 · 18 hr. ago It can be a long and emotional road when it comes to abused animals. It took mine nearly 2 years to not cower whenever I was holding something. She is my best friend and had been there for me when I needed.
    via griever48

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