Instructions
Find out as much as you can about the dog's history before taking him home. The shelter or rescue group that you get him from will probably have at least some information to give you. Knowing if the abuser was male or female, and what type of abuse the dog endured makes it easier for you to help him.
Provide a safe place in your home for the dog that is exclusively hers. It is important she has someplace to go where she feels safe. Most abused dogs respond well to crate training. The crate simulates a den and gives them a sense of comfort.
Talk softly to the dog and treat him with kindness. Yelling, loud noises and anything that the dog perceives as anger will most likely scare him. You should never hit any dog, but if your dog has been abused, hitting is a particularly bad idea.
Give her time. Do not force yourself on her if she is shy and afraid. If she was abused by a male, she might be fearful of the males in the family. Likewise, if she was abused by a female, she may be more fearful of the females. Give her time to learn that no one in her new family is going to hurt her.
Build trust before trying to train. For the first couple of weeks, don't even try to train the dog. Just spend time with him and show him love and affection. After he learns he can trust you, then you can begin training.
Train the dog by using positive reinforcement. Do not scold her when she does something you do not like. Instead, reward her with love and affection when she does the things that you do like.
How to Cope with Adopting an Abused Dog
Adopting a dog that has been abused can be a very rewarding experience. In most cases, the effects of the abuse can be reversed over time. However, it is important to remember that the dog comes to you with a history in which humans were not very kind. It can take a lot of time and patience to prove to the dog that not all humans are mean.