How to make a stray dog trust you?

You must approach calmly and gently when trying to gain a stray dog’s trust. Don’t try to pet them, and respect their space. It’s best to bring a few food items to give by dropping them near the dog or letting them come to you. You should also avoid sudden movements and loud noises.

Can I adopt a stray dog?

Only a few people would risk adopting a stray dog; if you’re one of them, you are amazing! You don’t look at the dog’s breed and history and just love them for who they are.

However, trying to adopt a stray dog, especially if they’re already an adult, can be quite challenging. Some strays are aggressive and don’t want to go near humans. 

After all, they rarely realize that we want good things for them and try to be defensive when someone approaches them. This is especially true if they’re a victim of animal abuse.

“So what can I do to help strays out?”

We’ll discuss a few tips on making a stray dog trust you as a first step to adopting them.

Bring food and other treats

One of the quickest ways to gain a stray dog’s trust is by showing them that you don’t mean harm.

Most of these dogs tend to get hurt while they’re on the streets and are used to people shooing them away. They don’t easily trust humans since they think everyone is out to hurt them.

However, bringing them tasty and healthy food makes it easier for them to associate you with good things.

Aside from dog food, you can also bring a portable water dispenser to help them hydrate, especially if you live somewhere warm such as the UAE or in the GCC area.

Be gentle and stay calm

When approaching a stray dog, be gentle and don’t be too hasty.

Dogs who have never been in the presence of a caring human will go back to what they know best when they feel threatened - get aggressive or run away.

If you want a stray to trust you, you should try to move away and give them their personal space. 

You should also speak calmly and use words sparingly. Try to communicate by using body language instead. You can try doing the following:

• Drop food on the ground.
• Not looking them in the eye.
• Crouch down and be aware of where they are without facing them directly.

Establish a routine

Canines are routine creatures. Once they’re “trained” that you’re coming with food and water for them at a specific time of day, it’s quicker for them to trust you.

As much as you can, stick to a single time of day to visit the strays you want to adopt. This way, they’ll be more inclined to relax and come with you since they already trust you.

If they're already comfortable doing this, you can also try to do simple activities with them, such as playing fetch. 

Although, you might want to use the same dog toy for them and not use ones that other dogs also play with. This way, they’ll quickly recognize that the toy is theirs.