How to Earn a Dog's Trust

Dogs love us, which is why it's easy to build a good relationship with them. Even so, we're still different species, so it's not unusual for communication problems to arise that make bonding harder.

What's more, sometimes we adopt a dog who's been mistreated, leaving their trust in humans diminished. Below we explain how you can get a dog to trust you.

Trust and Showing Affection to Win Over a Dog

First of all, it's worth being clear that how much or how little a dog trusts us doesn't have to relate to how they show affection. Some very affectionate dogs will show it by seeking constant contact with us, licking us and so on.

Others, on the other hand, are far more reserved; they rarely lick us and don't follow us around all day either. Even so, they can have absolute trust in us. They're simply different ways of being.

Which Dogs Are Most Wary?

Dogs tend to trust us, but to a greater or lesser degree depending on their individual characteristics and breed, since some are more wary than others. On another note, wariness is especially common in dogs who've been through episodes of mistreatment, because of the abusive experiences they've lived through.

These dogs commonly avoid direct contact with people and stay alert in their presence. Others show behaviours such as avoiding eye contact, trembling or hiding, which shows the suffering they've been exposed to. Some, if they feel cornered with no way to escape, could end up biting out of fear.

Poor socialisation can also affect a dog's trust in people. If their contact with people has been minimal or non-existent, especially during the most sensitive stage, spanning from three to twelve weeks old, the result is likely to be a dog afraid of people.

How to Approach a Wary Dog

When a dog doesn't seem to show any interest in approaching us, or we sense they're uncomfortable with our presence — that is, they give the impression of wanting to leave, look away, look for somewhere to hide, move away and so on — we need to weigh up whether we actually need to approach them. If it's not essential, leave them be.

If, on the other hand, they're a stray who needs taking off the street, or they're your own dog and you need to handle them, the idea is that they shouldn't see you as a potential threat. To do this, don't look them directly in the eye — it's a sign of threat. Don't make sudden movements or raise your voice either. You can offer them food so they start associating you with positive things.

Stay crouched down, at their level, to be less threatening. It's a slow process. Be patient and don't move forward until the dog shows some sign of relaxing. For example, they lie down near you or start to doze off. Don't seek out physical contact. If you need to restrain them, use slip-lead type leads that don't require direct handling.

Food to Win a Dog's Trust

Food is a very powerful incentive for dogs. That's why it's commonly used in training sessions. It also works to help a dog gradually build trust with us. First, leave some appealing food on the ground and step back so the dog dares to approach. Put out small amounts so they stay hungry.

As they eat, they'll gradually relax. We'll place the food closer and closer to us so they gradually come nearer. This needs to be done bit by bit, based on how the dog progresses. That is, there's no point leaving the food at our feet if we haven't yet got them to eat it a metre away.

Once they do eat next to us, we can offer them something especially tasty in our hand. If they still don't dare take it, we'll put it on the ground. Even if the dog agrees to take the reward directly, there's no need to stroke them. Let them be the one to take the first step in physical contact.

Games and Exercises for Wary Dogs

Sharing an activity with the dog also builds a strong bond. It matters a great deal to appeal to their curiosity, which starts with their sense of smell. This is a dog's most developed sense. Encouraging them to use it relaxes them. In fact, when a dog is very scared or insecure, they don't sniff their surroundings.

We can hide small pieces of food, show excessive interest in a toy we'll leave within their reach afterwards, encourage them to chase a ball and so on. Walks are also a good time for this. If the dog has just arrived home, it's a good idea to start with a short walk, always taking the same route so they build confidence.

Make the most of these outings to let them sniff as much as they like. Exercising together, focusing on the dog and not on your phone, is a good way to gradually build a bond. Physical activity is a fundamental part of a dog's routine and a pillar of their wellbeing. Set up a schedule for walks, meals, games and so on. Predictability builds their trust.