14 Heartwarming Instances Of Rescue Dogs Building Trust With Their Humans, Shared In This Online Thread
Creating a bond with your dog is the basis of your friendship. Luckily, if you show that you can be trusted, this usually happens pretty fast. But not always. Some pups are warier than others. Like the ones who were either left at shelters by their previous owners or raised without much care and attention.
Still, building up a connection with rescues is certainly doable. It might take a bit more adapting on your part but with time, you'll have a best friend for life.
Recently, Reddit user ThrowM3Away22 made a post, describing this exact journey and people found it so heartwarming, they started sharing similar stories of their own. Here are some of the most emotional ones.
Image credits: hannah k (not the actual photo)
Image credits: ThrowM3Away22
We managed to get in touch with FloydianCrazyDiamond and the Redditor was kind enough to tell Bored Panda more about their dog. "Her name is Molly," they said. "She's mean, feisty, sassy, and aggressive, but also really cuddly and sweet when she wants to be."
"I used to be her groomer and her previous owners surrendered her to me when they realized they weren't fit to take care of her."
FloydianCrazyDiamond had Molly for 9 months and earned her trust just by being patient and letting her roam free. "In her previous home, she was locked in a kennel for 5 years straight, so I just never locked her up anywhere," the Redditor said.
"She passed away on February 3rd from heart failure. She was showing signs of heart failure when we got her, but she improved almost immediately so we thought she was better and it was just a 'broken heart.' The day she passed, she got to try watermelon for the first time. She was so excited that she ran from couch to couch, and ended up falling between them. She was fine, I just had to grab her since she got stuck. So I think she went out happy, full of watermelon."
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This is so wholesome. It made me happy reading it and if you dont mind I have a related story to share that might make someone else happy too:
A year ago I started sitting a very old and sick dog. I knew this dog for most of my life and his owner is the most passionate and caring and competent owner a dog could have. She had 3 Whippets, the old, sick one, a young and 'normal' one, a really good boy, and a very young traumatized dog. The lattest is really aggressive against other dogs due to his trauma and with every other owner he would be a straight up danger to other dogs. All of those 3 wonderfull animals were brothers, which is also a big part in why the traumatized one (Johnny) could live with the other two without incidents.
Now my old and sick buddy Finn had a rare disease which kinda made his nerves disappear. It was harrowing to watch and got really bad, he couldnt really walk and bend his legs anymore, so he waddled everywhere. But his brain wasnt damaged - he was a happy and loving dog. And very attached to the owner. It was difficult to care for him, and she had trouble finding a dog sitter - she couldnt leave Fin at home alone, what if he fell? Or something happend?
But he could not walk properly so he couldnt come with her anywhere - not even on walks which his brothers desperately needed.
And so I was entrusted the glorious task of sitting him once a week. I had a great time with him, he layed on my lap, ate bananas out of my hand and eventually his owner taught me how to get him into the garden, so she could stay out a littler longer because I could help him go pee. Thing is, he could not bend down his knees and poop on his own, so you had to kinda hold him up on his leash. One day as I was there he couldnt manage that anymore. He hung there, trembling and so I kneeled down, hugged him and pushed his hip down, while holding him so he couldnt fall over. At first he was still trembling, trying to move his legs on his own, then suddenly I felt his whole body go kinda limp. He was still breathing, just really relaxed and just concentrated on getting that s**tty job done. It was a heartwarming feeling, having this dog trust me so much. He passed on a while later. I remember him very fondly, his brothers are fine, old but happy and healthy.
Congrats on the milestone!! So happy for progress! Mine was similar. The old owners kept her in a kennel for so long that she learned to hold it in as long as possible and barely drank water. We had to take her out every hour to try and get her to pee. We’ve had her for over two years and she just runs out and pees with no problem! It’s so great watching a rescue become a doggo again.
took me a bit but mine pees 'on command' now - even to the point of making what can only be called 'magic pee' since there couldn't be much in there.
We only adopt dogs who have suffered severe abuse/neglect. Their behaviors make sense when you think about where they came from. Keep offering love, security, routine, good food, clean water and gentle touches (as well as comfy dog beds), and they gradually come round. One dog took almost a year, but man, he is the BESTEST boy now. Keep it up. Your dog wants to be a good doggie.
This also reminds me of the first dog we adopted together, who was at one point in his life trained to scratch the back door if he needed to go out. He was a big dog and our back door took a hit until we trained him to growl if he needed to go. One day my dad was visiting and the dog comes up to me and starts growling. Freaked my dad out until I told him it was okay, that the dog just needed to poop. Once I explained why we trained out dog to do that, my dad was impressed.
I’m not trying to be dramatic, but this makes me nervous because I have a similar story. I was laying on my couch watching TV when suddenly my cocker spaniel came up to me screaming. I took him outside and he pooped and stopped screaming. I was very confused. He was a little under a year old and none of my other dogs had ever yelled about needing to void their bowels. I took him to the vet and she gave him a clean bill of health. Almost half a year later, same scenario, laying on my couch watching TV when my cocker spaniel comes up to me screaming again. But this time he fell over. I realized immediately he was having a seizure. He was diagnosed with epilepsy. Not saying that is the case for your dog, but your story reminded me of my own and no harm in sharing info. Maybe someone will see and it will help their puppet!
Side note: We did phenobarbs and sodium bromide to treat his epilepsy, but he gained weight rapidly and his liver was shutting down. Worst of all, he still had seizures at least twice a year. Took him to a new vet, stopped his old meds, and started CBDs. He’s had 2 seizures in 4 years since!
Just for sharing information - seizures can also be allergical reactions. Its always worth it to try fresh raw food and switch to unknown protein.
I am so happy that she is somewhere safe and where she is being loved. It may take some time for her to completely come around to trusting you but when she does you will treasure her even more.
My little guy also went through this same issue and would be scared to even ask to go potty. Now he’s got the potty dance down and also the potty word down when I say “who wants to go potty” - he about jumps for me to put harness and leash on him. I love him and wouldn’t trade him for a pup that doesn’t have his past. Pretty sure we are together for a reason
It's the best feeling when they finally trust us, isn't it?
One of my pups was quite mistreated before coming to me and for the first year, he would run away from pets and scratches, and a belly rub was never an option.
Now, he actually comes to us to initiate pets, cuddles, scratches, and rolls over to request a full belly rub.
It's a great feeling.
Nothing like getting that kind of trust and understanding with a critter.
That’s such a happy story! My mixed girl was very obviously owned by someone before we found her in a shelter, and each time we took her outside of the shelter (once when we first met her, and once the day we adopted her) she immediately went to the bathroom and had obviously been holding it a while. She’s very rarely had an accident during the two and a half years we’ve had her and honestly has a bladder of steel because she is so stubborn and won’t go until she really has to. Most days she will go after dinner around 5 pm and then hold it until the next morning even though we take her outside and beg her to PLEASE JUST PEE BEFORE BED. My poodle was so good at going on command that it was very strange to get used to.
One of my dogs will NOT go out to the bathroom if it's raining or the ground is still wet. He is not going to get this feet wet, no matter what. He never goes in the house. Funny thing is, he loves to go swimming. Go figure!
Awe, I am so proud of her, too! I foster, so know some animals can have quirks. My Husky is a rescue and he can scream when terrified, perhaps she was beat when she pees and thus the scream. Poor hun, working with my little Atlas to make him feel safe and reduce. Food aggression.
This is why I adopt. I don't think it's bad to get a dog from a reputable breeder, but every time I look am my girl, I just smile knowing she is now in a warm and loving house and not on the street worrying about her next meal anymore.
You’re right. Adopting is best because there are so many dogs and cats in need of a good, loving home.
Applause applause applause for your dear one - who is clearly trying to do right by her new parent. How wonderful! Give that pup a treat and climb on back in bed. Soon may following a trend toward successful potty training. Not training. TRUSTing. Clearly, she knows she can trust you and your love... and will become more and more comfortable and motivated, to potty alert and much more.
Bless you for giving her such a fine, nurturing home. And for recognizing what a huge feat this was for your furry companion with such a traumatic past. And at 3 AM no less. Yay, you!
We made the mistake off not getting up immediately when the 11 month puppy had for a few months got really whiney early one morning. She ended up having an accident right next to the toilet in our bathroom. She really tried so we were not mad at her.
lucky girl to got a new patient owner! this is actually typical for dogs to do if they are trained to pee and poo outside. my dog is with me in the office all day and when she needs to go she comes to me and starts poking me with her nose so i now its time to go. they are such a lovely and intelligent creatures..
My toy poodle pup will get in my lap, then scoot over to the kiddos of the couch which is a console of sorts. Has a hard lid to a storage space. Anyway, last night he got in my lap then stood up on the hard lid and from there he can see the back door. Well he looked at me then the back door, then looked back at me and the back door again. I immediately took him out and he did his business!!! So proud of his progress!!!!
My late Boston terrier’s mother was abused and the people that rescued her was able to calm her anxiety by breading her. She had the most amazing offspring that gave us 15 years of outdoor recreational fun and companionship.
Coating a dog in breadcrumbs is an interesting solution but I'm glad it worked for you.
I had to teach my chihuahua night to be scared. I totally understand. She's still a scaredy cat, but she won't let anyone near me.
I had a Whippet-Chihuahua mix and she was scared of everything had her for 17 years she just passed April 1st 2021 I miss her everyday but she would not let anybody even sit by me or near me . It was like she was scared for me ✌️❤️ they are precious little souls she was so abused and so scared when I got her from the shelter she would shake for the first 5 years I had her she was always shaking and nervous but she got over it the more we went on walks and went out around other people but she never was a people dog she just stopped her shaking.🥰
we recued a pup 4 yrs ago. i have had dogs all my life, both rescues and from breeders - love them all! most of the time the rescues had some little issues but nothing big. until zelda. zelda came into our home and from the beginning she did not want anything to do with me. no cuddles, not even just sitting with me. everytime i tried to initiate contact she would literally scratch and bite me - my arms have the scars to prove it to the point that my dr once asked if i had been in an accident of some kind. however, when it came to my autistic son she sucked right up to him from the beginning. he could cuddle and kiss and scratch her any time and she slept with him. it took a little over two years to get her to be nice to me and now she initiates getting up on my lap or sleeping with me. not for very long, though. and, i do get kisses often. amazing what time and patience can do. also, f*** you to all those who told me that i should get rid of her if she was tearing me up. love her
Thank you for rescuing and not giving up on her! Some do need lots of time and some will never be super lovey, but still, all dogs deserve a loving home.
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Tears still come. I just lost my best friend of over a decade last month. He was a rescue that had been chained and abandoned. We adopted him knowing there could be issues. It took three years, but he eventually trusted us enough to become a puppy again. He learned to play. He learned to love and trust. I held him as they put him to sleep because of an inoperable tumor. I hugged him until there was no him to hug. It hurt more than losing some people in my life. Goodbye Sparky
I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you for helping Sparky remember how to be a puppy and for giving him a loving home. 🌈💜 They come into our lives, fill our hearts and homes with love and joy, and take a piece of us with them when they leave. But we'd never trade the happy memories to numb the pain. They make life worth living.
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This is so comforting! My new boi is my first rescue, and getting him to pee and poop was a chore. Poor lil guy wouldn't go except first thing in the morning. And... we just moved, so we're starting the whole process all over again. But, we live in a better place now, and he knows he's loved. He won't leave my side. I'm still trying to teach him "play", and i know it will take time. I had no idea that other lil rescues were going through the same thing. I honestly think he lived in a crate and was just straight up neglected. The one thing he has absolutely down pat is looking adorable and suckering me. We started out with potty pads, just in case. He's never needed it, but he has another use for it. He's a little black dog, i had dark carpet, and the potty pad is white. When he wants something, he'll scurry over and sit in the middle of it, looking especially sweet. I call it his "cute spot". How he knows he shows to advantage is beyond me, but he works that spot, baby!
Don't have a dog, cat or child if your tendency is to beat someone for having an accident/misbehaving.
When I was 10, I beat up a boy who was standing on a gopher tortoise. It was at school, but I didn't get in trouble.
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We got our Border Collie Shilo as a rescue at 2 months old. He was a real gem right from the beginning. He was only with us a few weeks when I took him for a walk. He was off the lead and sniffing around on the ground when he sharply pulled his front paw up. I walked over to him and he came up to me, sat down in front and lifted his paw. I'm still amazed that even at that young age he knew how to ask for help. I gently picked him up and inspected his paw and found a bramble thorn in between 2 of his pads. When I took it out he was so happy. I praised him and cuddled him for coming to me for help so's he always know he come to me whenever he needed help. I was so happy and felt so blessed that even at this earliest part of our lives together he knew he could come and trust me to be there for him to look after him. He's 7 now and he still comes to me like that whenever he needs something. IMG_3198-1...080a57.jpg 
I adopted a beautiful girl who was abused horribly, to the point she did not know how to dog. I gave her four years of constant (and consistent) love and security. She never quite learned to dog properly, but she learned she was safe. It took several months, and she never showed me her belly voluntarily, but she learned to accept pets and scritches. When her lymphoma got to the point I knew she needed to go to the Rainbow Bridge, I sat on the floor and hand fed her wet food (because of course it was the weekend and no way was I taking her to an overnight clinic where she didn't know anyone for that kind of thing) and honestly the fact she trusted me that much was A Moment.
my MIL and her husband adopted a very skiddish, abused little girl. they already had a huge lovebug in the house, and it's just amazing to see how she attached to him, and then would judge people on HIS reaction. she's come a long way, and even asks for pets :)
We adopted a 3 year old husky mix many years ago that had obviously been abused. He hated when my husband would watch hockey. Husband is very passionate about his favorite team. At first the husky would cower from the loud noises or sudden movements and he didn't know how to play with toys or balls. To ask to go out in the mornings he would gently push his paw down on the bed next to one of us, then skitter away when we woke up to let him out. Our other dog at the time helped us teach him how to ring a jingle bell hung over the door handle to be let out and how to play. He wound up being a great dog. Even very gentle when our baby was born a few years later. That dog could stare into your soul. He had a good long, and rather spoiled 11 years with us.
My Floof came from a home with 50+ sick cats when he was only 3 days old. His mother was "acquired" and gave birth mere days later. Due to stress of being bred, bought and sold and being locked up in an attic she was unable to care for her babies. The humans just let them die, except for this little one. They advertised for a nursing cat, I responded saying I could bottle feed him. Got to fetch him from there and care for him. He had over 200 fleas on his tiny body (for reference, he was the size of half a tennis ball). He was already cold when I got him, that usually means they die within hours. But he plowed through. Got constipated, got pneumonia, almost eaten by a hedgehog. Got adopted out and lived through a house fire 2 days after the adoption. He is now 6 years old, sweet, cuddly and as obnoxious as any cat could be. We got to rescue his mother too, she was supposed to stay with my mom for 3 weeks only, but she claimed my mom as her own and was spoiled rotten there (please see comment)
We called the local authorities, they seized all the animals, got them proper vet care and all were spayed/neutered. Please don't verbally lynch the previous owners, they meant well but simply didn't have the mental capacity to see reason and didn't know that fetching a litter of unwanted cats was harmful to the load of pets they had already. They tried their best and no expense was too big when it came to pet and/or vet care. They have received help, are banned from having more than 2 pets of any kind in the future and will have mandatory visits every 2 to 3 months to make sure they are ok (and also to make sure they don't get too many pets to take care of)
Load More Replies... we recued a pup 4 yrs ago. i have had dogs all my life, both rescues and from breeders - love them all! most of the time the rescues had some little issues but nothing big. until zelda. zelda came into our home and from the beginning she did not want anything to do with me. no cuddles, not even just sitting with me. everytime i tried to initiate contact she would literally scratch and bite me - my arms have the scars to prove it to the point that my dr once asked if i had been in an accident of some kind. however, when it came to my autistic son she sucked right up to him from the beginning. he could cuddle and kiss and scratch her any time and she slept with him. it took a little over two years to get her to be nice to me and now she initiates getting up on my lap or sleeping with me. not for very long, though. and, i do get kisses often. amazing what time and patience can do. also, f*** you to all those who told me that i should get rid of her if she was tearing me up. love her
Thank you for rescuing and not giving up on her! Some do need lots of time and some will never be super lovey, but still, all dogs deserve a loving home.
Load More Replies... Tears still come. I just lost my best friend of over a decade last month. He was a rescue that had been chained and abandoned. We adopted him knowing there could be issues. It took three years, but he eventually trusted us enough to become a puppy again. He learned to play. He learned to love and trust. I held him as they put him to sleep because of an inoperable tumor. I hugged him until there was no him to hug. It hurt more than losing some people in my life. Goodbye Sparky
I'm so sorry for your loss. Thank you for helping Sparky remember how to be a puppy and for giving him a loving home. 🌈💜 They come into our lives, fill our hearts and homes with love and joy, and take a piece of us with them when they leave. But we'd never trade the happy memories to numb the pain. They make life worth living.
Load More Replies... This is so comforting! My new boi is my first rescue, and getting him to pee and poop was a chore. Poor lil guy wouldn't go except first thing in the morning. And... we just moved, so we're starting the whole process all over again. But, we live in a better place now, and he knows he's loved. He won't leave my side. I'm still trying to teach him "play", and i know it will take time. I had no idea that other lil rescues were going through the same thing. I honestly think he lived in a crate and was just straight up neglected. The one thing he has absolutely down pat is looking adorable and suckering me. We started out with potty pads, just in case. He's never needed it, but he has another use for it. He's a little black dog, i had dark carpet, and the potty pad is white. When he wants something, he'll scurry over and sit in the middle of it, looking especially sweet. I call it his "cute spot". How he knows he shows to advantage is beyond me, but he works that spot, baby!
Don't have a dog, cat or child if your tendency is to beat someone for having an accident/misbehaving.
When I was 10, I beat up a boy who was standing on a gopher tortoise. It was at school, but I didn't get in trouble.
Load More Replies... We got our Border Collie Shilo as a rescue at 2 months old. He was a real gem right from the beginning. He was only with us a few weeks when I took him for a walk. He was off the lead and sniffing around on the ground when he sharply pulled his front paw up. I walked over to him and he came up to me, sat down in front and lifted his paw. I'm still amazed that even at that young age he knew how to ask for help. I gently picked him up and inspected his paw and found a bramble thorn in between 2 of his pads. When I took it out he was so happy. I praised him and cuddled him for coming to me for help so's he always know he come to me whenever he needed help. I was so happy and felt so blessed that even at this earliest part of our lives together he knew he could come and trust me to be there for him to look after him. He's 7 now and he still comes to me like that whenever he needs something. IMG_3198-1...080a57.jpg
I adopted a beautiful girl who was abused horribly, to the point she did not know how to dog. I gave her four years of constant (and consistent) love and security. She never quite learned to dog properly, but she learned she was safe. It took several months, and she never showed me her belly voluntarily, but she learned to accept pets and scritches. When her lymphoma got to the point I knew she needed to go to the Rainbow Bridge, I sat on the floor and hand fed her wet food (because of course it was the weekend and no way was I taking her to an overnight clinic where she didn't know anyone for that kind of thing) and honestly the fact she trusted me that much was A Moment.
my MIL and her husband adopted a very skiddish, abused little girl. they already had a huge lovebug in the house, and it's just amazing to see how she attached to him, and then would judge people on HIS reaction. she's come a long way, and even asks for pets :)
We adopted a 3 year old husky mix many years ago that had obviously been abused. He hated when my husband would watch hockey. Husband is very passionate about his favorite team. At first the husky would cower from the loud noises or sudden movements and he didn't know how to play with toys or balls. To ask to go out in the mornings he would gently push his paw down on the bed next to one of us, then skitter away when we woke up to let him out. Our other dog at the time helped us teach him how to ring a jingle bell hung over the door handle to be let out and how to play. He wound up being a great dog. Even very gentle when our baby was born a few years later. That dog could stare into your soul. He had a good long, and rather spoiled 11 years with us.
My Floof came from a home with 50+ sick cats when he was only 3 days old. His mother was "acquired" and gave birth mere days later. Due to stress of being bred, bought and sold and being locked up in an attic she was unable to care for her babies. The humans just let them die, except for this little one. They advertised for a nursing cat, I responded saying I could bottle feed him. Got to fetch him from there and care for him. He had over 200 fleas on his tiny body (for reference, he was the size of half a tennis ball). He was already cold when I got him, that usually means they die within hours. But he plowed through. Got constipated, got pneumonia, almost eaten by a hedgehog. Got adopted out and lived through a house fire 2 days after the adoption. He is now 6 years old, sweet, cuddly and as obnoxious as any cat could be. We got to rescue his mother too, she was supposed to stay with my mom for 3 weeks only, but she claimed my mom as her own and was spoiled rotten there (please see comment)
We called the local authorities, they seized all the animals, got them proper vet care and all were spayed/neutered. Please don't verbally lynch the previous owners, they meant well but simply didn't have the mental capacity to see reason and didn't know that fetching a litter of unwanted cats was harmful to the load of pets they had already. They tried their best and no expense was too big when it came to pet and/or vet care. They have received help, are banned from having more than 2 pets of any kind in the future and will have mandatory visits every 2 to 3 months to make sure they are ok (and also to make sure they don't get too many pets to take care of)
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