Common Rescue Dog Misconceptions: Debunked!

There are a lot of misconceptions about rescue dogs. Some people think that they are all damaged or "broken." Others believe that they are automatically more aggressive than other types of dogs. The truth is, rescue dogs come from all kinds of backgrounds and can be any breed or mix thereof. In this blog post, we will debunk some of the most common myths about rescue dogs!

Myth #1:

Rescue dogs are not all damaged or "broken." Just because a dog has found itself homeless doesn't mean that it was caused by any fault of their own. Often, dogs are left homeless due to decisions made exclusively by the owner with little consideration for the dog's well being. Fido can't help it if his mom & dad decided they'd rather travel the world than take care of him.

Myth #2:

Many people believe that rescue dogs are automatically more aggressive than other types of dogs. This is untrue. There are so many good, friendly, lovable dogs in shelters across the country (and the world). Some of the sweetest dogs we've ever met come from shelters, and some of the nastiest human aggressive dogs we've ever met came from prestigious breeders. You can't judge a book by its cover, just like you can't judge a dog by where he or she is from.

Myth #3:

You cannot judge a rescue dog by its past, as many of them have been through a lot in their lives. This one gets a lot of people. Often you adopt a dog assuming its been abused. In fact, one of the first questions we get from prospective adopters is "Was Fido abused/neglected?" or when prospective adopters come to a Meet-and-Greet, they say, "Oh, look at how Fido cowers - he must have been abused." This isn't always the truth. Dogs have personalities just as humans do, and while it's true that some behaviors can be learned from abusive and negligent prior homes, not all shows of fear are a result of previous abuse.

However, there is some truth to this myth in that rescue dogs HAVE been through a lot. Imagine the trauma a young child might feel being dumped into a loud concrete cage with other screaming children - dumped by the only family they've ever known - and left. It's traumatic, even if the dog's life was previously amazing and full of love. This is why building a relationship based on trust and love with your new rescue dog should be at the top of your "To Do" list - way before thrusting them into uncomfortable situations like dog parks or gigantic family gatherings.

If you're thinking about adopting a rescue dog, do your research and visit your local shelter or animal rescue organization (like us!) to meet some of the incredible pups waiting for their forever homes!

Other Ways to Help

If adopting not an option right now but you still want to help save the lives of animals in need, check out these options:

➡️ Donate to the PACK Today

➡️ Foster for the PACK

➡️ Volunteer with the PACK