Mooooose!!!!

This Month's Spotlight Pup is the one and only Moose! A work in progress, but a star student.

            Moose is a young German Shepherd Dog, who under the guidance of his patient and persistent owner, Tammy has blossomed into a trusting, and secure dog. The first encounter I had with Moose, he was uneasy of my presence and more apprehensive if I made any moves or gestures. An issue area with Moose was when he and Tammy were walking; people wanted to pet and admire him, getting in his face and causing him to feel anxious about all the commotion.

            After recognizing triggers that made Moose uneasy, we were able to implement a plan to build his confidence along with Tammy’s. We began by establishing Tammy as Pack Leader, while Moose learned to hang back and follow her lead. We are proud to say that Moose has come a long way! During our Pack Walk in May, Moose made friends with dogs and humans! He excelled during drills we practiced, listening to commands and trusting in his Pack Leader. Giving Tammy the right tools to utilize for training, she has been able to provide an environment that he will excel in and recognize those that he may not.

            From a shy and reactive pup Moose is now a playful, confident (not to mention adorable!) dog who loves to please and make new friends. We couldn’t be more proud of his and Tammy’s progress. Together, they will both overcome the hurdles of dog ownership and enjoy the lifetime relationship that will continue to grow. 

KP 5/30/12

April's Spotlight Pup: The Shady Lady

This month's Spotlight pup is my very own Shady.  I came to know Shady as a puppy.  She was feisty from the start, quite the bully of her litter.  I knew from the beginning she was going to be a handful.  

    Shady was a shared pup, spending half the time in my home and half the time in another.  I was aghast to find out while not in my home, she was being used as a fighting dog.  Once I discovered this she was immediately removed from this household, never to return there again.  However, the initial behavior damage had been done.  It took a few years to get her back to neutral completely.  She was quite aggressive towards other dogs, off leash and on.  Shady also did not trust humans now.  In her mind, humans had failed her, and she needed to protect herself and could no longer depend on her pack.  It took equal time to develop the pack hierarchy with her again.  She was 2 years when she fully came to me and we began her rehabilitation.  She is now 13 years old, suffering from degenerative spinal myelopathy. She has come so far from where she was.  She is calm and stable around other dogs, allows and enjoys attention from people, and has accepted new members into her pack as brothers. She is a great ambassador for the American Pit Bull Terrier, and I am extremely proud of her.