OkcPets Magazine May 2021

16 OKC Pets • May/June 2021 1 “A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie Why should it be any different for a dog? Af- ter all, the easiest way to teach a dog his name is by giving him a treat and simultaneously saying his name. If a dog hears his name and thinks, “treat!” why wouldn’t he love the sound of it? So here is the cold, hard truth: when we hear a name, we typically associate it with something or someone. For instance, if a shelter has a Pit Bull named Tyson, what does that make you think of? Mike Tyson? Possibly. If the Pitty’s name is Templeton, well, that might have a softer, more sensitive ring to it, and thus make it easier to adopt a Templeton compared to a Tyson. Don’t be afraid to change a dog’s name. Many dogs in shelters don’t even know their name, and many that do, don’t always have the best association with it.  2 Henrik Ibson said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” When it comes to pet photography, it could mean the difference between getting a new home or staying in the rescue/foster system. So here are a few tips for taking the best photos of your rescue pups. • Tired dogs smile. Yes, it’s true. When a dog is tired, it usually looks very happy with a giant grin on its face. The saying goes, a tired dog is a happy dog!  • What’s in the background of your photos— trash cans, a highway? Be mindful of what’s in the background. If you’re indoors, try to use a solid background and choose a happy color like blue, yellow or pink. Colors that make us feel warm and fuzzy will always win out over dirty laundry baskets in the background. If the grass is green, and the flowers are in full bloom, head outdoors! According to profes- sional photographer Brett Heidebrecht, “The best light is soft, even light. But you can also look for a portion of your yard that gets good shade. … if you don’t see sun spots on your lawn, then you’ll know it’s the perfect time to get a great portrait of your pet!” • A calm demeanor and patience are required when taking photos of pets, especially dogs. Don’t get in a hurry. If you take this ap- proach, it will be a much better experience for everyone involved. • Have someone help you. Getting another person’s assistance can change the entire experience. Your pup will need to focus on something, and a treat is the best way. But it could be difficult to hold a treat, leash and camera all at the same time and try to take an amazing photo. So don’t be afraid to ask for help. • Get a squeaky toy, high-value treats like boiled chicken or any other exciting lure to help keep your dog’s focus and attention. 3 Brooke Massengill, statewide initiative facilitator for OK Humane, says, “You can cast a wide net with good photos and a creative, honest yet positively written bio. Once you attract as many potential adopters as possible, it then becomes necessary to apply match-making skills through strong and educated adoption counseling. This helps ensure the animal is adopted out to the best-fitting home and further encourages the human-animal bond!” A great way to help a potential adopter is with a good bio. Don’t spend too much time telling their sad history. The truth is, we want these pups to bring joy to their new families, not make them feel sorry for the dogs. Spend some quality time with the rescue pups, take them for a walk, feed them, get to know them. What do they like? Do they have any quirky, cute habits like rolling on their backs for belly rubs or nestling their heads in your chest? Focus on the positive, not the negative. 4 Once you have that amazing picture and bio finished, posting it on social media is a must! Encourage people to share it and pass it along to anyone who “loves dogs.” Social media is one of the best ways to help dogs get rescued. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are probably the top three social media platforms being used today, especially for pets.  5 Dogs love to learn. Don’t be afraid to teach them a couple of basic cues or tricks using positive reinforcement. Sit, down and come when called are three cues any dog should know. Unfortunately, not many pups in the shelter system know how to do all of these. For sit, start small in a very controlled environment with minimal distractions. Using a treat, hold it over the pup’s nose, slowly raising it up. This should initiate his bottom to go down, then you can reward immediately. It’s better for a dog to know how to do one thing well than to halfway be able to do multiple things.  6 One of the best ways to find a new home is to simply be seen. Rescue events, outdoor venues and community events are all great opportunities to get your rescue pup recog- nized. You can even get him a cute vest that says “adopt me.”   According to McCrory, the size of a dog is a big deal to many people, and getting the dogs out in real life allows the potential adopters to see how big they are compared to their pictures. It’s also an opportunity to show off any of the good manners they might have. Anything you can do to help the rescue pups in your community is greatly appreciated. Hopefully, with these helpful tips, preparing a pup for its future home will be just a little easier!