OkcPets Magazine November 2023

32 OKC Pets • November / December 2023 the one thing even these dogs don’t deserve is the lifelong label, “He’s a rescue.” Discover the Unknowns Adopting from a rescue group or animal shelter is a wonderful thing. You are giving a deserving dog the chance to live in a hap- py home. You might not have the benefit of knowing his past, but you are ensuring his future. Admittedly, when your newly adopted friends first come home, there are a lot of unknowns. You don’t know what training they have had or, in most cases, haven’t had. You don’t know how well socialized they are to new places, sounds, people, and other pets. You don’t know if they are house- trained or not. You don’t know if your favorite shoes are in jeopardy of becoming a chew toy or not. No dog is a blank slate. Even an eight- week-old puppy from a safe, happy, known background will come with its own little ideas, instincts, habits, and challenges. That’s why knowing the facts about a new dog is so important. You have a hound mix, and he’s howling. It’s not necessarily because he might have been abandoned or abused in a former life, it’s because he’s a hound, and they bay. You have a German shepherd mix who barks like crazy when someone comes to your door. I tend to blame DNA that is instinc- tively driving him to guard rather than using the “He’s a rescue” label to explain away the behavior. Drop the Label The point I really want to drive home is that your dog shouldn’t be burdened with a label. A dog taken in as a stray or adopted from a shelter shouldn’t have to carry that stigma for life. The moment that dog crosses the threshold of your house, he’s no longer a rescue. He’s your dog. So let’s revisit that scene with my foster puppy. When a well-meaning stranger tried to reach out to pet him and he shied away, my smiling response should have been, “My puppy is a bit timid, so we’re out for a fun, easy adventure walk to help him start get- ting acquainted with the world. Would you mind just standing near and chatting with me while he figures out everything is fine?” I don’t need to make excuses, I just need to make progress. Most people are so willing to take a mo- ment to help. And I’m right there managing the interaction to ensure a good experience for everyone, human and puppy alike. Most important, my puppy is not a “rescue,” he’s a cute mixed-breed dog. No one feels sorry for him. No one sees him as a hopeless case. No excuses. He’s simply a darling puppy on a learning mission. Wonderful owners of adopted dogs, unite! Let’s all make a pact right now to drop the label — no excuses, no specula- tion. Let’s all agree that “rescued” is not a breed or type of dog, it’s something great that happened to make your dog’s life bet- ter. And now your dog is adopted — a far better label if one is needed. Let’s take the facts we know about our dogs and move forward. I’ll go first. “Meet Gordie, he’s a German shepherd and husky mix puppy, I’m currently training with him, he’s very smart. And he’s a very good boy.” 405-493-6490 toll free 800-649-7297 training@bigfriendlydogtraining.com www.bigfriendlydogtraining.com Counter Surfing • Destructive Chewing Separation Anxiety • Hyperactivity Potty Training • Excessive Barking Leash Pulling • Basic Obedience Anxiety • Lack of Focus We begin individualized training at home and then move forward into real world situations. BETTER DOG, BETTER LIFE!    Happ Holidays