Ben has been with us for 11 weeks today. He has made huge strides forward in most areas. As his sense of security and stability continues to strengthen, deeper issues are beginning to show themselves, but he’s working very hard to overcome them. So far, he’s doing a fantastic job of it. He will never be able to be around cats, birds, rodents, and other small animals, but on the whole, he has made – and he is continuing to make – tremendous strides forward into a more balanced state.

Ben is a very loving, playful, loyal dog. He walks beautifully on a leash, and he’s gotten much better about ignoring dogs barking at us from their yards. He has also made huge strides forward with being kenneled; he still exhibits anxiety when we leave, but it’s only for a couple of minutes and then he calms down. He’s good for about 3 hours, now, before he starts feeling anxious again. I know this because I’ve been timing him as often as possible.

Ben needs and deserves a loving forever family. He is ready for it. Please help me help Ben find his permanent forever family…

It’s hard to believe that only 10 weeks ago, Ben came to me as a red-zone case. With the exception of cats – which he will never be able to be around – he has been recovering very well from the issues he initially presented. Today, he is a happy, loving dog with a puppy-like zest for life and the heart of a lion. He is loyal, he is protective, and he is much more trusting… Ben has come a long, long way from the red-zone state he was in when he arrived 10 weeks ago.

While Ben has made huge progress with the issues he initially presented with, new problems have started to surface. He is presenting territorial behavior when people come into the house, and an unusual, intense fear of the sound of a bell. The bell issue was discovered last week, and when I spoke to the intake worker at DINO about it, I was told that Ben is reactive with people on bicycles, and that maybe there are bells on the bikes that set him off when the riders rings them.

All rescues come with varying degrees of “baggage”. Fear, anxiety, nervousness, uncertainty; reactivity… It’s all normal in most rescues. Which is why, in my own experience, knowing as much as possible about the history of a rescue is so important. The more I know, the better able I am to facilitate a more thorough rehabilitation. Rescues don’t trust easily – usually, with good reason. I’ve spent the past 10 weeks earning Ben’s trust; he’s come a long way, but he still doesn’t trust me completely. So, when I presented him with something I didn’t know was a big trigger for him – the bell – I lost some of the trust I’d worked so hard to earn from him. As a result, I have to work even harder, now, to not only regain that trust, but to also desensitize him to the bell so that he doesn’t become reactive when he hears it.

If you are going to adopt a rescue, please make sure you get as much information about their history as possible. Then, contact a trainer. A trainer will work with you and teach you how to help the animal begin his/her recovery, and in the process, they will help you become the calm, assertive, stable leader the animal needs. If you can’t get a lot of information about the animal you’re adopting, definitely contact a trainer. You’re going to need the knowledge and guidance they can provide.

Have a great day, everyone, and remember to stay calm and lead on…