About forty percent of the dogs I work with are “rescue dogs.” In its widest interpretation this just means that the dog came from a rescue organization or directly from a previous owner. These days there are so many “rescue” dogs coming up from the southern states that I’ve taken to calling it the “underground railroad.” A stricter definition of rescue would be those dogs that are difficult to place due to age, behavior, or physical disability and are therefore destined for destruction if they don’t find a new home quickly.
Vicki - One of Our Rescued Dogs
Our last three dogs have been “rescues.” Zach was a five year old Airedale. He was available because of a divorce, and when I first got him he thought that running away was the highest form of recreation known to dog. Vicki was a 14 week old American Staffordshire terrier who was available because of nervousness about her breed. Our present Airedale Dazz, we got as a four-year old. He was unhappy that his owner’s lives had gotten so busy with jobs and a new child that there was little time for him. He had taken to expressing his displeasure by pooping in the baby’s room, among other things. None of these dogs had been abused; they just needed some consistent, coherent training to become really wonderful companions.
Dogs that have been badly neglected or abused can present more of a challenge. I remember one German shepherd whose novice breeder had not interacted with the pups other than to feed and clean up after them. As a result they became feral, and this poor dog was terrified of everyone. Fortunately, her owner was determined (dogged you might say) and patient. And then there was the beagle who had been a laboratory animal. She had no expectation that humans could interact with her in any sort of coherent way at all. Again, a patient and persistent handler along with some thoughtful training made the difference.
A dog that has been abused will often exhibit fear aggression or severe timidity. Not surprisingly, a dog that has been used for fighting will often be dog aggressive. A neglected dog might simply be socially retarded or might have more serious issues like distrust, separation anxiety, or claustrophobia. Although such dogs often require more time and patience, the recipe for success is the same; we must convince the dog that their world really is a safe, sane, and predictable place where he or she has certain reasonable and clearly defined responsibilities. Dogs thus rehabilitated often reward their masters with lasting loyalty and affection, but it’s important to be realistic going in and to expect that you’ll probably need to do some serious training with the help of someone who’s been there before.
