I had the privilege (and the responsibility!) of helping one of my favorite clients choose her next dog. I was able to see the puppy and his littermates, as well as one of the parent dogs. While the situation this puppy came from was less than optimal, and in fact, I would describe it as an impoverished environment for raising healthy and sound puppies, I did find a "diamond in the rough." One of the puppies, in spite of the chaos and neglect around him, was exceptional; he was most interested in us, but not in a pushy way. He made eye contact and wanted to be held and cuddled. He was purposeful in his movement and attentive to new sounds and the different objects I presented him with. He didn't show fear or apprehension, but was thoughtful in his approach. Most of all, he would walk away from the food bowl to show empathy for a human in need, even though he was clearly hungry. I felt like this puppy knew there was something better for him out there as I scooped him up and walked away with him. Not only did he not look back or whine, he climbed right into my client's car and seemed immediately ready for his next task. We talked all the way home in the car about the conditions this puppy had been living in. Even though my client paid for this purebred puppy, she said he felt like a rescue nonetheless, and I'd have to agree. By definition, rescue means to be saved or removed from a dangerous or distressing situation. That's exactly what we did, we removed this puppy from a distressing situation and brought him into an environment where he will be loved and cared for, and where the environment will be enriching and full of new experiences. So, why am I telling you all of this?
Many of my clients tell me that they want to rescue a dog, or that they have just rescued a dog, or that their dog is a rescue, with the implication being that this dog had been subjected to trauma or abuse in some way. Oftentimes, that dog just came from someplace else that wasn't a breeder's home. Just because a dog came from the shelter or a rescue group doesn't mean that that dog was mistreated or abused. In fact, most of the dogs that go through the shelter or rescue groups are just dogs whose circumstances changed; life got in the way of keeping the dog in its original home. A lot of people get a dog with the best of intentions and then realize they are ill-prepared for the day-to-day of dog ownership. Or maybe the dog had a health or behavioral problem that they original owner couldn't afford to treat. This means the dog transitioned to a rescue, but wasn't mistreated in any way. I love this quote (not sure who said it originally as it always seems to be attributed to "anonymous"): "Rescue does not mean damaged. Rather, it means they've been let down by humans."
And because the word "rescue" is so emotionally charged, and often used inappropriately, I like to encourage prospective dog owners to talk about adopting a dog, rather than rescuing a dog. Adoption implies opening your home to the care and keeping of another individual, without implying that that individual is somehow "less than ideal." And, of course, you can adopt a dog from a shelter, a rescue group, or a breeder, your home, your choice!
A lot of thought goes into adopting a new dog, whether that dog is a puppy, adolescent, adult or senior, and whether they come from a shelter, rescue group, or breeder. It's a lot of responsibility and (hopefully) will be done for the life of that dog. The reality, however, is that most dogs live in three different "homes" during their lifetime. That actually feels to me like it might be a conservative estimate. For example, there is wherever the dog is born (home #1), then maybe the litter is taken to the shelter (home #2). If it's a purebred dog, it will likely be picked up by a breed rescue group and fostered for adoption (home #3) before being adopted out (hopefully, their final home, #4). But, again, if circumstances change for the human adopters, that dog could end up back at the shelter or rescue (home #5), before being placed again (home #6). The resiliency of dogs is nothing short of miraculous! Dogs can go from home to home, have their names changed, and their schedules altered, and they adapt and more often than not, they thrive. Dogs really are fascinating, adaptable, creatures.
For now, I'm excited to be on this journey with my client and her new puppy. She's sending me pictures every few days and keeping me updated on his progress. I'm not worried about him one bit; he will thrive in his new home and be a much loved family member for his entire life. I am looking forward to watching him grow and develop. From humble beginnings, I truly believe, he will become a reliable companion dog.
As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.
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