Many counties in California have high-kill shelters, with an estimated 85 to 90 percent of stray and surrendered dogs being euthanized. Scared, skittish, or fearful dogs are seldom given an opportunity to prove their worth. Pit Bulls are rampant in California‘s central San Joaquin valley, and euthanasia remains routine for those entering the system.
Lady Luck‘s giant beacon shone brightly on the two siblings. Rather than being picked up by county animal control where they faced an almost certain sad fate, they ended up at Tulare Animal Services, a municipal facility with a roughly 55 percent euthanasia rate—a low number for many California shelters. The siblings‘ guardian angel was Tammy Burrows, rescue coordinator, who saw potential in the two strays and was determined to save them. They would not become another statistic on her watch.
Two weeks after being hauled out from under an abandoned house, and now in what must have seemed like the pampered life with a warm bath, yummy food, and a cozy bed, the sweet puppies were slowly coming around and starting to trust humans. At roughly eight to ten weeks of age, the puppies‘ narrow window of socialization remained open. Plenty of handling, playing, and cuddling helped to begin instilling confidence and trust. No doubt the turkey, cheese, and chicken-infused bribery helped a lot, too!
Tulare Animal Services takes in upwards of thirty dogs per day, mostly Chihuahuas and Pit Bulls. Walk down any street, and stray dogs run unchecked. Want a dog? Pick one off the street. No one adopts from the shelters. For Lily Bella and her littermate, the best chance at a successful future meant relocating them from the agricultural region to the Pacific Northwest. Dawn Rennie, founder of Enzo’s Acres, a nonprofit rescue organization in Portland, transported them to Oregon, where they were placed in a foster home.
Certified veterinary technician Bobbi Smith was working the day the siblings were brought into South Willamette Veterinary Clinic for spaying and neutering. Smith, along with her husband Todd and four-year-old son Tyler, had been talking about rescuing another dog. Lily Bella, the more outgoing of the two siblings, could not have been more perfect.
Puppies learn an amazing array of essential manners and important survival skills from their canine mama during their first eight weeks of life. A mama dog‘s swift and fair rewards and punishments let a puppy know not to be cheeky, or bite too hard, or fight with his canine siblings; to play gently; to wait his turn; to listen and to stay put or rally around her when told to do so. Behavioral challenges can be an issue when removing puppies from their canine mother too early. In this instance, no options were available. That decision had been made by whoever abandoned them.
A bit skittish and a little scared for the first few days but showing no signs of aggression, Lily Bella bonded instantly with Tyler, and the two remain inseparable. “Mommy I love her and want her to be my dog! She can sleep with me and scare the monsters away!“
Recognizing the importance of socialization, especially considering the absence of a mama dog, as well as Lily Bella‘s possible terrier/hound heritage, the Smiths understood that the responsibility of teaching social skills and life manners fell on them. They started straightaway preparing Lily Bella for all of the exciting adventures that lie ahead. Not wanting to overwhelm the little gal by teaching her everything at once, they established priorities, including introducing and socializing her to everything she is likely to encounter as an adult dog.
Lily Bella‘s new life as an avid outdoor hiking, backpacking, camping, and all-round perfect pet companion already includes a week-long backpacking/camping trip. Avid outdoor enthusiasts, the Smiths already include Doberman Pinscher Chiefy in their wilderness outings and plan to include Lily Bella, as well.
Remarkably, this little gal of unknown heritage who was terrified of humans shows no residual skittishness. Friendly, outgoing, dignified, lively, and affectionate, this once abandoned puppy facing an almost certain terrible fate now lives the high life, surrounded by love, guidance, and direction, with a future as bright and beautiful as her endearing spirit.
Lily Bella and Tyler bonded instantly.
Socialization: The Key to a Dog‘s Future
In a perfect world, all puppies would grow into adult dogs who are friendly, outgoing, and emotionally stable. In the real world, many puppies and adult dogs, be they purebred or mixed breeds, come with baggage we may never fully understand. Some dogs, like Lily Bella, get the worst start in life but blossom into wonderful cherished companions. Other dogs get the best start in life but are traumatized by owner ignorance, stupidity, or unforeseen circumstances.
Why do some dogs flourish while others falter?
Behavior always comes from a combination of genetics and environment, so much depends on a dog‘s breeding. Some dogs can experience negligent, even abusive conditions, and still mature into emotionally sound adult dogs because of superior genetics. Lily Bella and her brother lived an isolated life under an abandoned building with no mama dog or human guidance, yet because of some proper socialization at the tail end of the critical socialization period, and an apparently amazing set of genes, they are quickly developing and maturing into great companions.
For every dog like Lily Bella, there are countless dogs whose compromised conditions and deprivation early in life result in their inability to tolerate change. They are more likely to develop fearful reactions to people, noises, and unfamiliar locations. They tend to be more cautious, shy, fearful, and frequently nervous, avoiding or retreating from unfamiliar objects or situations. As adult dogs, they usually find it more difficult to cope with new or stressful situations.
If your dog came from a less than ideal environment, he may already avoid people, become easily fearful or timid much of the time, or show signs of aggression. If this is the case, you have zero time to lose. You may want to retain the assistance of a smart trainer or behaviorist to make up for lost ground. Although he may never become the dog he could have been, you can help to improve the situation by teaching him life skills and providing him with plenty of experiences to help build his confidence and bravery.
It‘s worth mentioning that while much of this chapter is geared toward puppies, most, if not all, the information can be applied to adult dogs, too. How quickly your dog progresses will depend on his age, breed, genetics, his emotional and physical state, and what type of life you envision him living. It may not be easy, but patience, love, understanding, and a lot of baby steps will keep you moving in the right direction. Five steps forward, three steps backward—and you‘re still two steps ahead!
Training Tip:
Your Dog‘s Future
According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, behavioral problems such as aggression, fear, timidity, and the like, which frequently correlate with lack of socialization, are a common reason many dogs are abandoned or surrendered to animal shelters.Evidence clearly shows that early socialization can prevent the onset of these serious canine problems.If you do nothing else for your dog, you owe it to him to make the time to properly and adequately socialize him during this critical life stage.Doing so is time-consuming and takes a lot of energy.However, his future well-being depends on how much you do—or fail to do—during this critical