Go ahead and admit it, we love all things DIY including that fun website/app Pinterest. We spend hours watching, searching, and planning our next project. Maybe you are a flea market flip kind of person; you love taking something that someone else has tossed aside and making it fresh, new, and better. Sometimes, we get in a little over our heads and need a professional to help with the plumbing or electrical work. You might be wondering what all of this has to do with dogs or you might know exactly what it has to do with dogs.

There is a current trend of going to "rescue" a shelter dog with the intent to save her and give her a better life. You knew when you walked down that long hall of kennels and saw her hiding in the back of the cage that you could fix her with love, patience, and a soft bed. You read all the books, tried all the tricks online, and even watched several TV series from popular TV dog trainers. You have now tried everything on your rescue dog and she is still not something you want to brag about on social media. You become more and more frustrated with each passing day because you thought you were saving her but instead, you brought home a nightmare. Nothing is changing this creature you brought home into the companion you dreamed she could be. You tell people she does this because she was abused and she is scared, they convince you that you got more than you bargained for, and you feel bad, but believe them and contact a local rescue to take her - you couldn't bear to take her back to the shelter you got her from so a foster based rescue is the best, right? 

This is becoming a common trend and I fear it will only become worse with the dogs that were COVID adoptions. We think it will be a great fairy tale with a happy ending but it’s not. There is no fairy dust or magic godmother to suddenly make things perfect. What is going wrong that these shelter dogs are getting adopted but are either returned to the same shelter or sent off to a new one? Is it the shelter/rescue? How can this be fixed?

When we get a puppy, we know it will need house training and basic obedience training. When we get a shelter dog, we think quality products and love will fix their issues. The truth is these dogs are at the shelters because they were never taught how to live with humans in the first place. Many times this lack of knowledge about life as a companion starts with the day they are born. Many "oops" litters are raised by mom in a garage, back room, pen outside. It is not uncommon for them to have minimal handling by humans because it's enough work feeding and cleaning up after a litter of puppies without adding in playing with them and introducing them to handling, novel sounds, interesting textures, etc. When mom stops nursing the pups (around 6 weeks or so) the owners celebrate and send the pups off to their new homes. 

Just because mom isn't nursing the pups, it doesn't mean that she is done with her job. Mama dog is so much more than a feeding station. New studies are being released regarding when the ideal window is for a puppy to be placed in their new home (for detailed information click here). Currently what we know is that during the time that the pups are with mom, they are learning how dogs communicate, that their teeth cause pain, manners with other dogs, how to accept discipline from another dog and so much more! In many states, it is illegal for a breeder to sell a puppy before 8 weeks of age due to the importance of the lessons they learn when with mom and littermates. When this window is cut short it results in dogs who are fearful, mouthy, and anxious. 

When the lucky ones make it out of the shelter walls and into our homes, we owe it to them to set them up for success. Treat them like they are a brand new 8-week-old puppy that has no idea what it means to be in a home with humans. Do this for months not weeks. Check out my article "Welcoming Home a New Dog" for tips on getting started right. All your dog only knows that you have been consistently caring for her basic needs and things seem okay. You still have a lot of work ahead of you. After the first 30 days of having your new dog at home, you should enroll in a training class. Even if you have taken a class before, do it again. The science of dog training and animal behavior is ever-evolving as we discover more about how dogs learn. A skilled dog trainer is a valuable tool in helping you and your pup overcome issues that you will encounter as you get to know each other. You will get to know your dog better by being in a training class and you will be doing what you set out to do - making her life better. 

You will struggle, and your pup will struggle. You will have days where you are so excited to see improvement that you could throw a party, then the next day it will seem as though your pup knows nothing at all. Know that these are normal steps in the learning process for you and your dog, however, if you become frustrated, take a couple of days off from training. Don't go for a walk. Just hang out in your backyard, in your house, and take the pressure off you and your dog. Think back to where you started and where you are now. I like to have my students fill out a simple survey before their first lesson where they list everything positive and negative their dog does. If you have not done this, I highly recommend you do. During your break from training, review your pre-training list. Update it with the current date, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and review the list. Don't be ashamed or afraid to contact the rescue to let them know you are struggling as they may have some insight to share. Most importantly, don't give up!  Talk to other trainers. You might even finish a session with one trainer and try a new trainer for the next one (it's okay to not use the same trainer through the training process if things are not improving). 

If you don't think you are cut out for a long road of patchwork, and repairs, starting over time and again, there is nothing wrong with choosing a puppy rather than an adult dog with issues. We aren't all cut out for the challenge of a juvenile or adult dog with little training, no training, or the wrong training and it is perfectly okay to choose the 8-12-week-old puppy instead. No matter what you choose, know that when you sign that adoption agreement, you are getting a dog or puppy AS IS. It is your job to help that animal become your companion, sidekick, hiking buddy, or whatever they are capable of becoming. Be honest with yourself and your dog. Don't be afraid to ask your trainer if you have realistic expectations for your new dog. You might think Bailey would be a great therapy dog, but your trainer may advise you differently. Listen to that advice, and guidance and accept who your dog is. 

Several years ago, I walked into the vet clinic with a little bird in a cage and proudly told my vet that "I rescued it". He looked up at me and asked "Exactly what did you rescue this bird from?" I proceeded to tell him the horrors that the bird in front of us had been through and how just by having it in my care, it was now better. He examined the bird and suggested lab tests to see if there might be medical issues that would need attention. Through discussion over the care and treatment this bird would need, we hesitated over the costs. He then kindly but firmly helped us understand that if we did not provide the needed care, we did not truly rescue the bird, we only moved it from one location to another to live.

My point is this: Yes, the shelter/rescue should be honest and clear with you about the known struggles and challenges with the dog you are considering taking home, but they can't know everything. If you are not committed to the process of training and rehabilitating an animal, it is not the fault of the rescue/shelter when you don't follow through and end up returning the dog. There are situations when a dog is truly the wrong fit for a certain home. If you have put the elbow grease in, it's okay to ask the rescue to find another placement for the dog. Sometimes it is just the wrong match. If you have put the work in, then the shelter/rescue will understand! Don't automatically that your dog being placed back in the hands of the shelter/rescue means that the dog will be back in a cage. Many times they will have a few fosters on hand and one might be available or will be soon.