Brandy Now in a Forever Home

Working in a shelter can be really challenging and at times I have to remember the wise words my mentor #AndrewHale said: "You can't save every dog", it won't stop me trying though lol. On my first day in the third shelter I have worked in I met the beautiful Brandy. She was this ball of energy jumping up due to her huge arousal, ripping the sleeve of my shelter coat and I knew I had to find strategies to calm her.

Brandy is so intelligent she got #freework instantly, she accepted the harnesss knowing she would be taken for walks and recognised my voice everytime I came to see her and would wag her tail, come to me and i would stroke her flank. We tried some dog interactions and I realised this would take time.

When I was screening a potential adopter and the words "balanced training" were used I shuddered. I replied I'm a force free trainer. This was met with how an e collar had been used on the adopter's existing dog for 15 minutes and it was a success because now the dog could be within 2 metres of other dogs, go into shopping centres etc...I didn't sleep a wink I told the shelter I will leave this is completely against my values and not the right thing for any dog. Any dog I work to build a trust with I want to protect and make sure they are rehomed with the right adopter.

Unfortunately, when you work in a shelter you don't have a lot of influence and the shelter were determined to allow my Brandy to meet this 'balanced methods adopter'. Then came the #rehomebrandycampaign. I can't thank #JoMiddleton enough for your support and #DebBauer for the offer of a free 1-21-.

Now the happy part, this story does have a happy ending. So committed to Brandy, today I took my own sensitive dog Gatsby my Brandy. Brandy did jump up and Gatsby corrected her so this is work in progress and we need to take it slowly. Why is this so important well, Russell looks after Gatsby when we go away. I love both dogs, so does Russell and if we work at the dogs pace it'll be ok. Gatsby had a good sniff when Brandy urinated which I take as positive step forward.

Russell is now Brandy's dog dad and you will see from the photos how happy she is. I informed the shelter who told me they would contact that 'balanced training adopter'. I feel so much happier, she is such a loving dog who has trusted us completely. She licked my face for the first time today, she is safe,