This is the story of how a “lost cause” of a dog became a beloved family member. It didn’t happen quickly or easily, but the time and effort were well worth it.
Several months after the death of the Hound-Shepherd mix dog we had lived with for 16 years, my wife Denise and I realized we missed what a dog added to our lives and were ready to look for another.
Denise researched the rescue groups and shelters on the Internet. We went to dog fairs, events sponsored by rescue groups where a person can meet dogs in need of homes, both on a foster basis and full time.
While searching online we ran across thedogshack.org, where we spotted a photo of a dog we wanted to meet. He was about a year old, 65 or so pounds, some type of hound mixed with something or the other. He was not bad looking in a big-headed sort of way. We made an appointment and went to see him.
We met with Saskia who operates The Dog Shack. She introduced us to Bailey and told us his story. Turns out he had been rescued from a shelter in Humboldt County.
The volunteers there had named the dog after Bailey’s Irish Crème due to his coloring. Bailey had been picked up stray and at the time the picture had been taken was on death row.
That Humboldt County shelter, like most others, has many dogs on site, with more showing up on a steady schedule. One method used to determine which dogs are adoptable and which are unlikely to find homes is to walk a leashed dog past rows of barking dogs in cages. If the dog shows hostility to the caged dogs, he is rated a “problem dog.” If not adopted after a set number of weeks, problem dogs are routinely euthanized. Bailey was scheduled for that. The dog-loving volunteers at the shelter had contacted rescue groups about Bailey and Saskia of The Dog Shack responded.
“The Bails,” as Saskia called him was smiling constantly, full of energy and happy to meet new people. We worked with him a bit and judged he was willing to learn.
Denise and I had discussed often what type of dog fit into the rhythm of our lives and how much responsibility we were willing to take on with a new pet. We were prepared to make an effort for the right dog. We liked Bailey right away, and Saskia judged we were competent, so he came home with us as a foster dog.
There were a number of challenges Bailey had to face. Key among them was adapting to a house of cats. Dogs with a strong prey drive can have a hard time with cats in the house if they can’t be trained to control the drive. They have to learn their cues on this from humans. We introduced the cats to Bailey gradually and under supervision with him in a crate, his safe haven, so he could not chase or threaten them. He watched our friendly interactions with the cats and came to accept them as part of our pack, worthy of his protection. He adapted to this fairly rapidly and thereby gained our trust. It wasn’t long before Bailey was no longer a foster, he was ours.
But there were other challenges as well. Bailey was not used to an urban environment. He barked at the television, coffee makers, garbage cans, people carrying bundles, bikes, etc. With all these things and others we worked patiently with him until he adapted. Fortunately, with people, children and adults, Bailey was and continues to be indiscriminately friendly.
His biggest single hurdle was reactivity to other dogs. If Bailey saw a dog from a block away, male or female, large or small, he would tense up. As the dog got closer he would tremble, bark, and lunge. His reaction was extreme, and although our efforts made a difference, Denise and I figured we needed the help of a professional.
In her reading on the subject, Denise learned about positive reinforcement methods of training and was impressed by the approach. She searched and found a group called Just Rewards consulting and training. We contacted them and began training with Wendy Hilton.
Working with Wendy, initially one-on-one and later in classes with other dogs, Bailey has made significant progress. Denise has enjoyed the effort and found it fun and rewarding. Bailey advanced through several basic manners classes and now participates in APDT Rally trials. Along the way he has made many friends and fans.
Bailey may never be a dog that we can let loose in a dog park to run and play with others. He watches his back too much. But he is a dog who can take long on-leash walks side by side with his Rally dog friends – Mel, Gypsy, Keeper, Poppy, Lotus, Rio and others. And he can enjoy it.
I hope Bailey’s story inspires others to give a “lost cause” a fair chance.
Raul Gonzalez is a native Californian. He works as a machinist. No dog has ever laid him off work or shorted his paycheck.
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Main article photo by: Bobbi Emel
