08/06/2026
From Shelter Stress to Greeter Dog: Meet Maxwell! 🐾💙
A note from Maxwell and his mom 🫶🏽
Here is why Maxwell and I love Tooth & Tail:
When I first adopted Maxwell in 2021, he was severely undersocialized, experienced high shelter stress, and had pretty strong on leash reactivity. He was adopted from Austin Pets Alive! and returned due to the owners being unable to manage him.
After I adopted him and worked through a few of his trust issues, it became clear that Maxwell really wanted some doggy friends but had no idea how to behave appropriately in order to make those friends. He wasn’t suitable for regular doggy daycare and I was too cautious to try play dates with other dogs.
An APA! staff member recommended Tooth and Tail, so with hopeful trepidation, I reached out. In the four years we’ve been coming to T&T, Maxwell has almost completely transformed! He knows how to interact appropriately with other dogs, has found fast friends despite his awkward body language, and goes to daycare with complete joy. He’s now so calm that he’s a greeter dog! ✨
If you have a dog who needs patience, understanding, and calm guidance on how to be their best selves with other dogs, I can’t recommend Tooth and Tail enough. Anisha and the team are kind, patient, and above all, experts in dog behavior management. They truly care about their clients, both canine and human.
Also, I should add that due to Maxwell’s socialization, we were able to bring our first foster puppy home, Mardi. Maxwell was a great big brother, watching out for her, playing with her, and protecting her. This would not have been possible without his time at T&T! 🐶🍼
