09/19/2026
It took several attempts and a fake throw of a stick to finally get Karla to hold her ears up. Karla was in a working home for a while and returned to us afraid of everything and with minimal training. She’s been back with us for about two years and has become a therapy dog, she swims like a fish and has earned a few AKC titles along with raising two litters of pups.
This was a dog who would not get into a vehicle, was an outdoor dog / not housebroken, was underweight and when we raised our hands up to desensitize her, she cowered. With the introduction of a ton of new things she has given others so much joy through pet therapy. She’s an inside dog now.
The point of this post is, if you get a dog from a shelter or rescue or an abusive situation, give them time to flourish. It can take years. We shouldn’t coddle or baby them but we can love them with structure and training that makes them the best they can be. Praise goes a long way with this gal.
Patience, patience, patience.