SPDR Rottweiler Rescue

05/28/2026

05/17/2026

Meet Ruby! This pretty, tailed girl was placed 13 months ago, shortly before her first birthday. She came from a home with kids and other dogs, cats, and horses outside. Her busy family rehomed her because she was a little too much for their kids (2 yo, 6 yo, and 9 yo children) and would get excited with the kids and try to herd them and nip them (not aggression, and no broken skin). The people didn’t feel it was something they could work on, so decided to rehome. I had a great home on my waitlist and she was adopted without even posting her.

But, unfortunately, it’s not working out. She’s been there a little over a year now, has been spayed and had entropion surgery (twice!), and is healthy and happy, but she’s gone after her older dog-sister (5 yo female Labrador) several times now in what sounds like some redirected aggression, where she gets amped up and excited/over threshold about something else (say, bunnies outside in the yard – she has a high prey drive) and then jumps her sister. They get along well in general, and Ruby is good with other dogs, but the older dog is now naturally wary of Ruby now, which, being an adolecent Rottweiler girl, brings out the bully in Ruby.

Ruby (currently residing in the Chehalis area) just turned 2 years old a couple of weeks ago (b. 4/29/24) and is now ready for a life of adventure. She’s an active girl and friendly with people and other dogs, and would do well in a home that wants a dog to do things with – hiking buddy, scent work, Rally obedience, agility, dock diving, and she would excel at barn hunt. She’s crate trained and had basic obedience (sit, down, stay) but would benefit from a refresher obedience class in her new home and someone who’s willing to continue to work with her to give her an outlet for her energy and intelligence.

This girl has so much to offer and is looking for her forever family to make her dreams come true.

Apply to adopt this beautiful girl: https://forms.spdrdogs.org/Adoption/

Washington state - no interstate transports. Will consider adopters in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, B.C., and Montana.

05/05/2026

Read the whole post for great information on this issue. I see a LOT of reactive dogs in rescue, often mislabeled as "protective" by their owners. A reactive dog is a fearful dog, 9 times out of 10 (99 out of 100, more accurately). A confident dog, even if not a friendly-to-everyone dog, doesn't react to everything as if it's a threat to be neutralized.

REDEFINING REACTIVITY

Reactivity is a complex topic that requires an individual approach for each dog and their specific circumstances. But the underlying driver is often the same — it’s an emotional response.

Trying to “fix” it through obedience training, corrections, or punishment-based methods focuses on what a dog does, instead of how a dog feels. It doesn’t address the root of the problem—and often creates new ones.

Reactivity can quickly become self-reinforcing because it works. When the trigger moves away, the dog experiences relief—and that emotional shift strengthens the response. The more it’s repeated, the more it becomes a default or a habitual behaviour.

Changing an emotional response is not a quick fix. Real change takes time, patience, understanding, and consistent practice.

Behaviour is the symptom. Emotion is the cause. Work on changing that emotion and the behaviour will follow.

Understanding that behaviour is driven by emotion, should change how we respond to our dogs. They’re not being difficult—they’re struggling.

Looking at reactivity from this perspective should encourage us to be more empathetic and understand that we need to support them rather than control them.

05/03/2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXINeehEfQO/?igsh=aDVrYXV6YWV3a28=

Long line with a properly functioning harness for the win.

05/02/2026

If you haven't tried Sniffspot yet, what are you waiting for?! A fantastic place to meet up to introduce dogs (potential rescue and resident dog) and is a great, safe alternative to dog parks, especially if you have a reactive dog. Get the free app and check out all the great spots you can rent.