Hi In 2017, I acquired my current dog Cole. He was then a 9yr old Affenpinscher and Maltese cross. He was living with Ellyn prior, and Ellyn hired me to train him. She called him Colby then. But tough little Cole, needed a more “manly” name in my opinion!
Ellyn wanted help resolving Coles excessive barking, and threatening lunges at passers-by, while she walked him on leash. He lunged at both strangers, and strangers with leashed dogs.
We had come to lesson #3, of her pre-purchased lessons at her home. It became apparent that doing at-home weekly lessons, with owners assigned homework between lessons, wasn’t conducive in Ellyn’s schedule. Boarding training wasn’t something Ellyn wanted either. At lesson #3, euthanizing Cole was brought up in conversation, as the solution they leaned towards.
I was rather dismayed, as training was not even partially utilized first, let alone completed. My unwritten job description, is always geared towards keeping dogs IN their homes. I’d also recently euthanized the 3rd of 3 dogs, I’d owned prior. The last of the (3), was my beloved Annabelle, a Chow-Chow and Yellow Lab cross. She was old, and had health issues that became more complicated, for the last 6mo of her life. It was a hard ending.
It’s my M.O. to be like a soldier at war, and throwing much of my wellness “arsenal” at my pets health issues. I’m used to winning those battles. So for me, coming to the decision to euthanize is always painstaking, with a drawn out internal struggle. However, I’m adamant, that no healthy dogs be euthanized…ever.
Before even considering so, I heard the words as they came out of my mouth, “ I’ll take the dog…” As someone that once had 38 of my own animals at one time (don’t worry, I lived on my 29acre farm at the time…) I’m cautious regarding acquiring new ones. After Annabelle’s euthanasia, I was only down to one beautiful long haired cat, Tony. So, having too many critters, for now suburban life, wasn’t an issue.
Cole came home with me from lesson #3, complete with his bag of belongings and vet records. I was actually interested in obtaining a second cat at that time, as a companion for Tony, vs getting another dog. My last two dogs, Annabelle and Maxwell, of the set of (3), had both suffered some, and had difficulty for 1yr each, prior to euthanasia. They were also euthanized a year apart. My house is always filled with clients dogs, so getting started with another dog of my own, wasn’t where I was at.
But here’s Cole, now entering my home, on an usual day of no clients dogs awaiting. Tony and I had just enjoyed some one-on-one kitty-time for 1 day. Unbeknownst to Tony (and myself) that would be the last dog-free day in the home!
Tony had been raised, first with the menagerie of 38, and then after moving to suburbia, with strange dogs constantly in his home. Some of these dogs were staying for Boarding Training, to resolve aggression. These aggressions, included aggressiveness towards cats. Tony though, has always been my kitty ambassador, and could forgive aggressive dogs, as training shifted them day-by-day. What an ally!
Now remember, Cole was re-homed with me, due to “aggressive tendencies.” And because my home was typically full of dogs of challenging sorts, I was of the mindset, to get Tony another FELINE brother… and NOT a small aggressive dog! Poor Tony …
But aside from the helpfulness Tony offered with aggressive training dogs, he would befriend those dogs, that were innately social. So, minute 1 of brining Cole into my home, I went immediately to my master bedroom, with thoughts of facilitating some ground rules, upon an introduction between Tony and Cole.
To my delight and surprise, Cole comfortably laid down in the middle of the queen-sized bed. Tony came promptly out of his “closet-palace,” and joined us on the bed… “Here we go,” I thought. But Tony sniffed Coles little back foot, and promptly lay beside Cole, extending his own little back foot, to touch Cole’s! Cole too, had the same propensity for affection, towards Tony. WOW!!
“Delight” is an understatement, in regards to how magical that was. Though Tony was friendly with dogs, this type of closeness and instant connectedness, had never occurred, outside of felines. That sealed the deal. My angst was resolved, that I experienced during the drive home; would I be training, and re-homing Cole? Or dare I consider keeping this already senior dog, after recently loosing Max and Annie.…?
But seeing my two charcoal grey boys, foot-to-foot, so absolutely contented in each other’s company, gave all hesitations the boot! Cole would stay, I was sure.
Cole pretty much stooped most of his negative behaviors immediately, and without much training effort. It was as if the change in leadership, and environment, was enough to bring him around to my expectations. So we had a win:win:win situation, for Cole,Tony and myself.
Two years later, my little Cole and my little Tony, still have nothing but brotherly-love. I too, am madly in love with my newest canine charge. I’m convinced everyday, that this was our destiny. I feel both thrilled and lucky, that Cole came into our lives.
All of my prior dogs that I’d raised from puppies, had always contributed their “gift-untold” to my lifestyle. By this I mean, that all dogs in a healthy and balanced pack, find a way to contribute a unique function to the pack’s agenda. A well balanced pack starts with quality leadership. The subordinate pack members, want to be “indispensable” to the leader, and hone and offer, a unique skill/talent to satisfy that.
For example, my Rottweiler x German Shepard, Jacob, offered help with my small domestic and wild animal rescue. His first contribution at age 6mo, was in bringing home baby bunnies that had definitely been abandoned. I would never even have been able to see this rabbit nest. Great contribution. Very cool.
My Chow-Chow x Pit Bull, Maxwell, offered assistance with my rehabbing of aggressive horses. While I could not traverse the 29 acre farm fast enough to stop an altercation, Max could. In his predatory sensibility though, he sided with my aggressor vs my victim horse! So, though I typically don’t formally train my personal dogs (I get ‘em and go…) I had to teach him to hold my aggressor, vs victim horse. The decade + the Max worked my pastures, my aggressive horse rehabilitation training program, was never better! Thanks Max!
Well, to my surprise, within 3mo of having my tiny 9yr old adopted dog Cole home, he showed me his contribution gift. Every day I return from training on the road, I immediately take my hot training shoes off inside the door. My feet would have been wanting flip-flops for hours! One day, Cole greeted me, toting a single flip-flop, in his mouth! He was giddy with excitement, and proud of his own initiation, of his contribution gift! I was proud too! I clamored with excitement and praise, thankfully recognizing this as his conceived contribution, finally executed.
While I’ll never know, what the other options he considered for contribution were, I’d ALWAYS wanted that iconic “dog bringing the slippers.” Could you imagine that I finally had that, in my new precious little Cole?! My pint-sized dog, while not capable of the phenomenal contributions of my large breed dogs (of which they each had multiple contributions), had found his pint-sized (but profound) contribution! The old black and white TV programs, typically featured an Irish Setter retrieving slippers, and a delivering to a man at his fireplace. This flip-flop delivery, upon my entering the home, was much better suited to me, in the hot state of Florida.
The video clip below depicts Cole’s version of bringing me “my slippers”
