The Dog Without a Name

My newest trainee was brought to me by humans who had him for only 2 weeks. They didn’t know too much about him except that they rescued him, he was very malnourished when they got him, he jumped on people, pulled on the leash when they tried to walk him, he could sit, and was dog reactive. I’ve discovered some not good things about him along the way.

First, more about his name “Bear”. His humans struggled calling him that because they said he didn’t strike them as a dog named “Bear”. They shared they didn’t know what to call him but later decided they were gonna make “Bear” work.

I understand because I also struggled with it while I have been training him. I wanted to call him every other name I could think of because “Bear” just didn’t seem to fit.

After almost 2 weeks, the name definitely fits and I call him Bear all the time. Bear is one big ol’ teddy bear dog. His humans didn’t know much about him because they only had him for 2 weeks but I’ve learned a lot about him while I’ve been training him. Some of it not too good.

In my short time with Bear, I’ve learned someone has used an e-collar or shock collar on him. Yes, there is a definite difference. The reason I know someone has used one of these collars aside from this dog being so screwed up from the previous training is; Bear was so used to having the prongs of the collar placed directly on his throat that he would scratch the collar until he re-positioned the one I would put on him there. It should never go there.

His humans let me know that he only knew how to sit but I discovered he also knew how to lay down. And he was conditioned to run away when you told him to come or he was afraid of what followed when he did. Bear was over stimulated and just overall afraid. He was a hot mess. There’s a few other big things, but I’ll share that with his New Humans.

I’m so happy he has New Humans!

I did have to primarily go old school classical conditional training the first week to break the negative fear aversion he had to the collar. That’s why I haven’t placed out as many videos as I normally would’ve by now. I really had to go slow and change his negative collar perception to a positive reward system he can trust. Now… That stinkin Bear is rocking it!

Everyone who brings me their dogs knows I have a hard time letting them go when our time is up. And there’s only been one I’ve really struggled with so much that I didn’t want to show up to my own turnover because I knew that meant giving their dog back. (Of course, I would never do that.) I don’t ever share the name of that dog on a public forum but Bear will be my second.

Bear is one of the friendliest, super fun, very smart, and most appreciative dogs I’ve had the fortune of working with. He is with me. I always get to see the side most humans don’t get to see until they go home. Some dogs just show you they are grateful when they get a second chance in a good place at life. Bear lives out those moments every time we go out.

When you see Bear out with his New Humans, tell him Hi for me!