‘He just needed someone to believe in him’: First-time dog mom adopts the rescue no one else would take and transforms him into a leash-trained, daycare-approved star after months of tears, hot dogs, and daily setbacks

You know, it is rather frustrating both for us and for doggo kind that most hoomans do not fully appreciate or care that when they adopt a doggo into their family, they are beholden to teaching that pupper how to behave in all situations. And that kind of education takes time, effort and hard work to make happen.

Which as we know is not a recipe that most hoomans have a handle on in this world. Which is what makes this story that much sweeter, as a first time dog momma took it upon herself to train a doggo that even an experienced trainer might think twice about adopting. She saw the biggest challenge she could find and leapt towards it with great force and vigor. And as often is the case when we give something our all, the results were simply sublime and not only did she succeed in teaching her canine child how to behave, she gained a best bud for life. 

Author image for Laurent Shinar Laurent Shinar
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    Months ago, I adopted my dog Marv. If you read some of my post history, you'll learn that Marv was aggressive and incredibly anxious when I first got him. The first two months, he
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  • 02
    a ed my sister three times, and snapped, growled, lunged, and nipped almost everyone else. He had such severe separation anxiety that I could not leave the room for even a millisecond without him flying into a frenzy. He wasn't trained at ALL. He didn't know how to even walk up the stairs, let alone sit or potty outside.
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  • Wow, now that is quite the heartbreaking case to take on, and what a load of work this woman gave herself. Some people would never even dream of helping a hound that is so helpless. But that did not stop this brave woman, and really it should stop a lot less people from adopting…

  • 03
    Safe to say, I was in way over my head. I had trained many "problem" horses in the past, but this was my first dog besides my family lab growing up. And his behavioral issues were not his only problem. Mary had so many health issues - it was like every part of his body was infected with something. He was 20 pounds underweight.
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  • 04
    The first two months I was so, so stressed. I cried a lot out of frustration and anxiety. I would never return a dog, but GOD, Marv was probably the hardest first dog I could have found. I was scared he would really hurt someone. I spent every spare hour (and every spare dollar) I had at the vet or working with the behaviorist I found.
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  • 05
    We trained every, single, day. Sometimes we trained for what felt like every second of every day. I bought more hotdogs to use as treats than I have ever bought in my life. I was
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  • 06
    researching and reading all the material I could find on aggressive dogs. We went everywhere to desensitize and positively associate. When he was anywhere near another person, he was getting treats.
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  • 07
    Progress was slow at first, but I noticed Marv becoming more confident and less anxious. He was potty trained in 3 weeks. After months, he learned sit, stay, down, crate, come, go to bed, and (almost) give. He learned
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  • Wow, honestly, that is not such a long time frame at all for such things. Obviously, it was probably three weeks of utter chaos in a house where the doggy goes potty where ever it pleases. But even so, for a doggo who has never learned not to go potty in the house, that is an impressively short time period to switch things around like that.

  • 08
    leash manners. He was so, so smart - he just had never had anyone teach him. He seemed so willing to learn and so willing to try. Granted, a lot of that was probably just because of the hotdogs.
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  • 09
    We went to training all the time. He started Prozac for his anxiety. We just kept working, every single day. And then suddenly it had been weeks since his last a :k.
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  • 10
    He stopped lunging at everyone (except for squirrels). He would, at worst, growl and nip when he was feeling threatened. I finally could invite friends and family over again.
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  • 11
    Some days, I was in disbelief how good he was being. It was like he was a completely different dog sometimes. We got approved to
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  • 12
    start group obedience class a few weeks ago - at a training facility that wouldn't even take us in the beginning for private lessons because they didn't have a trainer to work with his aggression. He had his first playdate with another dog a few weeks ago and he did great. He can now go to the dog park, and he is practically perfect. Just today, he went to his first doggie daycare interview and HE PASSED.
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  • 13
    I have never been more proud in my entire life. He has come so far and I feel so lucky and fortunate to have found such an amazing, intelligent, and loyal dog. I have never felt so loved in my life. I am so happy that all of our hard work is paying off, I could actually cry tears of joy.
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  • 14
    Sorry for the sappy post. I know I'm not the usual case - and many dogs are much worse than Marv and need far longer to improve - but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Whether it takes months or years, all the hard work will be worth it. I just wanted to share our story for anyone else going through this!
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  • 15
    TeddyMonster19 Thank you for not giving up on this sweet baby, and for all your hard work. He will reward your labor with years of unconditional love.
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  • 16
    phbalancedshorty This helps me... I'm at the phase where we're struggling with the behaviorist. Prozac didn't work for us, so we have to try something else... Trying to remain hopeful.
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    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    Cheezburger Image 10524703232
    via vitaliymateha via Adobe Stock
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    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    Cheezburger Image 10524703744
    via Bostan Natalia via Adobe Stock
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    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    Cheezburger Image 10524703488
    via DoraZett via Adobe Stock
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  • 20

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

    Cheezburger Image 10524704000
    via narong via Adobe Stock

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