Lifestyle

Precious Perros

This holiday season, why not give the gift that keeps on giving? Consider adopting one of these perfect pups from a local rescue.
Text by Ryan Jarrell | April 18, 2018 | Lifestyle

ARLO
An ideal companion every bit as cute as he is courageous, Arlo is a young Mixed Breed who suffers from blindness, but don’t think that means he’s not eager to participate in all the pugnacious play a pup his age is meant to enjoy! Especially trainable and eager to find a caring permanent home, if you consider yourself a compassionate friend of animalkind, then make Arlo’s Christmas wish come true; GoodKarmaPetRescue.org.

PIE
A Terrier Mix found wandering the streets of Miami during Hurricane Irma, this ruff-living refugee is every bit as sweet as his name suggests! Luckily suffering no ill effects, mental or physical, from the storm, the only thing this rugged rover needs is a loving place to call a permanent home. Equipped with a short coat that won’t cause shedding-related nightmares, Pie’s the missing piece of the perfect holiday season; Paws4You.org.

NALA
A cute concoction of Labrador & Terrier characteristics, Nala is named for the loving lioness of Lion King fame. Perfect for a family looking for that first family dog (you’ve never seen a pup as play-ready with young children as this responsible rover), Nala’s loyalty, levity and loving addiction to snuggling have the potential to make this holiday season one you’ll never forget; Paws4You.org.

Reactive Rovers
When living in a space that’s close to other people and animals, having a reactive dog — one that barks, lunges or growls at others — can quickly become stressful. Before you know it, you’ve joined the midnight dog-walkers club or spend early mornings sneaking out of the apartment to take your pooch for his walk. Reactivity can stem from many things but is most likely a fear-based response from a lack of early socialization or a traumatic experience during puppyhood. The good news is that a classical conditioning exercise can quickly improve your dog’s reaction to other dogs. Pair the trigger for your dog’s reactivity with something they love, like a treat. With enough repetition your dog will start to associate the once “bad” thing with what they love the most, and in turn they actually start to like the “scary” thing. If they’re no longer afraid of it, they stop reacting to it! If your dog reacts out of excitement, something as simple as capturing calmness and making relaxation his/her gateway to goodies is enough to nip the bad behavior in the bud. Although it’s easier to rehabilitate younger dogs who are becoming or are already reactive, there’s no age limit on when an adult dog can be trained. Despite popular belief, you can teach an old dog new tricks, even when it comes to reactivity toward other dogs, people and excessive stimuli in your dog’s environment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
› Ashley Lambert is a professional dog trainer at Applause Your Paws . She competes in multiple dog sports, including agility, with her rescue dogs and loves sharing her passion for dog training with her clients; ApplauseYourPaws.com.