Ruby

No shortage of dogs today.  The shelter received 27 from an overcrowded California shelter this past weekend and all but Ruby are small.  She is just so beautiful, a Siberian Husky with stunning pale blue eyes; I  had to get to know her better.  The notes on her log sheet requested that volunteers work with her on calmly leaving and returning to her kennel.  Trepidation starts to creep in!  No problem; my right brain assured me that having just completed Meredith's (Pawsitive Experience)  training, I could handle this.  I made up my plastic lid coated with peanut butter (to distract her while harnessing up) and headed for her kennel.  There she was happily howling and jumping up on her hind legs - "Stay calm and ignore her until she stands quietly", (Meredith).

 It worked; so far so good.   I'm now in her kennel; peanut butter lid is on the floor; she is sniffing it, I'm getting her harnessed and she does not even like peanut butter!  Wow; we calmly leave the dog area, walk down the hall and go outside.  I know she is just seething with energy so a stop in the exercise yard is a must.  She goes racing around, half run, half jump; you can see she is not used to wearing a training harness.  She jumped up at me one time, but by just turning away and ignoring her (thank you Meredith), no more jumping.  She still raced around then raced at me when I called her, but her brakes slammed on as soon as she got to me.  I was somewhat surprised that she sits on command IMMEDIATELY;  she does not even require a treat.

Once out on our walk, she was pretty good, taking my lead in direction, but lunging for every chipmunk and bird.  Fortunately the training harness prevents pulling so her lunging did not cause problems.   About one third into our walk I reversed to avoid another dog/volunteer team; Ruby let me know clearly by whimpering loudly, that she was not ready to turn around and go back.  As soon as it was apparent  that her walk was continuing, she wagged and trotted along.  She is so responsive.  As our walk was winding down, I found a bench and she was happy to sit and lean on me.  She is very affectionate and eager to please.  Back in the dog area, she seemed a little afraid of the other dogs barking but  stayed calm and easily walked into her kennel.  I finally read her profile. She is just a year old.  For a dog not much beyond puppy-hood and in her circumstances,  she is  amazing.  She is going to make someone a wonderful companion for a long time.