Dog Adoption And Back Stories:

 We have adopted all eleven dogs from either a shelter or rescue. Working backwards in the sequence we have adopted them we have been able to get the back story on most of the dogs we adopted. On occasion the shelter or rescue did not know their back story or chose not to reveal it but when you know the history it makes it easier to make sure past occurrences in a dogs life are avoided and gives you a base to work from in helping them overcome any fears they may have.  

Klaus

Klaus:  We saw Klaus advertised at a shelter and went to meet him. We are more concerned with a dogs personality and temperament than their breed. Klaus was advertised as a Belgium Shepherd. When we met him we could tell right away that he wasn't that breed and he was Chow Chow and Akita. We could also tell he was laid back, tolerant and had a good temperament. 

We learned that he had been to that shelter two times and that is a red flag but we could not see why based on his behavior. His family gave him up when the wife became sick and they could not care for him. He was in the shelter for a long time until the wife finally passed away. The husband reclaimed him but after a brief spell he surrender him again because Klaus did not like to travel in his truck. We found he travels just fine in our truck with us. 

Klaus was in the shelter a second time for quite a while as he is black, large (85 lbs.) and 7 years old. All of our dogs were exceptional, loyal, loving, intelligent and well behaved but Klaus is right at the top of the list as special. We're thankful that so many potential adopters passed him by. Because of his past he doesn't like to be away from us like on walks. Knowing his past we take him for short walks and gradually extend them so he will not be so home bound. 

Initially when we let him out in the back fenced area to roam and sniff he would want to come into the house quickly. Now we sit with him out back and he is more comfortable. Knowing his past has helped us deal with his present. He is slowly becoming more secure with us and that is good as it will balance an already well balanced dog to be even better. 

Next I will report on Taylor the ambassador dog.