Long Story Short I am blessed with two rescues dogs that have enriched my life with knowledge, experience and love.
My two boys were the type of difficult dogs that you read about in self-help books, how to’s or see in an episode of Cesar Milan.
With much love, patience and dedication I have rehabilitated both dogs and successfully incorporated Tibby and Benny in all social and private settings. Tibbs and Benny both come to work with me and help with the pack in the van and on the field. Both boys mostly go where ever I go, I even take them travelling. The last road trip we took was to Montreal, Canada. That was 6 hours one way. The boys were amazing and well behaved, even in the hotel.
Travelling with dogs is very rewarding because you get to see the things you would have normally driven through. Dogs make you examine all the small details in life.
Tibby
Tibby is a Red Bone Coonhound – Boxer mix and currently 11 years old. I adopted Tibby in September 2010; I am his 4th and final owner. Tibby had a plethora of behavioral issues which he overcame through exercise, structure and learning repetition 7 days a week. Many people doubted a hound could learn to be off leash and stay in a pack. Tibby conquered his large assortment of issues one by one. It was an intense first year and by year two Tibby became predictable. It gave me great pleasure to see Tibby successfully overcome obstacles of which people gave up on him. He won my heart the day I met him and I knew he had the potential to be what he is today “a genuine loving, funny and well behaved active hound”.
Benny
Benny is a Doberman mix approximately 8 years old. I met Benny while I was on vacation in Lima, Peru in July 2018. Every time I go to Peru I make it a habit to load up my backpack with food and water and feed, befriend as many of the street dogs I encounter.
On the first night of my trip, I met Benny who was a poor abused street dog that lived on the streets. Benny like many other street dogs fought for a daily existence of food, water and shelter. Of the many dogs I met, he was only dog who would not stop following me. I spent my entire vacation with Benny. I took him everywhere including on road trips, restaurants and hotels. He proved to be a good and calm dog that demonstrated potential.
Once arriving back to America, I made sure to schedule inoculations my intuition told me Benny was abused and suffered a miserable existence. Physically I could see the signs of abuse on his body from a long burn mark on his right torso, to missing front teeth, hearing him gasp when he drinks water. His trachea must have been abused; I first noticed his dog battle scars on both knee areas. In some parts of the scar his there is no dog fur. It must have been painful. Upon meeting Benny I knew he had lost faith in people and I could sense it in his aura and mostly coming from his sad eyes.
I felt that Benny asked for help the night we met, I could not let him down. The day after meeting Benny I made a decision to bring him home to the States and work to rehabilitate Benny a street dog that people rejected, neglected and abused.
Upon arrival I made an appointment to get him another rounds of inoculations, health screening and neutered. Benny was very shy and couldn’t directly look at people especially if they looked at him to say hello.
After getting him neutered, he quickly learned a potty rhythm and feeding schedule. He discovered new friends and that dogs were not competing for food, resources and space. Benny learned to trust again, I was able to touch his entire body from head to tail, back to paws. Able to put on a coat on him, brush him, feed him without him snatching food.
As Benny began to trust humanity his small eyes grew large and round. His tail was no longer drooping but high, confident and wagging. He no longer sleeps in a tight ball to protect his stomach or on guard for threats. Now Benny sleeps long and stretched and I can even hear him dreaming.
Benny started trusting people again as he probably did as a puppy. I will make sure he continues to see that people can be good. He was just in the wrong place. He enjoys being pet, playing with toys, walking with his friends. He performs his commands so well; people think I have owned Benny as a puppy.
Benny has completed his first year in America successfully. His life is a complete 180 degrees. He is no longer the underfed, abused dog competing for an existence.
I’m a very proud owner of Tibby and Benny, I am happy both dogs integrated successfully. Both are strong willed dogs and learned to coexist peacefully. Tibby and Benny both know I love them, I spoil them equally.
If you see us around come and say hello.
