Today is Kody’s birthday. Not the day he was born, but the day, two years ago, that he came to live with me. He came from the Burbank Animal Shelter, with a different name, a sketchy past and scars from a fight with his Pitbull brother.
People always ask, “Is he a rescue?”
I am not fond of the term “Rescue.” We did not go in at night, with riot gear and weapons and pull him out. He was surrendered by his former family to an animal shelter. I chose him to fill the void left by not having a dog and he was grateful to have another chance at a home. He adored me from the day he walked into the house. We spent his first three days painting my home office, him standing under the ladder, staring at me, making sure I was really real.
I know many people are reluctant to go the pound route. Especially for a dog like him, with aggression towards other dogs and already three years old. I am not saint. I had my reservations too. But I can say, after two years, I am grateful every day I took a chance on him.
When you get a pound pup, you rarely know the real day they were born. You usually don’t even know their breed. You get whatever information is available, but that can be very incomplete. Yet, over the last two years, the discoveries of my very own Kody, have been worth any gaps in info.
Here are my three top Pound Pub surprises:
GENECTICS
He is not a Rhodesian Ridgeback, as he was presented to me. (I REALLY wanted a Rhodesian Ridgeback) A DNA test shows he is Weimaraner, Boxer, German Shephard and Pitbull. Which means he has the most exotic eyes, lot of agility, is very protective and is loyal to family. A perfect mix that I didn’t even realize until I brought him home.
HOBBIES
Kody hunts gophers. Of course I had no idea. This is a perfect hobby for me, because for about two years before I got him, my yard was like “Caddy Shack.” $500.00 in Gopher Hunter fees and they still returned. Until Kody.
One day I was out in the yard lamenting that I once again, would be looking at another Gopher Bill, when out of desperation, standing over a hole, I said, “Kody, get the gopher!”
This dog had never dug a hole in the yard in the entire time he had been with me. All of the sudden, he became like a cartoon dog, digging to China. Dirt flew behind him and he kept going until I told him to stop.
I moved to another hole. “Kody, get the gopher!”
Dirt flew again.
After a couple of repeats, I got the hose.
With Kody stood at my side, we flooded the holes. A couple of times.
Miraculously, the gophers left and haven’t returned. I think they decided that it was too much hassle, having a flooded home and a dog snout in your face.
Every once and awhile, we walk past a neighbor’s home that has gopher holes. Just to keep his skills sharp, I say, “Kody, get the gopher!”
Then I just watch the dirt fly.
LOVE RULES
Two years ago, Kody could not be near any other dogs. When I had to leave him, he was a shaky mess, insecure and uncomfortable with most people. The D-Man’s sister called him “the scary dog”, because he was pretty much freaked out by everything.
Today, he has a neighbor puppy friend that he has play dates with. When I leave him with the D-Man or his mom when I go out of town, he isn’t thrilled, but he realizes I am coming back and adjusts. He is more confident and secure than I could have ever hoped for.
Of course, it was not just love. We got some professional help. Matt at The Zen Dog in Los Angeles and a class at The Pasadena Humane Society worked out some issues. But so did cuddling on the couch watching HGTV with Kato.
You can get a brand spanking new puppy from a breeder. A pure bred that might be like all the characteristics in the book. You may think that they will love you more because you have them from the beginning.
You will be wrong.
A pound pup understands where they are. They know they have been left behind. They know they may not get a second chance. But when they do!
The love can be endless.
And so can the wonderful surprises!
People always ask, “Is he a rescue?”
I am not fond of the term “Rescue.” We did not go in at night, with riot gear and weapons and pull him out. He was surrendered by his former family to an animal shelter. I chose him to fill the void left by not having a dog and he was grateful to have another chance at a home. He adored me from the day he walked into the house. We spent his first three days painting my home office, him standing under the ladder, staring at me, making sure I was really real.
I know many people are reluctant to go the pound route. Especially for a dog like him, with aggression towards other dogs and already three years old. I am not saint. I had my reservations too. But I can say, after two years, I am grateful every day I took a chance on him.
When you get a pound pup, you rarely know the real day they were born. You usually don’t even know their breed. You get whatever information is available, but that can be very incomplete. Yet, over the last two years, the discoveries of my very own Kody, have been worth any gaps in info.
Here are my three top Pound Pub surprises:
GENECTICS
He is not a Rhodesian Ridgeback, as he was presented to me. (I REALLY wanted a Rhodesian Ridgeback) A DNA test shows he is Weimaraner, Boxer, German Shephard and Pitbull. Which means he has the most exotic eyes, lot of agility, is very protective and is loyal to family. A perfect mix that I didn’t even realize until I brought him home.
HOBBIES
Kody hunts gophers. Of course I had no idea. This is a perfect hobby for me, because for about two years before I got him, my yard was like “Caddy Shack.” $500.00 in Gopher Hunter fees and they still returned. Until Kody.
One day I was out in the yard lamenting that I once again, would be looking at another Gopher Bill, when out of desperation, standing over a hole, I said, “Kody, get the gopher!”
This dog had never dug a hole in the yard in the entire time he had been with me. All of the sudden, he became like a cartoon dog, digging to China. Dirt flew behind him and he kept going until I told him to stop.
I moved to another hole. “Kody, get the gopher!”
Dirt flew again.
After a couple of repeats, I got the hose.
With Kody stood at my side, we flooded the holes. A couple of times.
Miraculously, the gophers left and haven’t returned. I think they decided that it was too much hassle, having a flooded home and a dog snout in your face.
Every once and awhile, we walk past a neighbor’s home that has gopher holes. Just to keep his skills sharp, I say, “Kody, get the gopher!”
Then I just watch the dirt fly.
LOVE RULES
Two years ago, Kody could not be near any other dogs. When I had to leave him, he was a shaky mess, insecure and uncomfortable with most people. The D-Man’s sister called him “the scary dog”, because he was pretty much freaked out by everything.
Today, he has a neighbor puppy friend that he has play dates with. When I leave him with the D-Man or his mom when I go out of town, he isn’t thrilled, but he realizes I am coming back and adjusts. He is more confident and secure than I could have ever hoped for.
Of course, it was not just love. We got some professional help. Matt at The Zen Dog in Los Angeles and a class at The Pasadena Humane Society worked out some issues. But so did cuddling on the couch watching HGTV with Kato.
You can get a brand spanking new puppy from a breeder. A pure bred that might be like all the characteristics in the book. You may think that they will love you more because you have them from the beginning.
You will be wrong.
A pound pup understands where they are. They know they have been left behind. They know they may not get a second chance. But when they do!
The love can be endless.
And so can the wonderful surprises!
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