Happy Tails: Zoey Goes to School

By Jamie Emming, Satellite Adoption Manager

At age one, Zoey, an exuberant German shepherd mix, had already been through two homes before she was brought to HSSV.

This lack of consistency at such a young age left Zoey with a few behavioral hurdles to overcome. She liked to use her mouth to say “hello!” or “don’t leave me yet”. New people, noises and situations worried her, and cats seemed like great fun to chase.

Seeing beyond her bad manners, we realized Zoey was eager to learn and a quick study. We began to search for an active family who would enroll Zoey in positive method based training classes.

Then we met Renee and Mike, a high-energy couple who relax from daily runs by going hiking. A perfect match for the energetic shepherd! We were thrilled when, a few weeks later, Zoey and her people graduated from their first canine education course.

Thanks to the patience and dedication of her new family, Zoey was able to join them during their Fourth of July festivities. Renee tells us Zoey “did so well with all the music and commotion, we were so proud!” They credit Zoey’s humane training classes, saying “it has made a huge impact on her behavior” and are continuing to work with her at everyday at home.

Professional training, whether through group classes or private lessons, helps bridge the canine-human communication gap. Now that Zoey knows what her two-legged family members are asking her to do, she is the happy, confident canine we knew she could be.




Looking for a trainer? Take your dog to HSSV for canine education!