Update on the 4 Shelter Dogs here for Training

We haven’t given a training update in a while on the four shelter dogs here; Neveah, Chance, Rosco and Molly so we wanted to share where they are at.

The four shelter dogs are at the stage now where they are simply clocking up the hours of socialisation with guidance from trainers Luke and Jason.

Because of a few things; staff shortages and we’ve had a number of other rescue dogs (larger puppies, puppies returning, other foster dogs) in our care join the day care packs which require the guys’ attention along with managing the larger pack, the shelter dogs have had limited time in day care the last couple of weeks.

Instead they’ve been socialising with our own pack, the holiday dogs and each other on the other days.

This part of the training journey takes time. There’s four, not one like Shadow, and unfortunately they’ve had fights before coming to the farm with each other which has cemented some negative associations with a couple of them. Rosco and Chance. And Neveah and Molly.

Rosco and Chance have progressed but Molly and Neveah still struggle to get past it.

They’ve been trained to a level that they’re not fighting and when they show early signs of tension, on command disengage but the dislike for each other remains.

Separately they are doing well.

At the farm we train for worst possible scenario so there’s still a way to go, even though this is only between them.

Rosco still has some anti social behaviours from his past hunting training when it comes to the little ones like Miss Violet and Miss Red but it’s minimal and turning into play which is being guided plus obviously he is highly responsive in disengaging.

This kind of work, modifying behaviour that has been trained into them previously, trained to do the opposite, zero socialisation, only ever had negative interactions, one has only ever lived wild/stray for years, no family experience etc etc etc etc etc …

This kind of work is long and hard.

There’s no sugar coating it. Doesn’t mean there’s no positive, they’re here, they’re getting the kind of training they need. But it’s gruelling for dog and human.

Why bother? Because if you don’t bother, they don’t exist. It’s that simple. Literally these four don’t have another option. This is their last chance.

So it isn’t a wildly happy video, a super fun video. But it is important. To these four dogs it is everything.

Every now and then someone comments on the rescue work carelessly complaining that they just want to see happy. It can be a difficult one to swallow. When we see these guys every day and how hard they’re working and trying to fit in to just simply survive.

They weren’t born with the privileges that other dogs have been given. Nothing is their fault. Humans have failed them.

To our supportive community of followers who are behind these guys every step of the way. You are our kind of people. We are in this together helping these dogs. Your positive words energise the guys.

We often say at the farm that all the dogs here are raised by a village. Our own growing pack have a bigger family than just us who loves and cares for them. Uncle Adam, Uncle Jason, Aunty Ash, Uncle Dylan. It’s not just us. They wildly greet each and every one of them each morning. They follow them around whilst they work. They receive pats and cuddles, meals, baths, training and exercise from them. Luke and I couldn’t do it without these people at the farm.

And you. You are all a part of this village and we are very grateful to have you all cheering us on and behind us all the way. We may not have time to reply to everyone but we are very appreciative.

Thank you 🙏❤️