Rescued Twice: The Story of Dora
Originally published on dogbehavioristdenver.dog
WARNING: This blog depicts animal cruelty. Reader discretion is advised.
Dora the pit bull had a hard life.
She had previously been used as a “bait dog” in an LA dogfighting ring because she was docile and wouldn’t fight back. This poor girl was essentially used as a punching bag for more aggressive dogs so they could gauge their attacks without risking injury to their fighters.
Let’s pause and take a deep breath for what Dora went through.
Now, take a moment to be grateful that she was rescued from these horrible circumstances.
When authorities broke up the dogfighting ring, Dora was taken to an animal shelter in Los Angeles. This was her first rescue, but Dora’s journey didn’t stop there.
Natalie went to this same shelter looking for a dog. There, she met Dora and fell in love with her and her story. She decided to take her home to Denver, Colorado.
After about 6 months at home with Natalie, Dora started having problems. She showed signs of aggression toward other animals, and Natalie worried about the safety of her other pet. Dora also exhibited symptoms of anxiety and fear.
Natalie was determined to give Dora a safe and loving home, so she contacted Dog Behaviorist Denver for help.
Upon first meeting, our dog behavior trainer Bruce noticed that Dora was displaying a high degree of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). She would shake when he approached. Dora would also bark at and chase after other dogs that walked past her fence.
The first lesson Bruce put Dora through was to take and catch food, which taught Dora to look up at people’s faces and pay attention. This laid the groundwork for getting her to obey commands.
Food was also used to encourage her to lie down and stay (also known as “down stay”.) The purpose of this command is to comfort. It’s naturally relaxing for the dog to be off of its legs and on the floor. Bruce taught her that she would be safe in this position and that nothing bad would happen to her. Dora showed immediate improvements in her PTSD symptoms with this command.
The next dog behavior problem to tackle was her aggression toward other animals. Bruce put a stimulus in front of her, such as taking her up to the fence while other dogs walked past. Dora learned to stay in the down position even as her canine neighbors strolled on by!
After just 5 sessions in 3 months, Dora the pit bull has made huge improvements with both her dog aggression and canine PTSD. She no longer barks at other dogs or shakes when approached by humans.
Even more, Dora has already graduated to learning basic dog obedience! She is now working on coming when called and how to heel. Natalie has been doing a great job of keeping up with Dora’s lessons in between sessions with our expert dog trainer!
We want to personally thank Natalie not only for rescuing Dora, but also for coming to Dog Behaviorist Denver for help. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives.
About This Post
Dog Behaviorist Denver was originally owned by Bruce Allen (Dog Behaviorist Atlanta). This article was published about his experience while working as a dog trainer in Denver.
Many trainers do not have the experience or proven track record of rehabilitating abused animals. Others shy away from breeds like pit bulls or even dogs that bite.
As a former Cruelty and Abuse Director for the Humane Society, Bruce applies his expertise to help rescue dogs and the parents who love them.
If the dog you rescued is an animal abuse survivor and showing signs of aggression, fear, PTSD, or any number of difficult dog behaviors, please contact Dog Behaviorist Atlanta for help.