This is the story of an underdog … and of the people who helped him to shine.

Sometimes we get letters from our fosters or adopters who have loved their Sheltered Paws pup so much that they just have to share their story.  Sometimes they want to share out of gratitude for an animal that has touched their lives. Sometimes their pup has come so far after being removed from the shelter that they want to spread awareness. And sometimes, as is the case with our foster Connie, it is all these things… and more.

Bourbon was rescued from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and brought to the Hamilton County Humane Society. Because of his cage aggression, nobody wanted to adopt him and he was scheduled for euthanasia.  Bourbon bonded with a kennel worker who found a place for him with Sheltered Paws, a rescue group that supports Hamilton County Humane Society.  After two unsuccessful foster home placements, he came to us as a last chance for fostering. 

Bourbon was scared and mistrustful, and prone to aggression.  As we gained his trust we discovered that he was intensely loyal and very, very smart.  We enrolled him in agility classes and he thrived.  Yet still his aggression toward strangers and other dogs continued. 

We turned to a variety of trainers, to no avail.  One trainer yelled at me until I left in tears. Another took our money and went bankrupt before classes began. Several trainers who focused only on positive-reinforcement couldn’t help us gain Bourbon’s unconditional obedience. 

Treat-based (positive reinforcement only) training works with many dogs but is completely ineffective for dogs more motivated by fear, dominance, or aggression than food. With a temperament like Bourbon’s, we needed absolute authority in situations where it mattered most – anything else would have been irresponsible and dangerous.  We felt we had no choice but to euthanize him because we didn’t know how to manage his aggression. 

The day he was scheduled for euthanasia, a veterinary assistant told us about a trainer with a proven track record with aggressive dogs.  John C. Smith from All About Dogs taught us how to form a relationship with Bourbon based on trust and respect.  We worked diligently on applying what we learned. Within two years, our relationship with Bourbon was completely transformed. He is a working breed … a cattle dog mix, and he thrives when he has a job to do.  We now take him everywhere we can, and his job is to pay attention to our every move.  He can’t get into trouble or make the wrong decision if his attention is focused on his handlers at all times.  He understands what is expected of him, and he knows the consequences of disobedience.  Within this structure, Bourbon feels secure and thrives. 

Bourbon’s life is so full of adventure now.  He goes kayaking, hiking, and still loves his agility classes. He heels perfectly at all times…what a pleasure to walk. He knows lots of tricks and is always learning new ones.  But perhaps his favorite thing to do is ride in the sidecar of our vintage motorcycle.  If you live inClermontCountyyou will probably see him in the sidecar at some point, joining us for an errand or maybe visiting a drive-through.

We are grateful for the many people who contributed to saving this special dog’s life.  Each time when his fate and his life hung by a thread, he was saved by someone new.  Bourbon literally owes his life to volunteers who went to Louisiana to rescue him, Hamilton County Humane Society who took him in, the kennel worker who saw his potential, Sheltered Paws which gave him shelter and also helped pay for his last-chance training, the vet assistant who told us about our trainer, the agility team at All Creatures Animal Hospital who welcomed him despite his unpredictable temperament and helped us to bond with him and discover his talents, and especially to John C. Smith, the most amazing trainer we’ve ever known. 

There are three reasons we want to share Bourbon’s story.  First, we want to inspire others to adopt a dog in need.  Second, we want to give credit to rescue organizations – they can use more volunteers and resources for the difficult and important work they do. 

But our most critical message is this: if you have a dog with behavioral problems, DON”T GIVE UP!  The time, money, and effort you put into your dog will repay you a thousand-fold.  Keep looking for the right trainer, and keep providing consistent leadership.  Become the person your dog needs you to be, and your dog will reward you every day of his or her (too)short life.

Bourbon’s story is one of overcoming incredible odds, of not giving up hope, and of the power of a community of people to make a difference, one dog at a time.  His is the story of rescue work at its finest. There are lots of great dogs in the world. But there aren’t too many dogs who have come as far as Bourbon in so many ways.  -Connie O’Connor