TRAINING TALES

CHRISTINE BREWER, CPDT-KA Manager of Animal Behavior

Tess the Terrier was a small dog in my Reactive Rover class who had been friendly with dogs until she was attacked by a large dog. Since then, she had become reactive, barking and lunging anytime she saw another dog. This was obviously an attempt to keep them away from her before they even considered approaching. Her owners hoped to get her comfortable going for walks again. Tess made great progress in the class! She displayed less reactivity, and when she did react, she was easily redirected.

Later, the family all came to the Shy Dog class to give Tess some more exposure. She did really well and she was even able to be in a room with four other dogs without visual barriers. Tess and her family are planning to take the Basic Manners course to provide even more exposure with a larger number of dogs. A very happy outcome!

The dog training and behavior services at Santa Barbara Humane have been transformative for our little family, and made our dog Theo much happier and healthier. When we first brought Theo for an evaluation with Christine, Manager of Animal Behavior, we were terrified. Over the previous six months, Theo’s fear, anxiety, and reactivity issues had spiraled far outside of our control, and we were struggling to find a trainer who could help within our budget. When Theo met Christine, something clicked. Within half an hour at our very first evaluation, our painfully nervous dog was excitedly coming up to Christine and, even more amazingly, he was voluntarily taking treats out of her hand! Christine helped us understand how Theo was trying to communicate—she gave him a voice, and taught us how to listen.

After our evaluation, we signed up for the Shy Dog Class that started later in the week. The class was extremely affordable and convenient. In class, we learned how to better read dog body language and signs of anxiety. We explored ways to create, enforce, and respect boundaries. We built up the confidence of both dogs and handlers through pack walks, fun games, and small victories. Christine coached us on the best management strategies for our dogs, and helped us create a toolbox of techniques that we brought with us into everyday life. Further, and most importantly, we found a community of pet owners who understood our struggle and supported us in finding solutions; for the first time in months, we didn’t feel alone.

In and out of class, Theo blossomed. The transformation has been fantastic to watch! Equipped with an effective set of techniques and newfound confidence, we have started to truly enjoy spending time out in the world with our dog again. The overwhelming compassion and understanding of the staff at Santa Barbara Humane has been a breath of fresh air, and gives us renewed hope for the future.

Sincerely,

A Grateful Owner

PS: To those struggling with their dog’s behavioral issues, you have come to the right place! This program and these people are nothing short of amazing, and we are so grateful for their continued support and commitment to our dog’s success.

Our Overall Impact

While adoption is at our core, we do so much more at Santa Barbara Humane. In 2022… animals were transferred to Santa Barbara Humane from overcrowded shelters

1,031 dogs learned important behavioral skills through free or low-cost humane behavior training

1,666 animals were adopted into loving homes

622 animals received affordable or free expert veterinary care

20,426 services like spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchips, blood work, flea treatment, and medical exams were provided

46,552 v b o