This is the true story of a dog who I literally saved from the shelter. He was scheduled for execution due to being vicious, even though it was just fear aggression. Animal shelters could learn a lot from this little guy, and the lesson his story could teach, would save many, many furry lives across the United States.

I foster animals who are old, disabled, or in need of medical care. Many of the animals are old and are with me for comfort reasons because they are dying, or are going to be euthanized to protect them from the pain their disease or disability is going to cause them in the future. Unfortunately, this has been my call on a few situations. I judge when the medication is not working for them any longer, or when the disease has progressed to the point where their quality of life is too far diminished. Other dogs I get are post-surgical and are in need of having their stitches cleaned, medication being given to them, and maintaining a certain diet after surgery. However, this is the true story of a different type of dog. This story is of a dog that was incorrectly labeled, as many dogs in shelters are every day. Luckily, I was able to change his fate. However, many dogs in his situation are not saved, and are lead to their doom.

This dog was brought in as owner surrender. Animal control tried to work with this cute little guy but in the end, deemed him vicious. They had to use welder's gloves to get him into a dog carrier and were still scared of him. Mind you, this is an 8 month old Patterdale Terrier, and they were more afraid of this dog than they were a pit-bull that had attacked 3 people, killed another dog, and attacked a second dog on animal shelter property. They said this little guy was the most vicious animal they had ever come into contact with and he was the size of a purse. in return, they named him "Land Shark." I asked what was going to happen to him and they stated that he would be euthanized as soon as someone arrived to tranquilize him with a dart gun.

They took precautionary measures to keep him from "attacking." These measures included putting him in a kennel cage that had a trapdoor leading to another cage. In order to clean his cage, they had to bring out the pit-bull that was known for biting people and cage him outside. They then cleaned the pit-bull's cage and placed fresh food and water in it. They would open the trap door and allow the evil, ferocious little dog to run through and they closed the trap door. After they were done cleaning the cage, they allowed the pint size devil back into his cage with more food and water and brought the pit-bull back into his cage.

I asked why he was still wearing the leash that he had been brought in on and was given the response that if someone grabbed it, he would bite their hand off. I was shocked, this dog was about the size of a pack of hamburger meat and they were being this cautious and afraid.

I took a look at him and saw that he was shaking so bad that the bed he was on was shaking and the leash that was still attached to his collar was actually clinking. I went home and talked to my fiancé and my parents about the situation. We all agreed that this guy was worth a chance.

My fiancé and I went down to pick him up with a metal cage. This dog had prevented animal control from entering his cage for four days. He was so ferocious that you had to wear welders gloves to grab his leash that he refused to let anyone take off of him.

I signed the waiver stating that I was aware that he was a vicious animal and that they were not responsible for his actions and that I would not sue them if anything happened. Animal control loaded him into the cage where he bit, spit, and acted as a wild as a raccoon would if you picked him up out of your garbage can. We loaded him in the car where he snarled at anyone who tried to touch the cage.

My neighbor came over a soon as we pulled up to check out the commotion. He was scared of this little guy too and wished us luck.

We took the cage with him in it into the house and warned that no one should touch the cage. We let him watch us go about our normal lives for about an hour. Then he wanted out of the cage. He was whining and putting his nose through the bars of the cage and raising quite a ruckus. The cage was put in the computer room so that we could contain him, just in case. When we let him out, he was still scared and would lie next to your leg and not let you touch him. However, after about 20 minutes he decided that he wanted to be loved and petted and taken for a walk. That was the end of us thinking that he was a ferocious beast. He came around pretty quick. I figured it might take at least a week of being caged and fed before we would be able to think about petting him.

We then walked him over to my neighbor's house, the same one who was afraid of him. He was amazed by the turn around and the change in the dog. He was loving and wanted to be held and petted. He wanted to get in everyone's lap and be petted.

In all actuality we picked him up from the shelter at 2:30 PM and he was playing with my kids by 5:30 PM on the same day. Now the most vicious side of him is that he steals the kid's logos and runs off with their baby dolls when they turn their backs. He occasionally tackles one of them and you hear them screaming because the dog won't quit licking their face, or he wants the Lego's. Other times you hear them saying that they don't want to take him for a walk and arguing with him that going out in the back yard will do the same thing as walking him around the block on the leash.

It has been a year since Aztec left the shelter. To this day, we have not had a single problem out of him, other than the fact that he despises opossums and skunks. He is very well socialized and can go anywhere that we go. He loves the dog park, loves playing with other dogs and cats, and fears baby animals. He has passed all of his tests through trainers and is no longer deemed a vicious dog. Though he still holds a grudge against the people from animal control. I still foster for the shelter, but to this day, he refuses to allow my friends from animal control near him. Which proves that being at the shelter was a really horrible point in his life.

I don't recommend rescuing every animal from the shelter that is said to be vicious, but I do recommend that the animal shelters spend more time with the animals and give them a chance before they determine that they are vicious.

Many new cat parents feel that having their cat declawed is doing their cat, and their furniture a service. After all, a cat that is declawed cannot scratch your furniture, shred your toilet paper, fray your rug, or scratch your kids, right? These points may be true, but there is a dark world lurking behind declawing your cat that many people overlook.

You're probably wondering what in the world could be the downside? Well, it is simple. Having your cat declawed could be a death sentence for your furry little companion. Cats have a natural instinct to go outside, whether you like it or not. Lets face it, you don't always guard the door with your life, especially when carrying in groceries.

My cat Misty, in the above picture, is not declawed. However, one simple incident where she slipped out the front door and now, Misty is a three legged cat that is worth a whopping $3,500.

By Lisa Mason, Contributing Writer

 Some people have a hard time believing that depression happens with humans; much less that it can affect our canine companions. According to animal experts, like Bonnie Deaver, DVM, who is an executive director at the American College of Veterinarian Behaviorists, it certainly does happen.

The important thing is to make sure you don’t confuse your dog’s action with him just having a bad day, or picking up on your own down mood. If you are just having a down day and are suffering from the blahs, the dog can and sometimes mimic your mood. True depression in a dog will be triggered by something that has happened in their life.

Dogs can show signs of depression when you move to a new house. Everything is strange to them and they aren’t sure if it is home, or if they are just visiting. You can combat moving depression by making sure you bring the dogs favorite toys and feeding dishes as soon as you bring the dog to the new home.

Before you get busy unpacking and arranging things, spend a little time with the dog. Put his or her dishes down where they will be fed from now on and fill them with fresh water and the dog’s favorite food. Don’t worry if she doesn’t dig right in, she may be nervous in a new place. The dog will know that their food is available.

Spend a little time playing and having fun with your dog. Let him know that this is a happy place. If the dog begins to show signs of depression, such as hiding, refusing to eat or play, you will have to be patient and continue to coax him gently. Take her for car rides or walks and then return to the house so that he gets the idea of this being home.

Dogs may also get depressed if someone that has lived in the house moves away. This is especially true if this person interacted with the dog a lot. If you have had house guests for an extended period of time, the dog will get accustomed to them and actually miss them when they leave. This is especially true if there were small children that played with the dog daily. Be patient and offer extra playtime or extra-long walks so that the dog doesn’t feel so lonely.

Watch the dog carefully, as he may be suffering from true doggie depression, or he may just be picking up on how you are feeling if you are miss someone that has recently left home. Also, make sure the dog isn’t refusing to eat or play due to other medical reasons. If he appears to be in pain, or is having diarrhea, vomiting or sneezing, he may physically hurt or be ill and should see a vet. If the signs of depression get worse or last a long time, especially if she is refusing to eat, you should also contact the vet for an evaluation.

If you had a multiple dog household and one of them dies, or leaves the house, your dog will grieve just like you would grieve at the loss of a family member. You’ll need to be patient and show lots of love and compassion. If you are not sure if your dog is suffering from depression, the blahs or an underlying illness, your vet can help you figure it out. They may suggest things you can do to help your dog, or in worse cases, the vet may prescribe medication, if he determines it is true depression. The medication for doggie depression is actually the same thing humans take for depression, only in much smaller doses.

Lisa Mason is a dog owner and writer for Doggie Clothesline, an online dog clothing boutique that features  dog accessories  and custom dog gifts, as well. 

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Apartment living can pose many challenges when a large dog is a part of your family. But there are simple ways to make things easier for everyone – especially your large canine family member. Some say that apartments and dogs don't mix, but having experienced this, I disagree. A creative and determined dog companion will be able to properly care for their family member, no matter where they live.

Give your large dog a special space. This helps your canine family member get comfortable. Even if you have a small apartment, you can designate a special spot for your dog. Stick a cushion or dog bed and a doggy toy box in this space. This lets your dog know where home is. Large dogs don't need as much space as you might think if you take care of their needs properly. But, like any dog they do need some sort of space to call their own. Even a small corner of a room or one piece of furniture that belongs only to your dog can make all the difference. Some dogs like to be in the center of everything, some like a den-like private space, and others like something in between that. Pay attention to your dog's individual needs.

Regular walks and other exercise are a must. Large dogs and apartments seem to be an ill fit. However, we have found it works out quite well if our dogs have proper exercise and care. We live near a nature trail that leads to multiple parks in both directions. Our dogs walk the trail 1-3 times per day. Even if we don't get on the trail, they still get outside enough times for exercise and to do their duties. Leaving a dog inside all day is not a good idea in any situation, but especially not when you have a large dog. But during the indoor times, keep your dog as active as necessary to complement the outside time. There are many forms of exercise you can do with your dog in an apartment, such as jumping tricks, hide the toy, or walking on a dog treadmill.

Busy toys are essential. Some large dogs can get bored inside an apartment very easily. To combat this, we make sure our dogs have plenty of toys. Choose toys that your dog will work on for long periods of time. Our dogs like rawhides, extra thick rubber toys, stuffed animals, and toys that move. For the most entertainment, look for toys that cannot be destroyed too quickly. We do buy our dogs some of the thinner toys for variety. But we make sure that they always have something more busy as well. If large dogs don't have busy toys, they can do some serious damage to your household items. This is especially true for dogs less than two years old.

Let your dog on the furniture. There is often limited space in an apartment. Restricting the dog from the furniture creates even less space and may make the dog feel confined. It's natural and okay to limit a dog's access to certain items. But limiting a dog from every piece of furniture may be very restricting, both physically and mentally. We allow our dogs on most furniture for this reason. Our apartment is not small, since we are a big family. However, it is certainly smaller than a house. Letting the dogs be fairly free helps them feel like a part of the family.

Make your dog feel like family. No matter your dog-raising methods, your dog should feel at home with you. Social interaction, especially with the household residents, is important. Depending on the size of your apartment, it may affect your dog's mood. Therefore, a healthy social life must play a big role in keeping your large dog happy and well adjusted. One thing we do is to avoid separating the dogs from family events. There are certain times where separation is necessary. But for the most part, our family and friends know and understand that if they come to visit, they'll be visiting with the dogs as well.

By Charlene Little, Contributing Writer

If you know your dog, you can tell if something is wrong.  However, since dogs cannot talk it may be difficult to understand that they mean.  Dogs, just like humans develop stress in certain situations.

Signs of Stress in Dogs

The first thing you must do in the process of learning how to help your dog through stress, is learning what signals he gives when he stressed out.  There are many signals that a dog could give to show that he is stressed out.  Below are a few examples of common behavior in dogs that are stressed out.

Slow wagging tail: A dog that is wagging their tails slowly is not showing that they are happy.  This is a sign of stress.

Tail tucked between hind legs: If a dog has their tail tucked between their hind legs, they are doing this as a sign of fear or anxiety.  This can be factored in by using the idea that fear is an extreme form of stress.

Refusal to eat: A dog that suddenly refuses to eat me be experiencing stress.

Refusal to play: if you’re playing with your dog, and the suddenly decide that they no longer want to play, there may be something in the area that is causing them stress.

Lowering of that ears: a dog the lowers or folds his ears suddenly, could be exhibiting a sign of stress.

Blinking of the eyes: what a dog is experiencing stress, they tended to deliberately blink their eyes. 

Squinting of eyes: squinting of eyes is a sign of mild stress.

Holding breath: when  a dog is stressed out, and could possibly become aggressive, they begin to puff out their cheeks.  This is done by inhaling a large quantity of air, and then releasing it and small puffs, making their cheeks puff up.

Panting: panting when it is not hot, can be signs of stress for your dog.

Shedding: shedding is common in dogs who are stressed.  It is extremely common, for dogs who are stressed out over a long period of time.

Marking of territory: A dog who normally does not mark their territory, may begin to do so if they become stressed out.

Avoiding eye contact: A do who is stressed out will avoid eye contact.

Trembling: A dog that is scared, or stressed out may tremble as if he were cold.

Drooling: A dog that is stressed out may drool.

Starring into space: A dog that spaces out may be under a great deal of stress and are trying to avoid the situation.

Lounging at other dogs: A dog that is stressed out may lunge at other dogs, cats, or humans.

Potential stressors:

Other dogs

Strangers

Noises

Shadows

New location

Have to handle your dog stress

The best way to handle your dog stress is to determine what is causing it.  Once you determine what is causing the stress, you can then remove it, or introduce your dog to it.

In some unfortunate cases, such as a new location, your dog may have to bare with it and readjust.

About the Author

Charlene Little is the mother of three wonderful boys and a volunteer foster mom for her local animal shelter. She enjoys working with various breeds of dogs and cats in learning social behavior, training, and how to be the successful member of a fur-ever family. She enjoys studying animals' behavior and finding solutions to behavior problems that the everyday person can handle. She covers topics from various forms of aggression and small problem behaviors. Every problem behavior has a solution, and the solution is never to give up on your pet! Love, kindness, and small adjustments could be just what you need.

By Charlene Little, Contributing Writer

Is your dog seeming depressed? Is he nudging your arm, or just looking at you from across the room? It is possible that your dog is asking for you to spend time with him.

Spending time with your dog doesn't have to be playing fetch, or taking him for a walk. Sometimes, he just simply wants to sit by your side and get a good ear scratch or belly rub. Dogs crave attention when they are being good, and if you do not spend enough time with him, he might try to find trouble to get into that will get your attention.

Understanding your dog's needs is fairly simple once you get to know them. It is important that you take time out every day to spend with him, even if it is just petting him.

Dogs aim to please and if you ignore him, he will feel as though he has done something wrong or that you don't want him around. Sometimes, just walking by and petting him for a few minutes may be just what he needs to let him know that you care.

Make sure to spend time with your dog other than when he has done something wrong. This reinforces positive behaviors and will show him that he is being a good dog.

Don't forget to take time out every day to exercise your dog so that he does not feel under stimulated. This can lead to problem behaviors later down the road that you will have to train him out of.

Next time your dog knocks over the trash, ask yourself this question. Was he just trying to get my attention, or was he really trying to tear up the trash?

About the Author

Charlene Little is the mother of three wonderful boys and a volunteer foster mom for her local animal shelter. She enjoys working with various breeds of dogs and cats in learning social behavior, training, and how to be the successful member of a fur-ever family. She enjoys studying animals' behavior and finding solutions to behavior problems that the everyday person can handle. She covers topics from various forms of aggression and small problem behaviors. Every problem behavior has a solution, and the solution is never to give up on your pet! Love, kindness, and small adjustments could be just what you need.

By Charlene Little, Contributing Writer

Dogs need exercise to be happy and healthy. Each dog has their own specific needs when it comes to this topic and no two can be compared. Exercise for dogs is the same for you. If you don't get up and moving enough everyday, you will have trouble sleeping and be antsy and full of energy. Your dog use energy as an outlet in many different behaviors. Chewing and tearing up your house is the most common. Here is how to tell if you are giving your dog enough exercise.

If your dog is running thorough the house and puling things over, he is hyper and needs more exercise. After a while of exercising your dog, you will be able to tell how much your dog needs on average.  Everyday you need to gauge whether or not your dog needs more or less exercise.

A well exercised dog is calm and collected. They are able to sit still for short periods of time. Do not expect your dog to be an addition to your carpet, they are going to be up and moving around constantly throughout the day.

Ways you can exercise your dog.:

~~ Jogging is a great way for high energy dogs to get their exercise. if you have been planning on loosing a few pounds, this can be a great opportunity. The exercise partner that you have been looking for to start your resolution, has been your fur-baby all along.

~~ Frisbee is a great way to help your dog get out some extra energy. This is especially true for dogs that like to jump and run.

~~ Fetch is an amazing way to help your high energy dog get the ants out of their pants.

Always be aware of any physical condition that your dog has. If they have any physical or internal concerns, do not exercise your dog. Exercising a dog with heart problems is a big no no unless you have spoken to their vet first. Review any medication that your pet is on before starting exercise.

Understanding your dog's limitations is very important as well. Do not over exercise your dog. Keeping your dog hydrated during exercise and on hot days is very important. Do not leave your dog tied outside if you stop somewhere on your jog. It does not take long for a dog to become overtaken by heat on a summer day.

More From Charlene

How Training Fits Into Pawsitive Pet Parenting

About the Author

Charlene Little is the mother of three wonderful boys and a volunteer foster mom for her local animal shelter. She enjoys working with various breeds of dogs and cats in learning social behavior, training, and how to be the successful member of a fur-ever family. She enjoys studying animals' behavior and finding solutions to behavior problems that the everyday person can handle. She covers topics from various forms of aggression and small problem behaviors. Every problem behavior has a solution, and the solution is never to give up on your pet! Love, kindness, and small adjustments could be just what you need.

My dog Remy is normally a very well behaved pup. Imagine my surprise when I walked outside today, he had destroyed my flowerbed. There were pink petals everywhere and he had covered himself from head to toe with dirt. My first instinct was to get upset. I then realized, I had been so wrapped up in my morning that I forgot our daily game of fetch. He had torn up my flowers because he was bored.

If your dog loves to do things like this, you may think that he needs more training or you are not strict enough. The rules and his training may not be the issue.  By watching your dog's behavior, you can learn what type of stimulation he needs more of. Many cases of your dog getting into mischief can be solved by the follow topics.

Toys: Ensuring that your dog has toys that suit his needs is very important. Chewing is a way to relieve tension and frustration. It also helps a dog keep their teeth clean and prevent decay.

Outside Play: Giving your dog a good amount of outside play is a great opportunity to exert some energy and get the necessary stimulation. Dogs that are well exercised are calmer inside the house, and find less trouble to get into. A game of fetch will benefit you and your pup.

Walks: Some dogs need two to three walks per day to keep them happy. Other dogs need more exercise. Walks are a great way to socialize your dog as well. After a controlled introduction, your pup can spend some energy romping around with a playmate and give you a much needed break.

A Second Dog: This is not recommended for everyone, but some dogs thrive better when they have a live-in play mate. This does add more time that you will need to spend with your pets, but if you are a pet lover, this may be a great opportunity to expand your family. This may be especially true if you work away from home and your pet gets into mischief because he his bored when you are gone. If getting a second pet is not for you, schedule play dates with a friends dog. This could give him much needed socialization without a long term commitment.

Let your pet show you what he needs more of. We all need exercise to feel calm and collected, so does your pet. Good communication between you and your pet is the easiest way to find the solution to problem behaviors.

Though we highly recommend this brand, you should choose what works best for you and your dog.

I chose that model because Buddy is a very small dog and this was the only one we could find that was his size. In his lifetime, he will not weigh more than eleven or twelve pounds on average. He also likes to curl up in a ball and the closed bottom allowed him to do that comfortably while snuggling up to my chest.

If your pet seems to have issues attaching to people, a pet carrier can help comfort them. Buddy was a stray, rescued by myself and the kids (straight from the streets).  At first, he was a bit timid with people. Carrying him around in the Outward Hound Front Carrier helped him feel safe and secure.

New puppies also need this same sense of security because they have just been taken away from their mother and now need a new parent to cuddle with. After using the pet carrier bonding method, Buddy learned to cuddle without the pet carrier. But we still used it for a while after (and on walks when he got tired) so that he knew we still wanted him to feel close.

Have you tried a pet carrier for pet bonding? Let us know how it works for you in the comment section below.