Animal shelters everywhere are filled with wonderful dogs, and filled with problem dogs. The ability to know which dogs are wonderful and which are problems is the 8th True Wonder of the universe. This ability (or lack of) is what steers caring and responsible potential pet owners away from shelters, and what has, until this workshop, kept thousands of professional dog trainers and competitors from adopting. The perfect dogs are out there-in abundance-and capable of fulfilling their next owner's needs and wishes. Trainers and competitors avoid adopting shelter dogs because of a misguided notion that in order to find true working ability and soundness they must research lineage and start with a carefully bred purebred puppy in order to raise it "without issues".
Since there is a new and more welcoming attitude towards mixed breeds in the world of dog sports, so it is time to change the attitudes we have had towards shelter dogs and "rescue" dogs. No longer should we view shelter dogs as pathetic creatures needing extra medical and behavioral attention. No longer do we need to view adopters or rescuers as altruistic martyrs who have opened their hearts and homes to the "special challenges" of the "rescued" dog. You can CHOOSE to adopt a pathetic, problematic dog, or you can choose to adopt a phenomenal dog, whose worst flaw is no-one has yet attempted to train it. (Which is great-a clean slate! Ooh, no one to blame but yourself for training problems.) Adopters should be seen as lucky, savvy individuals who have wisely selected gems with whom to share their homes and hobbies.
If you know what to look for, the animal shelter has the perfect dog for you. This workshop will teach the skills necessary for effective assessment of mental and structural soundness, a dog's temperament and personality, and ability to cope with stress so that the animal shelter can indeed be the premiere place to find a dog.
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