Comments for Simply Col

Comment on Can Dogs Feel Sadness… by Teagan

Teagan — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:18:33 +0000

I am graduating from the vet tech program in northern ontario and just adopted one of the dogs at the school. He has only bonded with me out of the hundreds of people at the school and the difference i see that no body else sees is what i like. In the kennel he sits at the back cowering staring at the wall, when you walk in he tried to dissapear into the wall and urinates all over himself. When he seems me he runs to me and jumps up to give me a hug. I bring him outside and he plays and runs and sniffs and just loves life, as soon as i return to the building he goes back to the shut down scared dog that everyone else sees. I had to take a video of him enjoying life for people to see what i see in this dog. People see him as boring, hopeless and having no quality of life. I tell them that for this dog to have a good quality life he has to be with me, He knows he can be himself with me and enjoy himself without being scared that he is doing something wrong. Every dog deserves a chance and the kennel is just like the picture on the website. You see a cute face but you dont see the personality behind it.

Comment on Can Dogs Feel Sadness… by Col

Col — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:30:40 +0000

Thanks for the kind words Carmen. And yes… this may be shared. :)

Comment on Can Dogs Feel Sadness… by Carmen

Carmen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:19:40 +0000

This is so true. Great article ! I see this everyday as well. I am the shelter manager of a SPCA. Thanks for sharing. Hope you do t mind that I am
Going to share this on our website.

Comment on Can Dogs Feel Sadness… by Col

Col — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:35:44 +0000

This is wonderful advise Teagan.. and so true. At WAS (Winnipeg Animal Services) we encourage the use of one of the two outside enclosures for anyone wishing to get acquainted with any one of our WAS dogs. We also encourage the use of the outdoor space for getting the dog acquainted with children and other family dogs. And it is also so true that for many, the dog that they see in the kennel is not the same dog they will see once outside.

Comment on Can Dogs Feel Sadness… by Teagan

Teagan — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:14:38 +0000

The only way to truly get to know a dog you are looking to adopt is to bring it out of its kennel. To some dogs a kennel is a secure place, their home and to some of those dogs that is all they have so they will bark and growl and let people know “this is my territory, its all i’ve got, so leave it alone” this scares off potential adopters. Others see the kennel as 4 walls too close together and they are too excited to sit still, these dogs jump and bark and spin, like donner. This scares off potential adopters because it means they will have to do work, the dog will need to be trained and its so excitable, do they really want to deal with that? There are many other behaviours that scare off adopters but these too are the ones i have seen first hand.
These dogs change completely once out of the kennel and become the best dogs you could ever ask for. Take a chance, ask to bring the dog for a walk or even better home for a couple nights to see how they fit in with the family and home environment. Not every dog is going to work out with the person that wanted to adopt it but how is anyone to know without giving them a chance. Anyone would be lucky to have such a good looking relaxed dog!!

Comment on Can Dogs Feel Sadness… by jan

jan — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 02:17:30 +0000

I’ve been reading some fascinating books on the intellect and emotions and dogs and finally the scientific community is realizing what all dog owners know. They think and feel and they need human contact. It’s part of what they are for thousands of years.

Comment on Can Dogs Feel Sadness… by Dianne

Dianne — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 02:07:01 +0000

Oh Col…I hope someone comes for Donner, too. I can just feel his sadness from your story.
Thanks to you he had a taste of love and caring……

Comment on Merrow… Big, Black, Beautful by jan

jan — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:16:08 +0000

Black Dog Syndrome is so sad, we have it at our local shelters too. You’ve done a good job getting some definition on his face. So often they look like black blobs in pictures.

Comment on Scenes from the Dogpark by jan

jan — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:26:41 +0000

I feel sorry for any city that takes on dog walkers.

Comment on The Big Bang Puppies by zara writes

zara writes — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:52:37 +0000

Hope you find good homes for them real soon… and love that you’ve named them after the Big Bang Gang :-)