Introducing: Bruno 🐾
Bruno is a 5-year-old Maltipoo. He was adopted from California’s Inland Valley Humane Society and began training with GoodPup in April 2022.
When Bruno first arrived at his new home, his adopter, Marissa, noticed he had significant behavior issues. Adjusting to a new environment may be challenging for dogs, regardless of age, breed, or background. Many dogs, especially adopted dogs, may become anxious, confused, or scared in their new homes. These emotions may lead to aggressive, destructive, and disruptive behavior problems.
As Bruno developed behavior problems, including aggression toward humans, biting, and resource guarding, Marissa considered returning him to the shelter. This is a common consideration. In fact, according to the National Library of Medicine, behavioral issues are a major cause of dogs returning to shelters, with aggression toward humans and other animals being the most common. However, Marissa believed Bruno had great potential. So, she contacted the Inland Valley Humane Society for guidance on effectively managing his behavior before deciding to surrender him.
Bruno’s Training Journey
The Inland Valley Humane Society suggested GoodPup’s virtual dog training for her and Bruno as an alternative solution to surrendering. They provided Marissa with a free training scholarship, allowing her to work with certified trainers and develop the best training plan for her and Bruno. “The Humane Society suggested we take the GoodPup training – it turned out to be the best thing for Bruno,” Marissa stated.
Bruno completed 18 sessions with GoodPup trainers, focusing on socialization and cue training. One of the first goals was to provide Bruno with a safe place to retreat and regroup when feeling overwhelmed. To achieve this, a crate training plan was implemented.
Bruno and Marissa also worked with their GoodPup trainer to learn ‘Touch,’ a confidence-building cue that helped him better accept human interaction. ‘Touch’ is a great way to help fearful dogs gain a sense of control while interacting with humans. After completing GoodPup 101 and Advanced GoodPup, Bruno learned excellent cues and tricks, such as ‘Sit,’ ‘Lay Down,’ ‘Touch,’ ‘Stay,’ ‘Spot,’ ‘Heel,’ ‘Leave It,’ ‘Settle,’ ‘Up,’ and ‘Sit Pretty’.
Bruno’s Behavior Transformation
Bruno’s behavior and demeanor transformed into a confident and happy dog after participating in GoodPup’s training, positively impacting his overall well-being and allowing for a stronger bond with Marissa. “The training has been great, the trainers have been amazing, and it was truly a lifesaver for all of us! Bruno has learned so much and is a much more confident and happy dog!” Marissa stated.
Dog training is critical to forming a strong human-animal bond and benefits dogs of all ages, backgrounds, behaviors, and breeds. The transformative impact of GoodPup’s positive reinforcement virtual dog training can create a lasting positive difference in the lives of both dogs and their owners and prevent dog surrenders.
“You can physically see his transformation – he is now always smiling and wagging his tail. I would like other people who have also adopted older dogs to know that the GoodPup program can work for dogs of any age and any background. Everyone has been so nice, patient, and knowledgeable. It’s been a great experience so far, and we definitely plan on continuing his training because it’s made such a difference.”
– Marissa
