"Owner does not want this dog."
Thursday, May 14, 2015
By: Wendy Welch

How could anyone else?

Three-year-old Capone had been around the block. A big guy with a gruff exterior, Capone had questionable manners and a lot of energy. His current family was concerned he'd overwhelm their new baby. He'd had at least two families and was about to go looking for a third. 

At HSHV, Capone was friendly with the others but unwilling to share his food. After all, there are many dogs at HSHV, and what if they didn't leave any for him? He put on a tough guy exterior, even though we knew it was just "for show" (His former family said Capone would sometimes urinate when meeting new people). Surely, it would take a special family to be Capone's third and final, forever home.

Three weeks after arriving at HSHV, Capone's dream came true.

"Capone is doing very well," says Mike B, who shared the picture shown here-- with Capone (left) and one of his two new doggie siblings, Tommy Mash Potato.

"Not only is he learning, both of the other dogs are. In the beginning, they wouldn't play with Capone...Now, they are actively playing with him and participating in the same training sessions."

Mike believes the key to this happy dog family is training... and patience. He uses continual positive reinforcement, and when necessary, discipline by separating Capone from the pack-- "Although no longer than 10 minutes," Mike says. 

"Capone has learned a lot due to a technique I use where they compete to respond to a command the fastest for a treat. We also present him with several mental exercises by placing treats in a Kong or in other toys meant to mentally challenge him.  With all the constant training and challenges, his behavior has gone from needing to be the alpha male to watching his pack and learning how to solve little puzzles."

Thankfully, Capone's puzzle of a fitting forever family has been solved, too.