My number one passion in life is working with and improving the life of shelter dogs through training, enrichment and playgroups.
After volunteering/working in various shelter environments for about 10 years now, one thing I have learned and educate other people about is not judging a dog based off the behavior you see in their kennel. There are a lot things to consider from the dogs point of view that people simply don't understand. A barking dog does not mean it's an aggressive dog. In some cases what you see IS what you get but that is not that majority. A lot of times when shelters rely on volunteers to come in and walk dogs, there is no guarantee on how many volunteers you will have, for how long and what their skill set is.
Most dogs get out of their kennels for about 30 minutes when there is over 100 dogs to tend to and some dogs go a full 24 hours before getting out. Imagine spending 23 1/2 hours a day in cement kennel run. Some dogs get lucky and will get adopted within a week of intake but what about the ones who get passed over week after week, month after month? Most dogs are over stimulated, frusterated, anxious or scared in a shelter environment from all the commotion and foot traffic, the stimulation of feeding time, public taunting them, dogs barking, cleaning with hoses, seeing other dogs going out for a walk, etc. You will most likely see dogs in a kennel run displaying undesirable behavior. In most cases, when the dog is out of the kennel, it's a great dog who loves to cuddle, learn and play. What people would consider a "normal" dog or a "family dog". Some dogs are reactive to people or other dogs while on a leash but are fine when there is no tension from a leash and a lot of the time, in a shelter environment they practice this behavior and we start to see is become a habit. Most behaviors we see in a shelter can be modified through traning in a home environment. The more "negative" notes a dog has on it's record, the more likely they are to spend more time in the shelter, deteriorating and missing opportunities because the stress of the constant barking dogs caused the dog to redirect on the handler, for example.
Compassion fatigue is a real thing and it can make me really depressed at times. Seeing amazing dogs with great personalities and temperaments deteriorate in a kennel because they bark at people or jump and spin, sometimes even lunge is just heartbreaking. If you give the dog an opportunity to decompress in a home, adjust to your lifestyle and provide enrichment and training that all dogs need, you will have a happy, well-adjusted member of your family. You don't know what the dogs past is. The reactive dog you see in the kennel may be the ideal dog for your lifestyle. So if you see what you like (minus the negative behavior), ask questions. Don't just pass them up!
I'm not going to lie, there is a very high chance the dog you adopt will not be perfect right from the start. This is usually everyone's number one expectation and it's really asking too much. There are multiple things to consider. Has the dog had multiple families in the last few months? Has the dog been in the shelter for months or even years? Does that young dog seem to have lacked crucial socialization as a puppy? Dogs need time to decompress after stressful events just like people do. The dog that pays you no attention and "doesn't like you" because they won't interact with you may blossom into a social butterfly in a home.
(That was actually my dog. I adopted him from a rescue I worked for at he time and he wouldn't really interact with me but he was a good size and energy for my lifestyle at the time. But ALL he wanted to do was piss on everything. I took him home and he had separation anxiety for at least the first 3-4 months. Broke out of a crate and bloodied his gums, tore down the blinds, shit on my sisters homework folder-fuck a dog eating it- tore down a metal shoe rack, pulled up some carpet, jumped on the dining room table, etc. The list can go on. Long story short, I worked through these issues and he has become everything I could ask for and LOVES to socialize with people. You can't make eye contact or talk to him unless you want him up your ass and pawing at you every 30 seconds. He can be left alone for 6 hours, longer if needed and doesn't destroy anything. That is not the dog I adopted but that is the dog I have now.)
I'm sure at some point you folks will adopt a dog (or even a cat) and will consider not judging them based on how they are acting in their kennel. Taking them home and giving some TLC and training can work wonders. Give them all an equal opportunity and ask questions.
