Lena Mathisson and her family adopted Maizy in 2008. She was kind enough to share the story of how she and her active family of six went about choosing the right dog.
Lena Mathisson and her family adopted Maizy in 2008. She was kind enough to share the story of how she and her active family of six went about choosing the right dog.
How and where did you find Maizy and what kind of dog is she?
We adopted her from Larchmont Pet Rescue, which was a very good experience. Maizy looks mainly like a border collie, but we never saw her parents, so we don’t know what else might be in the mix.
How did you know what breed and gender to look for when you found Maizy?
When my husband and I decided to get a dog, I started reading up on breeds and training. We thought about what size dog we wanted and what activity level we could handle. We didn’t really care if it was a male or female, so long as his or her personality was right for us.
What are some of the key things to look for when considering adopting a rescue?
Think about how much exercise you’ll really be able to give a dog. If you love taking long walks every day, a dog that requires a lot of exercise might be a great fit for you. But if you don’t have time for that, or don’t enjoy it, look for a dog with a lower exercise requirement. A dog that hasn’t had enough exercise is likely to behave in ways you don’t want — barking, chewing, or general mischief.
Also, consider whether you want to spend time training a puppy or if a grown dog would be better for you. We had young children at the time, so we decided to start with a puppy. We wanted to be able to socialize the dog when she was still young so she would not be anxious around people, which can be dangerous. We made sure that every single day of her puppyhood, Maizy was exposed to new people and new situations — people using wheelchairs and walkers, toddlers who might pet her roughly, people in uniforms. Everywhere I went, I carried dog treats and asked strangers to give my puppy a treat – nobody ever said no! This made her think that every kind of person is friendly; Maizy is never anxious.
Some people are afraid that shelter dogs have been through trauma and have a harder time adjusting to family life, is this true?
While that is not true for every dog, it is true for some. A dog that has been abandoned or abused can turn out to be a wonderful pet, but you have to look for the warning signs of anxiety and aggression that may be a reaction to maltreatment. There are books that can educate a potential adopter about how to evaluate a dog’s behavior and personality. There are also behavior specialists who can evaluate the dog for you. It is worth the trouble to be really confident that a particular dog is right for you. Having a dog can be such a great experience, but winding up with an anxious or aggressive one can really lead to heartbreak.
Any general words of wisdom when considering a rescue dog?
I used to think that teaching a dog tricks was just for fun – or for showoffs! But the dog behavior and training books said that the more training you do with your dog, the more attentive and loyal the dog becomes, and it’s true. The more training we did with Maizy, the more she paid attention to us. We taught her not to jump on people and to stay close to us when we are hiking. She also knows dozens of fun commands.
Thank you, Lena! We know that many of you have saved a dog’s life. Playland Beach was recently dubbed “Rescue Beach” because so many happy hounds often bound around there, so please share your rescue story with us as it encourages others to consider saving a life as well. Email RyeRescues@ gmail.com.
