I’ve had a home for a whole year now.

A real home. And my own human!

A year ago, I was a totally different dog—I barked at everything. Apparently, I used to go off at the sight of any dog from miles away. Hard to believe now, since dogs are my buddies these days. Barking at humans still makes sense to me though—they can be really annoying when they suddenly show up or zoom by on a bike. Sometimes I still lose my cool.

But now my human gives me puzzles and tasks, and I earn treats. Sometimes I do tricks or jump over obstacles! I love it, and I’m actually a pro. And my human? Best trainer ever.

So yeah, life’s good. Even the passers-by are starting to get less annoying.

Oh, and for my adoptiversary—I got a meat cake!

Right after adoption, a dog is under heightened stress. Things that would normally be a bit stressful can easily become overwhelming.

It’s important during this time to reduce stressors, keep expectations low, and create easy, low-pressure opportunities for learning and bonding. Patience is key—progress probably won’t happen as fast as you’d like.

Discovering what brings the dog joy, what truly engages them, is just as crucial. Spending time every day on fun and satisfying activities helps improve the dog’s mood—and that, in turn, helps them better handle daily stressors.

#gotchaDay #adoptiversary #fromrescuetochampion #barkingImproved