Wandering the streets alone, Michael was simply exhausted
Our team helped Michael settle into his kennel by providing him with a warm bed, food and some company. He seemed very tired and needed a rest before visiting our on-site surgery for a medical check-up. Our veterinary team found that he was underweight, but luckily he didn’t have any injuries or health conditions.
No experience of being cared for
Michael clearly had no experience of walking on a lead, so our team had to start his training from scratch. This involved distraction training around other dogs to keep him calm and relaxed while on the lead. They also tried counter conditioning, which is rewarding good behaviour with treats. Michael proved to be a quick learner and picked up his training with little prompts. This really helped him to grow his confidence and feel more comfortable around people, as well as other dogs.
Michael built a strong bond with his main carer, Sophie, who fostered him for a few weeks. She spent lots of time toilet training him and getting him used to a daily routine in a family home. As you can see, he found the sofa with no help at all. Fostering worked wonders for Michael and with time and patience, he managed to become a trained and confident pet.