Tiny Terrier Barked at Everyone—But One Leash Changed Everything
As I stepped into the kennel, I was greeted by a chorus of barks from a small, senior-looking dog with an attitude bigger than his body. This wasn’t unusual for me – I’ve spent countless hours at shelters, working with dogs of all temperaments. But there was something special about this little guy that caught my attention.
First Impressions Can Be Deceiving
“Oh ho ho! Oh no!” I couldn’t help but laugh as this tiny terrier-mix, no more than 10-12 pounds, barked fiercely at me from the back of his kennel. The staff had warned me he might bite, but I prefer to make my own assessment rather than coming in with preconceived notions.
What I saw was a classic case of kennel reactivity – a dog whose behavior in the shelter environment doesn’t necessarily reflect who they truly are outside of it. “He doesn’t know he’s only 9 pounds,” I explained. “He thinks he’s the same size as a Great Dane.”
The little dog’s food remained untouched, a sign of his stress. Despite his tough exterior, his eyes told a different story – one of fear and uncertainty.
Breaking Through with Treats and Patience
I decided to try the universal language of treats. Sometimes even the toughest dogs will soften when food enters the equation. His first attempt at taking a treat was more “hungry hippo” than gentle acceptance – a big chomp that suggested he might not be used to hand-fed treats. But gradually, his take became more delicate.
When I tried to touch his paw, he pulled back immediately. I could tell this little guy had a story – one we might never fully know.
The Mystery of His Past
Alexis, who was helping me that day, dug into his background. He was estimated to be about five years old, though he looked older to me. He had been brought in just two days ago as a stray through the night drop.
Interestingly, the person who turned him in had also found another very similar-looking dog two years earlier, almost to the day. While we can only speculate about what this means, these patterns sometimes hint at more complex situations.
No microchip meant we had no way to confirm if he had a family looking for him. “I hope his family comes for him,” I admitted, “but I fear they will not.” Statistically, if family doesn’t come within the first 24 hours, it becomes increasingly unlikely they ever will.
Finding Franklin’s True Self
My wife Kelly joined me in the kennel, and together we decided this distinguished-looking gentleman needed a proper name. “Franklin” seemed perfect for him, with his wise appearance despite his relatively young age.
The breakthrough moment came when I tried something different – I put him on a leash. Suddenly, Franklin was a different dog. The barking stopped, his demeanor changed, and he walked beautifully in circles around the small kennel space.
“It’s not his behavioral issue that he’s barking in here,” I explained, watching his transformation. “It’s that he doesn’t know who the leader is.” The leash was telling him, “Everything’s under control. Follow my lead, and we’re going to be okay. We don’t need you to be the tough guy.”
A Team Effort for Transformation
Sharyl, who runs the volunteer program at the shelter, came to see Franklin’s walking skills. Though he wasn’t eligible for the dog walking program yet (shelter policy requires a five-day waiting period for strays), I was eager to show her that beneath his fearful exterior was a dog who knew how to walk nicely on leash.
The next day Sharyl tried working with Franklin herself, but he was still nervous and barky. That’s when she and Glenn, an amazing dog trainer at the shelter, came up with a brilliant plan – pairing Franklin with sociable dogs who could model the behavior we wanted from him.
“We’re a product of our environment,” I’ve always believed. “If the environment is right, it’s 100% up to Franklin.”
The Moment Everything Changed
What happened next warmed my heart. In the company of calm, confident dogs, Franklin began to relax. Sharyl showed him the leash was nothing to fear, and suddenly there he was – a wagging tail and then, incredibly, rolling over for belly scratches. He was giving his complete trust to Sharyl.
With that breakthrough, it was time for his first official walk with a level-two expert volunteer dog walker. Right from the start, he was leaps and bounds different from the Franklin we first met. Nose down, then nose up, no concerns – he was a pro at dog walking.
Help Franklin Find His Forever Home
With this successful walk, Franklin was officially greenlit for the walking program – a huge victory for a dog who just days before had been too scared to let anyone close.
But his journey isn’t over. Franklin still needs to find a loving forever home. The best way you can help him is by sharing his story. You never know who might see it – maybe the perfect family for this brave little dog is just one share away.
Franklin’s transformation reminds me why I do this work. Every dog has a story to tell if we take the time to listen. Behind the barks and the fear, there’s often a sweet soul waiting for someone to show them it’s safe to trust again.
