Finding Isla her forever home
Beautiful crossbreed Isla was at Woodgreen for six months before winning over Abbie and Joe at their first meeting.
Isla originally came from abroad and was rehomed to a family living in Brighton. Sadly, this nervous girl struggled to cope in such a busy place. She was incredibly worried of people and would bark and lunge at other dogs. Her owners were unable to give her what she needed to be happy, so they asked us to find Isla a new home.
Isla settled in well at Woodgreen, charming her main carers with her cuddly and sweet nature. We just knew the right home was out there somewhere. Our behaviour specialists and Dog team devised a training plan to help Isla build her confidence around people and dogs. That way, she’d already have these basic life skills under her paws when the time came to meet potential new owners.
Although Isla mixed well with other dogs, she’d lunge and bark out of frustration when she couldn’t get to them. So, we needed to change the way she felt in this situation. Her handlers gave her a treat each time she looked at a dog during training sessions, as this created a positive association for her. We also used a headcollar, so we’d have more control if she lunged forwards. Within weeks, she was able to look at another dog for longer and at a closer distance without reacting. Eventually, clever Isla could go right up to a dog, and even walk beside them, without barking.
Isla was a real foodie, which came in handy when teaching her people weren’t so scary. She quickly made friends with our teams once she became more comfortable around them. As part of her training, she’d sit with people she knew in their offices. Then, if an unfamiliar visitor came in, she was given an exciting activity, such as a snuffle or a licky mat, where she had to work for her treats. On walks, her carers threw out treats for her when someone went past. They regularly took her out with people who weren’t wearing a Woodgreen uniform. These exercises helped Isla to build a positive association with people and get used to anyone she didn’t know.
Isla had us at our first meet. She was cheeky and playful - and loved a hotdog! We knew she’d essentially chosen us. We understood meeting people would be a big goal for Isla, but she’s done fantastically meeting her grandparents and became best friends with her granddad instantly! We’re still working on her training and dog reactivity day-by-day, but it’s safe to say Isla has brought so much joy to our lives. We couldn’t imagine being without her and her fluffy face!