When I adopted my current dog from the rescue center, his records stated that he had been surrendered for “snapping at a child.” He was a retriever, raised from a puppy and given up just a couple of months before his ninth birthday.
However, based on his behavior since then—his patience with older dogs (despite being attacked and badly bitten), his tolerance of my family (even when accidentally stepped on or bumped into), his gentle nature with local children who come to pet him, and his complete composure at the vet (where he’s endured everything from nasal treatments to having his ear flap cut to drain blood)—it’s clear that nothing fazes him, let alone provokes aggression. If he dislikes something, he simply walks away.
Both vets and boarding kennel staff have described him as completely unflappable.
It seems likely that he was surrendered under false pretenses. I suspect that a change in his owners’ circumstances led them to look for an excuse to give him up.
Can you imagine this big, soft-hearted boy ever getting upset at anyone?
