Uno to Bruno

We weren't ready.

I know people will joke and say “no one is ever ready for the first one” but we seriously weren't ready to take in dogs. We didn't have foster homes, we didn't have liability coverage, heck we barely had a name and board of directors and a vague idea what we wanted to do. It was the truth — we weren't ready.

It was also true that we had a social media page, a small but growing base of followers, and a lot of compassionate supporters who love dogs.
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There was one more truth looming over us, as we would soon learn: Time doesn't wait for everyone to be ready, and Uno was running out of time.

Bruno, formerly Uno, the 6-year-old bernedoodle who helped launch Toby's Pack.

The Call That Changed Everything

​Our brand manager, Kim, was the one whose post had gotten the attention of an employee at a local vet. When Uno’s owners scheduled an appointment with her office for behavioral euthanasia, she felt there had to be a better answer. She contacted Kim, described his situation, and told us the vet would hold Uno for 24 hours while we scrambled to find housing, assemble a training plan, and figure out a way to make this work.

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​Meeting Uno

The next morning two of us were waiting anxiously in the exam room for the staff to introduce us to Uno. We knew he was a six year old bernadoodle, had been through multiple training programs, and was generally a good boy. 

We also knew the family of six had become concerned with the safety of their children due to some recent behaviors from Uno.

They reported he had “bitten” a couple of the children in the last year. Weighing in at 90 pounds, that's no minor concern, but we know there are lots of ways to define a dog bite and lots of variables that can lead to what appears to be aggressive behavior.
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Not knowing where else to turn and fearing for the safety of the children and their friends, the family turned to their vet and made the hard decision to euthanize Uno.

Red Flags and Reality Checks

As we stood in the small exam room not knowing what might come through that door, we talked through all the red flags that would tell us Uno was not a good fit for our program. Human aggression is a hard NO for us. While rare, it does happen, and we have to recognize that some dogs just aren't within our skillset to rehabilitate.


​First Impressions Matter

When the tech opened the door to let Uno in the room we were instantly relieved. Everything about his body language said he was happy to see us, almost like he knew why we were there. We spent nearly an hour doing a basic temperament assessment, talking to staff, and learning everything we could about Uno and his family.

While not a one-size-fits-all answer, the instincts that come with certain breeds give us a blueprint when evaluating the basis of behavior.

Understanding Instincts, Not Just Behavior

When assessing a dog we have to consider breed. While not a one-size-fits-all answer, the instincts that come with certain breeds give us a blueprint when evaluating the basis of behavior. In Uno's case, he was a mix of herding, guarding, and hunting dogs.

We learned the incidents with the kids had all involved outdoor play with several children moving and playing the way children will do. We suspected Uno had responded in a manner that herding and guarding dogs often do — nipping at the children in an attempt to control movement.

The Missing Piece
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We spent a lot of time that week working with Uno, only to learn he was a rock star at obedience responses, walked well on a loose leash, showed no sign of aggression, and even when exposed to children and other dogs had no sign of reactivity — until the kids began running and squealing. Uno became a different dog — not aggressive, but anxious. He felt the need to control their activity the only way he knew how. It was instinct, and we felt we could work with that.

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​From Uno to Bruno

Before long, those of us working with Uno found ourselves accidentally calling him Bruno, and the new name stuck. 

​When we contacted a family who might be interested in adopting him, they also thought the name was appropriate. After the introduction to their existing family dog went well, they took Bruno home for a trial weekend. That was all it took, Bruno had a new name, a new home, and a new chance at a long happy life.


​A New Beginning

Bruno's new people continue to work with a local trainer to make sure both of their dogs have the best support they can get. They've worked hard to understand his instincts and what he needs in order to feel like he has a purpose, which helps mitigate his drive for herding and controlling.

Bruno and his new family.

The Ripple Effect

As for his former family, they were so grateful that we were able to offer an alternative for their furry friend that they made a sizable donation to our organization, enough to get three dogs started with the training support they need to avoid surrender or euthanasia!


Why This Work Matters

The timing of Bruno's story was a reminder to me that things generally work out the way they should, whether I think I'm ready for them or not. He was also the ice breaker that told me this wild dream of mine has merit, there really is a need for the work we're setting ourselves up to do, and this team we're building has what it takes to #saveonedog.

The whole world changed for that big furry guy on his journey from Uno to Bruno, but he will always be number one in our story and in our hearts.