About Roy, It's Complicated

I want to share Roy’s story, but it’s complicated.

Roy, an 80-pound mastiff mix, joined us as a foster dog in May 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. Roy had been found in rural Tennesse, starving, covered in ticks, and dragging a useless front right leg as a result of a shotgun wound. In Tennessee, they amputated his leg and days later put him on a plane to northern Illinois, where we first met him.

Roy came to us bleeding, having opened up his surgical incision during transport. He was scared, in pain, and needed additional medical care.

During those first days in our home, we held Roy and tended to his wounded body and spirit. At least one of us stayed with him almost around the clock. We slept with him on the floor in a pile of blankets for days as his bleeding finally stopped and he started to heal. He remained on medicine and follow-up care for another 10 days. During that time, a bond developed between Roy and us.

We already had two wonderful, loving dogs, Dino and Lucy, when we brought Roy into our home. Both were rescues. But from the start, it was clear that no dog had loved me and showed more devotion to me than Roy. He also adored Susan. We learned that Roy was a deeply sensitive dog. He wanted to please and would flash those sad, deep brown eyes when we corrected him.

Remember, I said, “It’s complicated.” Roy at times was also the most aggressive dog I’d ever been around. Again, he wasn't aggressive toward us. With us, he was a puppy dog. But he showed aggressive behavior to Dino, a standard poodle mix, and to visitors to our home. When Roy decided to lash out, it was like a cobra. No warning. Quiet and lightning-fast.

With us, Roy cuddled. He gave generous kisses. He did well on a leash. He loved to play fetch and was quick to the ball even on three legs. Before long, Roy also took to his crate as a place of comfort and peace. He learned to "stay." He demonstrated intelligence, was food-motivated and he showed the capacity to learn more. It was clear he respected Susan and me and knew his place in the pack in relation to the two of us.

Still, we feared Roy's aggression toward other people and dogs might be something that could not be trained away or managed safely. As we continued to foster Roy, he and I both began to learn new tricks. I worked with him on muzzle training, and as with much dog training, the trainer had the most difficult time learning. Soon I got the hang of it and so did Roy. When I'd present the muzzle, he'd gently fit his face into the device and wait patiently for my fumbling fingers to fasten it.

Why was Roy so kind to us and so wary and aggressive to others? Susan and I came to understand that Roy saw us as the people who pulled the thorn from his paw. His devotion was touching and our love for him grew. We didn't give up on Roy, but we also couldn't see with our two dogs and his unpredictable behavior how he could stay with us.

If Roy were to find a home, we knew he'd need additional training and structure to help him develop trust and confidence. I researched a number of trainers and in talking with one trainer in our town, I learned about Chad Macklin at 4-Paws Pet Resort and Activity Center in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Chad had experience with dogs that presented aggressive behavior or lacked confidence and trust, like Roy.

Even though we were fostering Roy, decisions about his care and formal training needed to be vetted with the rescue we worked with, Hoof, Woof, and Meow in Gilberts, Illinois. I contacted the rescue coordinator and proposed five weeks of training, with two sessions each week for Roy at my expense. They agreed and Roy's lessons began.

Roy quickly showed progress. He also accepted his trainer, and become more comfortable with his surroundings. At home, we reinforced the lessons Chad provided. Soon Roy learned "down." His "stays" were even longer and more sustained, and he learned to find his "place" and wait for the release command each time Susan fed him.

The one lesson that took the longest was "sit." We speculated that it may have had something to do with his uncertainty maneuvering the command on three legs. But Roy was just a slow "sit" learner. Susan cracked the code and we think Dino, a master at "sit," also helped model the behavior for Roy.

Speaking of Dino, with more training and more time with our pack, Roy began to fit with not only Susan and me but also with Dino and Lucy. As important as the lessons learned, Roy was developing trust and confidence and it showed in his behavior at home.

Roy's training with Chad went so well, that we enrolled him in another five-week session. We had begun fostering Roy in May. By the start of his second five-week training, it was late fall, and my bond with him had deepened. One day I remarked to Susan that the only thing I wanted for Christmas was to welcome Roy into our pack permanently. After many discussions and through her grace, Susan granted my Christmas wish and we officially adopted Roy in December 2020.

Today, Roy is a full-fledged pack member. He and Dino share my home office while I work remotely during quarantine. I can’t say they’re best buds, but they go on walks together, and I do catch them playing and sometimes even napping in proximity. They’ve learned mutual respect, if not affection.

Besides Susan and me, affection for Roy comes from Lucy, our 12-pound dachshund-Jack Russell mix. Lucy and Roy can often be caught trading kisses. Roy has also grown fond of LuLu. I forget to mention LuLu? We adopted Lulu, an eight-pound Shih Tzu, in July 2020, after her previous owner died. LuLu has a heart condition, but you wouldn’t know it by the way she lives her life. Even though he’s ten times her size, Roy and LuLu have become cuddle partners during evening TV time.

Roy’s come a long way in a little less than one year. It’s still complicated in some ways. Roy needs to build more trust and confidence around people and other dogs. We’re continuing to work with him and while we see progress, it also helps when others notice too. On a recent trip to his veterinarian for an exam, she remarked, “Whatever you’re doing with Roy, it’s working.”

When we began to foster Roy, we learned that his forever home would need to be a special one, filled with love, patience, structure, and kindness. What we didn't know was that this home would be ours. And I had no clue how much I'd fall for this three-legged Tennessee refugee.

Animal rescues like Hoof, Woof, and Meow are run by volunteers. Where would dogs like Roy be without them? Consider making a donation to support their caring work.