All he saw at the shelter were her big brown eyes (S) and her trembling body at the back of her cage. He melted like an ice cube in summer. Adam felt her soft ears and the way she nestled under his arm (S), and that was it. Not for an instant did he imagine it would be a struggle for Donut to share space with his roommate’s old cat (E) without incessantly barking and chasing it (G). He didn’t know that her raccoon-hunting instincts might transfer over to the tabby. He also had no idea that Donut was a highly skilled escape artist (L) who would bolt out the front door any chance she got as college buddies came in and out unannounced (E), and that he would spend hours chasing her around the block as she gleefully frightened the neighbors (G). He wasn’t prepared when Animal Control came to his apartment and cited Donut as a dangerous animal in the community (E). When adopting her, Adam knew she had some allergies that would require medication (S), but he didn’t budget for the lawsuit and behaviorist. He just fell in love with her.

Had Adam known about Donut’s L.E.G.S.®—or if someone at the shelter had been able to explain what he was signing up for as an apartment-dwelling college student adopting a scent hound, or if his vet had discussed Donut’s design characteristics on his initial visit—Adam might have decided that Donut was the wrong dog for his current lifestyle. Or he might have been smitten enough to set a different schedule before adopting her, and rent a different house—one with a big fenced yard, no roommate’s cat, and no nearby neighbors to complain about the noise and feline rodeos.

Maybe Donut was a love that just wasn’t meant to be. Or maybe Adam could have been better prepared and taken preventive measures to ensure success with his new dog, given some compassionate and practical guidance. But Adam didn’t have the information and tools that he needed. When threatened with legal action, he felt he had no choice; and so, heart-broken, he returned Donut to the shelter.

Dog L.E.G.S.® for You

It doesn’t have to end this way for you and your dog. In this book, each element of your dog’s L.E.G.S.® will be examined and explained in gritty, real-life detail by a practicing dog behavior consultant (think: mixed-species family therapist) who understands how and why life with your dog is not always easy. Over fifteen years of mediating relationships between people and their dogs from the integrated perspective of applied ethology (the study of the intersection of animal and human behavior regarding captive and domesticated species) has made me a compassionate and realistic friend to thousands of clients seeking solace in their homes.