pilsner

Meet our beautiful girl, Pilsner.

Pilsner is a 7-month-old Catahoula mix who was recently returned after just a few months in her adoptive home.

The adopter shared:

«"As she has gotten a little older, we believe she is meant to be with a family that wants a single animal. She has been very territorial and aggressive toward our other dog. What bothers me the most is she goes for her neck a lot. She does not like the other dog getting any amount of attention. She will jump right in front of her and bark. She has been having accidents when left alone."»

We'll be honest—it is frustrating when dogs are returned with behaviors blamed on them when, in reality, those behaviors are often normal puppy behaviors or simply the result of needing continued guidance and training. We share the reasons for returns word for word, not to shame anyone, but because we believe in transparency.

More importantly, we are the voice for these dogs. They cannot speak for themselves, and if we didn't share what we observe once they're back in foster care, we wouldn't be advocating for them the way they deserve. That would make us a poor example of the rescue these dogs depend on. There are always two sides to every story, and we believe potential adopters deserve to hear both.

After reviewing the videos provided and watching Pilsner back in her foster home, we have come to a different conclusion. We have not observed aggression. Instead, we've seen exactly what we'd expect from a young, energetic puppy who loves to play and wrestle. Like many puppies, she enjoys rough-and-tumble play, including grabbing at the neck during wrestling sessions. In fact, her play has been quite calm compared to many other young dogs we've fostered.

As for Pilsner herself, she's understandably going through a lot right now. Her entire world has been turned upside down, and she is clearly searching for the only family she knew. She will need a little time to decompress and settle into her foster home before her full personality shines through.

Even with all of that, she has been incredibly sweet. She happily jumps right into the car, eagerly greets new people, and has done wonderfully meeting both dogs her size and smaller. In fact, being around other dogs seems to help take her mind off everything she's been through.

She is carrying a few extra pounds, so we'll be getting her back to a healthy weight with proper portions and exercise. She is also overdue for a much-needed nail trim.