Dog Snuggling With Troubled Foster Sister Is A Touching Story Of Forgiveness

Riley was the kind of dog people avoided: muscular and aggressive. Her bristling energy spiraled into an attack the first day she met Tiger, her furry foster brother. The incident drew tears from Tiger's owner, Caitlin. In a YouTube video shared by The Dodo, Caitlin explained that she couldn't believe she had such a dog in her home. She seriously considered giving Riley up. Then something happened — she realized this dog needed her help.

Riley's training began. Caitlin's efforts to rehabilitate her became a touching story of forgiveness and hope. The reactive dog was separated from Tiger for five months while she learned to socialize and overcome her fear. Caitlin showered her with affection, took her on pack walks with other dogs, and safely exposed her to stressful situations like meeting new pups. Doubters said she should give up, but Caitlin's faith never wavered, and Riley quickly proved she was worth it. After five months, a beautiful moment of forgiveness unfolded: Tiger and Riley played together as though Riley's attack had never happened.

Riley's practically another dog by the end of the YouTube video. The clip starts with snapping jaws and ends with cuddles and tail wags. Riley became so joyful that she was adopted by a wonderful family.

Most of the labels we slap on dogs don't require much thought. This dog's cuddly; this one's sweet. Calling a dog "aggressive," however, is more complex. Dogs are not innately "bad" or mean. Aggressive reactions stem from reasons as varied as fear or defending territory. They might snarl at the mailperson and gently nuzzle your neck a few minutes later. That's why training can be so important — especially with an experienced professional. Together, you may be able to pinpoint the dog's exact issue and overcome it.

It also helps to know the differences between things like aggression and playful growling. If you want to help an aggressive dog make friends with other dogs, proximity, time, and patience can help. However, as aggression is so complex, and the causes so varied, if these attempts fail and you still can't get the dogs to get along, or one is still aggressive, it's time to call in an expert.