Tita Yellow Labrador Retriever & Shiba Inu Mix Williamsburg, NM

Hello! I'm Tita! I adore car rides, cannot get enough of snuggling, and am attentive to my people. Because I'm smart and attentive, I know a lot of commands already. Aaand, I have a story to tell so sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and settle in for Tita's Tale. Or Tita's Tail I guess we could say if we're being cheeky hee hee. Do I feel like being cheeky? Um, Yep! I give you, "Tita's Tail".

I'm not going to bury the lead. I washed out as a Service Dog. Do you know that phrase -- "washed out" as a Service Dog? It means I was assessed for my suitability and potential to be trained to become my owner's Service Dog but I wasn't successful in fulfilling that role. Poooooop!

My particular Service would primarily include aiding in Safe Mobility of my owner. I was excited by the possibilities and also super dee duper thrilled about the idea of being trained for such an up-close-and-personal and important role with my owner in my new home. I loved my owner very much. She was my everything. I doted on her. Gave her my attention and gave her my heart. I also loved her resident dog very much and got along well with her for awhile, but over several months time I developed some territorial feelings when my dog sister would have the attention of my owner and not me. If it was just my dog sister and I together, lounging, playing, living -- all was good. But when I needed to share the attentions of my owner with my dog sister, it was hard for me.

I'm a Yellow Lab/Shiba Inu mix, a Shibador. You'll see why that's important to note in a minute. At the beginning, I checked out well in the assessments for Service Dog Potential. There were checklists and multiple visits and all was looking good so I was adopted! Hurrah!!

But the assessments aren't fool-proof. They didn't uncover my Shiba Inu characteristics of having a streak of stubbornness which caused me to not do my skills every time my owner needed me to do my skills. Here's the nitty-gritty: After several months of training, I learned the skills I was taught (amazing, right!?!? I think so too!) but I couldn't perform them every single time the important skill was required and since consistency is necessary in the Service Dog world, I washed out.

I have many great qualities coming from both my Lab and Shiba Inu breeds: I'm intelligent, I'm eager to learn and eager to please my person, and I'm active. I am very affectionate and love being close to my person. I tune in emotionally to my person. I want to connect. I love big! I'm highly trainable and learn well. Just not to the level of being a Service Dog to aid in mobility.

Regarding my washing out: Do I feel shame? Nope. Because I know I did my best! Do I feel sadness? Yep. I miss having a family. Do I feel some confusion? Yes because now I'm in rescue again. Am I still deserving of a Great Home: Yessireebob I sure as tootin am!

Because of my training experiences, everyone knows a lot more about me that's for sure! This helps them find me find a great home and family. My former owner thinks I could be super great as an Emotional Support Animal. I enjoy other dogs and playtime and hanging out, but living together and sharing my owner's attention daily with another dog might stress me out. I am calm around chill cats; I ignore them. I love going for walks/hikes so an active family would suit me well. I meet people in a friendly happy way. I'm loving, caring, sweet and I listen well.

So, that's my story! I have had the joy of a family and I loved it. I want nothing more than to get a do-over! My family is out there and I cannot wait to meet them! Is it you? Love, Tita