Author: Kristof Voet

Is this a conversation the previous owners of Miniature Pinscher Mustang ever had? Possibly and very likely, but I can’t tell it for sure. Fact is that Mustang, a beautiful chocolate-brown Min Pin, didn’t have much hope left at the age of 16 months halfway 2019, on the cold concrete floor of the animal shelter, with only a poor plastic bed in the back of his shelter cage. No toys, no blanket, no friendship or love were left for him. Volunteers walking dogs wanted to provide him attention, but Mustang had lost all faith in mankind. Mustang, he needed a sign at the entry gate of his cage: ”Caution, may bite, win confidence first.” And biting he did. Especially men were not his thing.

The path to cleanliness

“Every time we hit him because he did his business in our house, he bit us.” It’s a reason to give up a dog like any other, one could say objectively. Mustang arrived at the age of 16 months already at his third residency.

As puppy he was bought with a bread breeder in West-Flanders. Until approximately his first birthday he lived with his first owners, but probably because he wasn’t becoming clean, they abandoned him. At his new family Mustang was only welcome for a couple of months before he was abandoned at the animal shelter. In less than one year and a half, this beautiful young Miniature Pinscher already arrived at his third place of residence. One with bare walls and cold floors this time, an emergency shelter for those that hit rock bottom in animal society. Unfortunately there are also other shelters where they still put animals to sleep with behavioural problems, but luckily for him this was never an option in Mechelen.

Volunteers make all the difference

As a volunteer you try to walk as many dogs as possible during each visit, because you want to allow as much dogs as possible to temporarily escape their solitary confinement they have to endure for the rest of the day. It’s often very difficult to invest a lot of time to first win the confidence of an anxious dog like Mustang, before you can leash the dog and take him out for a walk. During the same time frame you would be able to entertain two or three other dogs. Difficult choices that always have to be made, which resulted in Mustang often staying alone in his cage without going for a walk. No problem, he just did his thing in his cage. He didn’t knew any better. He didn’t knew anything else. And luckily he wasn’t punished at this place.

When Evie was working as volunteer the first day after Mustang was released from his mandatory quarantine, her eye fell immediately on this poor animal. The careful look, his beautiful colour, and the love he didn’t ask for but clearly could benefit from. She decided to attempt to gain his trust, and proceeded step by step in order to allow him to get used to her presence. Every time again. Visit after visit. Step by step.

The procession of Echternach

Two steps forward. One step back. Mustang was anxious. “This lady is very sweet, but maybe I'll get another blow later!”, he must have thought. Curiosity overcame, and after a while Mustang spontaneously sat down with Evie, at his pace, on his terms.

He used to be beaten. Just because. Viewed from his point of view. Yes, his owners nudged him into his pee, or his poo, but why? What was wrong with that? He knew it was his.

“But pee or poop is nothing strange, is it? I like to smell it, I like to taste it. All dogs do that, right?”

But then he got a few more serious blows on top of it. Sometimes they suddenly shouted, the quick steps, the noise, and: Bang! Pain again. Why? What did they want? What was Mustang doing wrong? It hurt. A lot of pain. But next time… Not again! This must stop!

I show my teeth. Pat!

I growl! And yet: Pat!

This has got to stop, so I bite!

No. Mustang was one of those dogs that really couldn't be housebroken. But now he had met that one sweet, calm and patient lady in his current house among all those other dogs that scared him. The other dogs couldn't get to him, and just as well, for he had no dealings with dogs. Only that sweet lady, she didn't hurt him, it's nice to sit with her.

“She talks to me and I love her voice. I relax with her. Would she stay with me? So I don't have to be alone? Oh no, she's getting up. Can I come with you? I can't come? Why not? I want to stay with you! Will you be back?"

The love was mutual. But the problem is big. Mustang was not potty trained, Evie was warned by the shelter when she announced she wanted to adopt him.

And he had his aggression problem. Evie, she wanted to get it right from the start.

A sound plan of action, under expert guidance.

The certified behavioural therapist.

Evie looked for and found a suitable dog therapist to assist her with clear knowledge of anxiety problems and endless patience, and moreover feminine, which was no superfluous luxury in the case of Mustang. Men, no, it really didn't work.

A fresh start, a new name, and Mustang was renamed Charlie. After only a first week of loving and intensive supervision at home, Charlie was already toilet trained, except for the occasional accident. Under the expert guidance of behavioural therapist Sofie, Charlie learned to overcome his fears and build his self-confidence.

The little timid and sometimes aggressive Miniature Pinscher started to believe more and more in his own abilities, and gradually built up confidence in the people around him. As a dog you must of course remain vigilant, because in the past you also got beaten for no reason, so maybe that will happen again soon?

After a while, Charlie was even ready to have the first controlled encounters with other dogs. Today he has dozens of friends living nearby, from small to large! Luckily for him, many other dogs have been very patient with him when he first moved in with Evie, and have given him every opportunity to be friends after all!

Charlievie

The success and great results you can achieve with expert pet care inspired Evie to turn her life around and retrain herself as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist at the Odisee University Of Applied Sciences. In 2021 her company Charlievie was launched, with the ultimate goal being to promote animal welfare. The main branch of this is Pettherapy.be, behavioural therapy for dogs and cats, and training for dogs and puppies. The goal: to help as many Mustangs as possible to a better life, and to assist their owners according to the latest scientific insights to achieve stable, happy and balanced animals.

And Charlie? He is still crazy about his mom, and prefers to spend every moment of the day with her. His mom understands his communication, can easily make clear to him what she wants, and he feels safe and secure under her wings.

Mustang is dead. Long live Charlie!

Kristof Voet has been an administrative and logistics employee of Pettherapy.be since 2021. He worked as a volunteer at the animal shelter until 2022, and for this he followed the Asylum Employee training organized by the Flemish Government.