Kennels 2 Couches

08/17/2026

Quick lesson about resource guarding.

A dog, a bone and a growl. Easy to spot.
The dog who guards a room? Not so easy.

When we hear “resource guarding”, it's incredibly easy to picture the obvious stuff.

The bone.
A favourite toy.
Their dinner in a bowl.
A dog growling when somebody gets too close.

And yes, it can look exactly like that.

Sometimes it's much less obvious.

It can be the dog who suddenly picks something up and disappears into another room with it.
It can look very much like a chasing game to us.

The dog who seems to inhale their food when somebody approaches?
They’re often viewed as “so hungry today!”

The dog who repeatedly positions themselves between one particular person and everybody else?
“Just wants pats”

Or maybe it’s the dog who doesn't appear to be doing very much at all, but is consistently reluctant to move away from a particular spot, bed, doorway, person or place.

The “resource” doesn't have to be something WE think is particularly valuable.

The dog's opinion is the one that matters here.
The only one that matters.
They have decided.

But hang on a wee min.
Those behaviours described above? They also don’t automatically mean resource guarding or possession issues.
One behaviour in isolation really doesn't give us the answer.
That part is important.

Equally important is context.
What happened before it? What happens afterwards? Is there a pattern?

Ever had a dog guard something that left you thinking, seriously, you value THAT?

08/16/2026

Interesting read about , and choices made.

Bruce is dead.

08/16/2026

Update: drum roll please 🥁... And is OUT and heading to her foster home tonight! Thank you Sabrina Feltenberger for giving her a ride❣️ She will be spayed next week, and ready for a permanent home after that. We have lots to learn about Betty, including whether she has a prey drive, but for now we know she's a very sweet water girl through and through 💦. Enjoy her freedom pictures, water video in the comments.

Some great leads are coming in for her. I confirmed that she's not spayed ($$) and no vaccination records ($). She needs pledges to help cover those costs, plus food, supplies, and vet exam. Please pledge if you can help.

I have an unusual request. An animal control officer (ACO) from Banning, CA (out near San Bernardino area) reached out to me to ask if I can help with a dog that's sitting at the police station because there's no shelter services out there. Her owner has health issues, an unsecured yard, and she told the ACO to just kill the dog. The ACO couldn't do it, not without trying to reach out to rescues first.

Betty is about 11 months old, very sweet, good with bigger dogs and older kids (not tested with young kids or little dogs or cats). She's a fun girl! She enjoys water play, she's like people. She looks like a Shepsky (Shepherd Husky mix).

If no one is willing to foster her, I'm not sure what happens next. She can't stay at the police station. ACO says cops don't like dogs out there (I asked if any may be willing to foster her), and since there is no shelter service out there I guess the most humane thing to do is euthanize this baby girl rather than release her to the streets.

If you have ability to foster her, and have a secure yard PLEASE CALL ME 📞 805-450-1010

08/13/2026

Standard poodle would benefit from getting out of the shelter as soon as possible to help her reset. Where are the poodle lovers out there?

05/16/2026

Update 6/8: new video of Nibla in the comments. Long term foster in Santa Barbara county or San Luis Obispo county needed. We will rescue her if I can find a suitable foster/foster to adopt home for her.

Shelter Notes say: 5/19/2026 does well in playgroup with smaller dogs, social media posts and more outings. She is more confident when playing with the littles. Spending as much time as possible with her little friends. She is getting interest from social media. Sponsored adoption from partner Kennels to Couches

We have been trying to share this beautiful girl who is at my local shelter in Santa Barbara county, CA. She's actually from my neighborhood, but her family didn't come back for her even though they were contacted. She's a shy girl, but she lived with a family with kids. She's approximately 6 years old, talks to you like Huskies do, and is sweet.

Nibla rides great in the car, is beautiful when you see her in person. Her family that she was with for at least the last 2 years speaks Spanish, so if you're interested in a dual language dog she's your girl. If anyone is interested in more information they can either reach out to the shelter directly, or I do have ability to rescue her if there's a foster out there. I feel like I'm talking into a huge abyss though when I'm asking for Fosters because nobody's responding right now, but I'm still going to ask for one.

📞 Me 805-450-1010 for more info about fostering or foster to adopt.

05/12/2026

This is a MUST Read if you are adopting a new dog whether from a shelter or from a rescue, or are going to Foster a dog. Please please please take the time to read this.

Their world completely changed.
And they don’t know why.

We see their quietness as coping or relaxing so we can accidentally expect too much, far too soon.

One of the hardest parts with newly rehomed dogs is their stress doesn’t always look dramatic.
We would recognise that easily, but some dogs become extremely still and quiet.

Some follow people constantly.
Some sleep more.
Some avoid all interactions.
Others become busy, mouthy, overexcited or unsettled.

We have a job to do from the second they arrive and it’s not about training.
It should be far more about observation.

We should be watching.
Learning who they are.
Recognising patterns.
Seeing what changes their emotional state.

What startles them?
What helps them relax?
What environments suddenly change their body language?
When do they seek distance?
What happens around food, visitors, handling or rest?

They are telling us who they are and how they are coping, often as clearly as they can and we have a duty to listen.

One thing nearly all rehomed dogs share? It’s incredibly easy to unintentionally overwhelm them.

And it’s usually done with the very best of intentions.