Walker (bite history)

Walker is around 7-8yrs old and was saved from the South LA shelter at the end of 2019, where he was picked up as a stray. He was “rescue only” due to his sensitivity to being touched, tenseness, and being blind. Walker came to us already missing one eye, and the other was badly diseased, completely clouded over from glaucoma. Walker eventually had his other eye removed to make him more comfortable and reduce the chances of irritation and infection. Early on, he was referred to as a “walking cinderblock.” His body was hard and tense from not being able to relax. He was constantly pacing around, would snap and try to bite if anyone touched/pet him, and was quick to challenge back if asked to do something he didn’t want to do. The shelter sent video of him reacting when being touched with a back scratcher, so for him, taking the time to build a relationship of trust and respect were key. Time was spent muzzle conditioning and desensitizing him to having people in his personal space before moving on to desensitizing to touch. Walker requires a ton of patience and a calm presence to work with. If he does not know you, he will bark and yell “stranger danger” while backing away. If someone does not give him space when he asks for it, he will charge. The best way to build a relationship with Walker is by taking him on a walk, asking for basic commands, and sitting with him on leash, without touching him. Once he allows you to leash him up and take a leash off, a person can then work towards brushing and physically handling him. Walker loves rolling around, scratching his back, going on car rides, and sitting next to his people. He is frequently mapping out his space, and is so gentle when taking treats. He isn’t a cuddle-puddle kind of dog, but instead needs a person to be his seeing-eye-human. With his grumpy attitude and temperament, he is a sanctuary dog, and a loved and cherished member of the QBSDR ranch pack.