Mitchell - Parson Russell Terrier

Mitchell barks ferociously from within his kennel when he sees me. It's not his turn yet so I take out one of the other dogs first. When I come back, Mitchell sees me and starts barking again. It doesn't sound like a "pick me" bark. It sounds like a "you better not come near me" bark. I take out another dog and return. Mitchell starts barking again. "Don't you dare touch me," I think he's saying. But this time it's Mitchell's turn to go out.

I walk up to his kennel, stand in front of the door. He looks at me. I look at him. He stops barking. I open the door. Mitchell immediately runs to the back of his kennel, turns away from me and lowers his head. He starts to shiver. I turn my side to him, try not to confront him straight on, to not be so intimidating, try to coax him to come near me but he won't even look at me. I gently noose him with the leash and for a moment I think he's going to snap but he doesn't. I slowly get him outside of his kennel. I take him out of the general adoption room. I take him down the stairs.

He realizes by this point that I'm not going to hurt him. One of the staffers helps to find him a coat. He doesn't complain when she puts it on him. He covers her face with kisses. He looks at me. I see it in his face, relaxed now. He's okay with me. Out we go.