Faces of No-Kill: Water-loving pooch finds his flow

Rydell didn’t walk into Best Friends Animal Sanctuary so much as bounce. At just 2 years old, the stunning German shepherd mix came brimming with energy — and absolutely zero idea what to do with it. He barked at dogs, lunged at cars, and yanked on the leash like a freight train. Doggy manners that humans tend to love were a totally foreign concept to him. But beneath the chaos? A total goober with a heart of gold.

Caregiver Emma Odekirk saw it right away. “He had such a young, vibrant spirit and a love for life that made me want to do everything I could to set him up for success,” she says. And so began Rydell’s transformation — one treat, one training session, and one splash at a time.

At first, they worked on basic cues as well as his lunging after cars, golf carts, and other animals. Once that improved, they moved on to walks with other dogs, which helped him feel more comfortable to co-exist peacefully with dogs near him. Next came muzzle training, which allowed him to safely join playgroups. At first, he wasn’t quite sure how to interact with the other dogs, but over time, he began to romp joyfully with them. He played. He flirted. He flourished.

[Dogs find treasure at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary]

And he never missed a chance to dive into water. “Even if it was just a puddle, Rydell would drag you to it,” Emma says. “His love for water runs deep.”

Between training sessions, Rydell quickly became a sleepover favorite with volunteers and would often sprawl across their laps like a fuzzy weighted blanket. “He’s a 100-pound lap dog,” laughs Emma.

When Daphne Drake and her husband, Dallas Mendenhall, spotted Rydell’s profile online, Rydell had come such a long way in his training that his previous challenges had all but dissolved. Daphne and Dallas weren’t browsing — they were driving from Boulder, Colorado, for one dog and one dog only.

When they arrived at the Sanctuary, they spent time talking with Rydell’s caregivers, offering him treats, and taking him for a walk to see how he responded. And the more time they spent with him, the more they felt that spark. “We both just fell in love with him so quickly,” Daphne says. “The goofiness helps.”

After Daphne and Dallas adopted Rydell and brought him home, there were some challenges at first. Rydell barked at other dogs who lived nearby and was wary of vet visits. But Daphne, a therapist who works from home, was determined to build a support network to keep building on all the skills Rydell learned during his time at the Sanctuary. It was time to apply them to his new living situation, with his new family.

[Water dog goes for a dip]

With help from a veterinary behaviorist, Rydell began to settle into himself. “He just needed structure and patience,” she says. “He is a total sweetheart, and we absolutely love him.”

Now his days are filled with car rides, river walks, and fetch sessions. “He is obsessed with tennis balls,” says Daphne. “And water. And bubbles, especially the SodaStream.”

It’s taken patience, training, and a lot of squeaky toys, but Rydell is no longer the dog who didn’t know what to do with his energy. Now, he’s the dog who splashes through life with joy — and always has room for one more giant cuddle.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.