How one wary dog learned to trust through toys

Melon isn’t interested in shaking paws to make introductions. She’d rather offer up a toy instead.

Melon was in a shelter in Arkansas and went to the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville. But it quickly became clear she needed more specialized behavior support, so she came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. She wasn't sure how to communicate with people, and when someone would approach too quickly for her taste, she would bark and lunge at them. She needed time and support to help her feel comfortable, so her true fun-loving self could shine for potential adopters.

The Sanctuary supports shelters nationwide in reaching no-kill by taking in pets like Melon who may need extra care before going to homes. Not every dog walks in ready to trust. Some need a translator first — someone willing to learn what they're trying to say. That's where the Sanctuary's caregivers and behavior team come in, and it's exactly the kind of work that makes lifesaving possible for dogs like Melon.

At the Sanctuary, the team focused on helping Melon meet people in a way that felt safe for her.

At first, Melon kept her distance, but as time went on, she started creeping a little bit closer. Using toys as an ice breaker was a game changer. Caregivers learned that Melon absolutely loves to play, and she was much more willing to go up to someone if she was bringing them a toy to begin a game of fetch.

Fun Things to Do With Your Dog

So the team used that to help Melon feel more relaxed around new people. Allowing Melon to make the first move and bring people toys let her set the pace and remain in her comfort zone.

Each playdate showed progress. A new person might start by tossing a ball from a distance. But with each visit and game, Melon would close that distance, and the person who had started out as a stranger would become part of her circle of fun. She’d keep coming back for another toss, another game, and another visit.

Through all the fun and games, Melon grew comfortable enough to let people near her and eventually allow them to pet her. And as it turns out, she’s a snuggler. Once she’s accepted a new friend, she dives right in for a snuggle session, which is a long way from the starting line where she preferred to keep her distance from everyone.

As she’s opened up more and more, she’s also let her quirky personality traits shine — like her deep love of cube-shaped squeaky toys. During Melon’s play-and-friendship-building sessions, she shows her favorite cube toys a little preferential treatment. “I’ll throw a ball for her, and she brings it back no problem. But when I throw one of her cubed squeaker toys, she’ll hold onto it,” Best Friends caregiver Claire Blalock says.

To learn Melon’s language means paying attention to the little things that bring her joy. For Melon, that includes a good game of fetch, time to decide when she trusts someone new, and, above all else, a beloved squeaky cube.

Helping an anxious dog is all fun and games

The symphony of squeaks that come from her bed suggests that a squeaky cube might just be the greatest thing in the world (don’t tell the rest of her toys). And when everything quiets down at the Sanctuary, you can still hear Melon and her toy squeaking away, reminding everyone how much she adores it — and how much her comfort and personality have blossomed. While she may still prefer playtime introductions to pats on the head, she now has more confidence that offers a glimpse of the wonderfully goofy parts of her personality, too.

At first, Melon needed people to listen when she said she wasn't ready. Now, the sounds of her playing say something else entirely. They’re the sounds of a dog who feels safe, happy to be herself, and open to sharing her joy with the people around her — and, one day, with a family of her own.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. 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.