Animal trainer Ann Allums likes all dogs she meets, and so does the organization she works for. "At Best Friends, we view every dog as an individual," she told attendees at a training workshop she gave with co-presenter Michelle Besmehn.
Ann and Michelle, who both star in National Geographic Channel's "DogTown" series, showed videos to illustrate the work they do with dogs at Best Friends Dogtown, where canines live on the sanctuary grounds. Many of the dogs they spend time with are special-needs.
In that group are shy dogs, and while Michelle said working with them takes a lot of time, "It's rewarding in the end."
"I love really love to work with shy dogs," she said. "I find it rewarding when they come around." She suggested, though, that when working with them, they not push them too much: "I think one of the most importnat things to do when working with a shy dog is to be patient. You have to take baby steps with these guys for them to come around. Just be patient."
Most of all, she said, "Don't give up."
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