10/29/2026
We fell in love with Ahsoka the second we saw her photo on Unleashed's page. She was a fluffy white puppy with a pink nose and two big, bright eyes, one blue and one green. We were at the shelter when the doors opened the next morning, ready to bring her home.
We knew from the beginning that raising a Pyrenees, Husky, and Shepherd mix would come with its challenges. We did our best to socialize her early, introducing her to new people, dogs, and experiences. As she grew, we noticed she was a little shy and nervous, but we assumed that was just her personality. She loved her brother Buddy, played well with our family's dogs, and eventually warmed up to visitors.
Over time, though, her nervousness turned into something more concerning. She became increasingly possessive of food, toys, spaces, and eventually even us. What started as occasional snapping escalated into several serious incidents with dogs she knew and loved. We tried managing her triggers by removing toys, separating meals, and limiting interactions. For a while, that seemed to work. But we weren't solving the problem, just avoiding it. After one particularly frightening incident with a family dog, we realized something had to change. We were terrified of what could happen next, not just for the other dogs, but for Ahsoka. We loved her too much to let things continue down that path.
Finding the right trainer wasn't easy. We wanted Ahsoka to be safe, but we didn't want to lose the goofy, affectionate dog we adored. We loved our morning snuggles, sharing the couch, and all the little things that made her part of our family. We weren't looking for a dog without a personality. We wanted our girl to feel happy and secure. That's when we met Chuck and Newton (shoutout to Newt for being such a wonderful role model!).
Chuck helped us understand something we hadn't recognized before. Beneath what looked like aggression was a deeply insecure dog who felt she needed to control everything around her. Ahsoka didn't just need to learn commands. She needed confidence in herself and trust in us to handle the situations that made her uncomfortable. And boy, did she fight that change at first!
Those first few weeks were HARD. Watching her struggle to give up control was emotional, and there were plenty of moments when we wanted to give in. Thankfully, we had Simone and Cat guiding us through it. Simone probably spent more time training Matt and me than she did Ahsoka, teaching us how to become the owners Ahsoka needed. Slowly, something incredible happened. The more Ahsoka learned, the more confident she became. She seemed genuinely happier, and every new challenge became something she was excited to conquer.
During our final home training session, we took her to Home Depot to practice around unfamiliar people and environments. By the end, her tail was loose and wagging, and she was even showing curiosity and excitement about meeting new people. Seeing her relaxed and happy in a situation that once would have terrified her was everything.
Today, we attend group training every Saturday, where Ahsoka continues to conquer new obstacles, even the moving ones! We practice her commands throughout the week and dedicate Wednesdays to the three Ds: distance, duration, and distractions. Her interactions with people and dogs have completely changed. She's more curious, more confident, and far less overwhelmed by the world around her. And when she does feel uncertain, we now have the tools to help her feel safe instead of leaving her to figure everything out on her own. None of this would have been possible without Chuck, Simone, Cat, and the incredible Elite community.
It hasn't been easy, and the work isn't over. Training isn't something that ends after a few home visits or group classes. It's a commitment we'll continue making for the rest of her life.
But watching Ahsoka become a happier, more confident dog has made every difficult moment worth it. We didn't do this to change who Ahsoka is. We did it so she could finally feel comfortable being herself.
And after everything our dogs give us, helping her live the happy, amazing life she deserves is the very least we can do. ❤️
- Matthew and Delaney S.
