ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A RESCUED DOBERMAN - Cota
Owner: Rayanne Chamberlain
Cota is a rescued 7-year-old black male Doberman who has attained certification as a wilderness search dog with Michigan Search and Rescue (MISAR) and through the North American Police Work Dog Association. A year ago, he also attained a complex level certification and became a Delta Society Therapy dog. He regularly participates in a children’s reading program preferring stories that include dogs!
Cota’s first re-homing was to a family who probably didn’t understand the needs of a large and active dog. He ended up spending most of every day in a crate, becoming more and more unstable and unruly – a dog his owners could not handle.
When Cota came to us, his third and final home at approximately one year of age, he needed a job and a serious attitude adjustment. With patience and hard work Cota adjusted to his new life. In his own way, Cota is very smart and an excellent problem solver, but because of the lack of training during his first year of life, he had to learn how to learn. Teaching him the mechanics of wilderness search and rescue took about twice as long as with a dog that has had early socialization and training. Cota, however, showed a great desire to do the job and his willingness to persevere was extraordinary. It took a little longer than with most dogs, but Cota has now participated as an active resource on MISAR searches for the past 4+ years, often working for 6-8 hours on consecutive days never losing his desire to find the person.
As Cota matured, he clearly showed the Doberman trait of loving people. He participates in at least a dozen search and rescue demonstrations annually being totally comfortable when surrounded by dozens of children all wanting to pet him at the same time while he serves as an excellent ambassador for the breed.
It has been a joy to watch Cota grow and mature. When he first arrived, he was literally afraid of toys; he now refuses to work for anything less than a fuzzy, squeaky toy. He came to me so concerned about doing anything wrong that doing simple obedience with him was almost painful, because he was so worried; today he’s totally comfortable with being corrected because he’s surged ahead. Finally, at the age of six he learned to swim and now enjoys it. Watching him gain confidence and make a difference in people’s lives all while having the fastest wagging tail in the east has been enormously rewarding.
You can click on a Service Award category below to read the winner's story:
Search & Rescue · Therapy Dogs · Assistance/Service Dogs · Everyday Hero · Public Safety/Service · Accomplishment by a Rescue Doberman