Ten years ago this month, in July 2013, I adopted a dog from Pet Haven. She had been an "unwanted puppy living under someone's house," an abused and undersocialized, one-year-old shepherd mix. I liked dogs and sometimes took care of a friend’s dog.

I picked up my new dog from her foster home on a Friday night. By Saturday morning, I was making frantic calls. My new dog is broken! I asked her to sit and she ran off. She doesn’t know how to play. And she wants to be outside or under a table all the time.

I hired a dog trainer to teach me about dogs. I was flabbergasted to learn that I should play the name game all day long. How many dog cookies will I need???

I thought the “obedience” class was a place where a dog would magically learn to be obedient. Instead, I learned I’m supposed to practice commands with her at home.

I laugh now thinking about my first summer with Izzy, when she crashed my neighbor’s party because I decided to let her out in the unfenced front yard and I had to run after her in my ratty pajamas, when I took her to the Minnehaha off-leash park and brought a backpack of full of sticks, toys and water, and when she stole food from inside my mouth (yep).

I’m so happy that Pet Haven now offers behavioral support for new adopters! It’s so important and can make a world of difference. I did (very briefly) considered returning Izzy. I was overwhelmed and unsure about my ability to take care of a dog.