Black Betty — Seeing Beyond the Label (and the Snorts)
By John Sorosky
(Keywords: dog socialization in shelters, Boston Terrier behavior,
assessing reactive dogs, rescue dog rehabilitation, K911
Transformative Dog Handling)
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When Black Betty arrived at the rescue, the first thing I heard was:
“She doesn’t get along with other dogs.”
That’s usually code for: “She barked once and everyone panicked.”
Now, Betty is a Boston Terrier — and if you’ve ever met one, you know
they come with big personalities in small packages. They snort, they
huff, they wheeze, and somehow it all sounds like commentary.
Still, I took the warning seriously. But instead of believing the
label, I decided to see who she really was.
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Day 1 — The Snort Heard ’Round the Yard
When I first met Betty, she sounded like a tiny steam engine.
Snort. Snuffle. Huff. Side-eye.
It was hard to tell if she was warning me or narrating her own reality show.
But underneath all that noise, I saw curiosity, quick glances, short
tail wags, and a spark that said, “I’m not mad, I’m just figuring this
out.”
So, we didn’t rush. We just hung out, walked near other dogs at a
distance, and gave her time to breathe (literally).
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Day 2 — Parallel Parking, Not Crashing
The next day, we tried parallel walking, side by side, no direct greeting.
She did her signature Boston snort every time another dog got close,
quick lunge with her short lil’ legs, like a running commentary:
“I see you. Don’t push it. Okay fine… maybe you’re alright.”
Within minutes, her shoulders dropped. Her breathing slowed (a
little). She started matching pace with the other dog.
That’s when I knew she wasn’t “dog-aggressive.” She just needed space,
predictability, and someone patient enough to wait her out.
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Day 3 — The Social Butterfly Emerges
By day three, we were ready for a small yard session.
I let her mingle with two of my own dogs and a couple of trainees.
There was a moment of hesitation, a deep Boston Terrier sigh and then
she was off.
Running, spinning, bowing, and yes, snorting like a tiny freight train
of happiness.
The dog everyone said “didn’t like other dogs” was now playing tag like a pro.
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Lessons From Black Betty
Betty reminded me how easily we label dogs and how wrong we often are.
Fear, confusion, or stress can look like aggression, especially in a
noisy environment.
Once she had structure, space, and calm energy around her, Betty’s
true personality came out goofy, social, smart, and just a little
dramatic.
She still snorts like she’s narrating her own movie, but now it’s a
happy soundtrack.
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Still Learning (and Laughing) After 40 Years
Even after decades of training, dogs like Betty keep me humble.
They remind me that every dog is an individual, and sometimes the only
thing standing between “unadoptable” and “amazing” is a second look
and a sense of humor.
Because what works for one dog might not work for another.
And sometimes the thing that looks like a problem… is just a Boston
Terrier being a Boston Terrier.
That’s what K911 Transformative Dog Handling is all about, slowing
down, watching closer, laughing when you can, and always giving dogs
the chance to show who they really are.
Learn more or schedule a workshop:
https://k911animalrescue.org/t