Lending a healing, helping paw

Anyone who has brought a puppy home knows the work, dedication, and patience required to train them to be a respectful, furry family member. Learning about different breeds and their attributes is an important tool when deciding what kind of pup to get.

   For Roger Curtis, of Buffalo, a German Shepherd was the clear choice; all he needed to do was convince his wife, Sherry.

   “I had a white German Shepherd back in the mid-90s,” Roger said. “Then I met Sherry, and she had a cat.”

   Recently, the couple had talked about getting a dog, but needed to decide on a breed.

   “We talked about getting a dog,” Sherry said. “I told him that, if we’re going to get a dog, we’re gonna get a dog. We’re not gonna get an ankle biter!”

   Though the initial timeline to get a puppy included waiting until Roger retired, he “kept working on Sherry, and she finally broke down.” He also convinced her to get a German Shepherd, a dog known for its intelligence, loyalty, and protectiveness.

   “I sold her on the pretense of a dog to protect her and our home,” Roger shared.

   They got in touch with a breeder in October of 2019 and were given the pick of the litter when puppies were born in January of 2020. Their plans slightly changed, as they originally wanted a male. The litter included one male and eight females, and the breeders wanted to keep the male.

   While their initial plan of bringing home a male puppy named Gibbs (a tribute to their favorite TV show, “NCIS”) didn’t work out as planned, it’s clear that their female, Zhiva, was meant to be a part of the family.

Zhiva

   Fast forward to 2021: Zhiva is now 80 pounds of protectiveness and companionship. A quick walk around the house and brief glance outside the window, then she returns to her place by her owners, always sitting in front to receive ear scratches and continue her guard duties.

   Zhiva has the classic “German Shepherd head tilt” perfected, and her playful side always comes out when there’s string cheese involved. The 16-month-old pup has been learning commands, knows exactly which toy to bring Roger when he asks for her orange ball, and has been working hard to protect her home and humans.

   Like any young puppy, Zhiva has had her moments of stubbornness with training and puppy naughtiness, but recently, the Curtis’ were gifted an opportunity to help Zhiva shake some bad habits and gain valuable skills.

Zhiva’s Training

   Sherry, a licensed practical nurse, was one of the Allina staff members injured during the February 9 shooting at the Crossroads Clinic. The days and weeks following were filled with hospital stays, surgeries, and appointments, a time when training a puppy wasn’t high on the priority list.

   “I think she really sensed that I wasn’t completely okay,” Sherry said. “She was very gentle with me.”

   Though Zhiva was aware when interacting with her fur mom, she had developed a habit of jumping up on people, which was something Roger and Sherry wanted to fix quickly to avoid any future problems while Sherry continued to heal.

   It was through a conversation with a former neighbor that Roger and Sherry connected with Canine Cabin in Clear Lake.

   “Rachel Lucas, the owner, had her child born at the Buffalo Hospital, and she wanted to do something to help,” Roger shared. “She heard about our predicament, and she offered to take Zhiva for four to six weeks, at no charge to us, for boarding and training.”

   The weight of training and caring for a puppy was lifted off their shoulders, and it gave the couple the much-needed time to focus on Sherry’s recovery.    

   Zhiva ended up spending almost three weeks away. During her time at Canine Cabin, Zhiva not only learned to stop jumping as much, but also came home with improved behavior when going on walks.

   “To walk her, you might as well have hooked her leash up to the back of the car and go run her!” Roger said. “Now, her walking has improved. There’s room for improvement, but Sherry can hold her and walk without her pulling. Before, she’d pull like a freight train!”

   After the few weeks went by, Roger and Sherry went out to Clear Lake to visit Zhiva. When Sherry and Zhiva saw each other, it was clear they couldn’t go home without her.

   “Sherry needed her, and she needed Sherry,” Roger said.

Zhiva’s Home

   “It was a relief, and a Godsend,” Roger said of the gift to train and board Zhiva after the February 9 incident. “It was nice that you could come in the door and she wouldn’t be jumping on top of you.”

   Though Zhiva still has that puppy energy, her owners have found her to be more controllable, a big improvement from when they first dropped her off at the doggy “bootcamp.”

   “At that time, our life was so chaotic,” Roger said. “They did a wonderful thing for us.”

   Now, Roger, Sherry, and Zhiva can continue to heal and move forward together, as a family.

    “She’s now 80 pounds of love and joy, and happiness, and compassion,” Roger said.

   Whether it’s a car ride to Dairy Queen for a Pup Cup, or a run outside in the yard to collect all the toys she brought out, Zhiva is constantly bringing smiles and laughter into the lives of Roger and Sherry, proving even a pupper can be #BuffaloStrong and #AllinaStrong.