National Shelter Dog Month, Real Conversations, and Showing Up for Dog Families
- k9HS - Carlos F Morales
- Jul 31
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 17
Picture this, you lose your job, and then your dog has a frightening experience that changes how they respond to people, dogs, or the world outside your front door. You care about your dog deeply, but professional training suddenly feels out of reach.
For many families, this is not a hypothetical situation. It is real life. National Shelter Dog Month is a meaningful time to celebrate the dogs who found their way into our homes, but it is also a chance to talk honestly about what families need to keep those dogs safely and happily at home.
Every August 111, many people celebrate DOGust, the shared birthday given to rescue and shelter dogs whose actual birth dates are unknown. Maybe you have estimated your dog’s age, picked a birthday, or made them a slightly questionable dog-safe cake. You get it.
DOGust was established in 2008 by North Shore Animal League America to honor dogs whose histories may be incomplete because of abandonment, neglect, or missing records. A shared birthday may seem like a small gesture, but it recognizes something important. These dogs deserve to be celebrated, supported, and understood as individuals.
For me, DOGust and National Shelter Dog Month are about more than a celebration. They are a reminder that many dog families are doing their best with limited support, conflicting advice, and challenges that can feel impossible to solve alone.
National Shelter Dog Month is about supporting families
In my work with dog parents in Long Beach and through k9HS Online, I meet people who care deeply about their dogs. They are not lazy. They are not failing because they do not love their dog enough. Most are overwhelmed because they did not receive clear, accessible, evidence-based guidance at the moment they needed it.
I see families navigating leash reactivity after being told to use corrections. I meet new puppy guardians who have received five completely different answers to the same question. I see dogs called stubborn, dominant, or difficult when they are scared, overstimulated, in pain, or have simply not been taught the skills we expect from them.
Those struggles can grow when families do not have support.
Research on pet rehoming has found that behavior concerns are among the common reasons families report when they need to rehome a dog or cat. Financial hardship, housing issues, and access to resources can also play a major role. That does not mean every rehoming situation is preventable, and it does not mean families should be blamed. It means earlier support, compassionate education, veterinary care, and realistic options can make a meaningful difference.
Keeping people and pets together is a community issue. It requires more than telling people to “train their dog.” It means making good information easier to find, reducing shame around behavior struggles, and connecting families with qualified help before a situation reaches a breaking point.
What I see every week
Many behavior concerns are not signs that a dog is bad. They are communication.
A dog who barks and lunges on leash may be worried, frustrated, or over threshold. A puppy who cannot settle may need more rest, more predictable routines, or a less overwhelming environment. A dog who suddenly growls, avoids touch, or becomes irritable may need a veterinary examination, especially when the change is new or unusual.
When a dog’s behavior changes suddenly, always start by speaking with your veterinarian. Pain, illness, sensory changes, and other medical issues can affect behavior. If the concern involves fear, aggression, or safety risks, work with a qualified force-free trainer or behavior professional who can help you make a plan that protects both your dog and the people around them.
The good news is that effective support does not have to be complicated or flashy. It does need to be humane, practical, and based on how dogs learn.
For example, with leash reactivity, the goal is not simply to stop barking in the moment. We want to change the dog’s underlying emotional response and teach skills that make walks more manageable. That may include:
Creating enough distance from triggers so your dog can notice them without becoming overwhelmed
Pairing the sight of a trigger with food, play, or another reinforcer your dog values
Using calm exits, visual barriers, and quieter walking routes when needed
Practicing attention and movement skills in low-distraction settings first
Avoiding punishment and leash corrections, which can increase fear or make triggers predict bad experiences
It is not a magic trick. It is steady, thoughtful work that gives the dog a better chance to feel safe and succeed.
Real conversations, not perfect answers
This August, I am hosting DOGust Ask the Expert every Thursday at 5:30 PM. These free Zoom sessions are a place for dog parents to ask real questions about what is happening with their dogs right now.
There is no judgment. No pressure to have done everything perfectly. No need to arrive with polished training language or a perfectly behaved dog sleeping quietly in the background. Honestly, if your dog barks during the call, they are probably just contributing to the discussion.
The sessions include:
August 6: General training and behavior questions, including puppies, leash walking, fear, reactivity, and enrichment
August 13: A conversation with Stefanie Barone about reactivity and what genuinely helps
August 20: A conversation with Kaitlin Cowley-Deyoe about nutrition, behavior, and overall health
August 27: A conversation with Kristie Weist about trick training as meaningful enrichment
My goal is for people to leave with at least one practical next step. That might be a way to make walks feel less overwhelming, an enrichment idea they can try today, or a clearer understanding of what their dog may be communicating.
Most of all, I hope dog parents leave knowing they are not alone.
An open invitation to dog parents
If you feel stuck, frustrated, or unsure what to do next, you are welcome here. Ask a question ahead of time or join live. You do not need to be in a crisis to deserve support, and you do not need to navigate a difficult behavior concern in isolation.
National Shelter Dog Month is a good reminder that celebrating shelter dogs also means showing up for the people who love them. Support can begin with a conversation, a compassionate answer, and information that helps a family take the next step.
Learn more, share the event, and RSVP through Canine High School’s DOGust Ask the Expert event pages:
A Note from Carlos
I have always believed that dog parents deserve more than judgment when things get hard. They deserve practical support, good information, and someone willing to help them sort through the noise.
If your dog is struggling, it does not mean you have failed them. Start with one small, workable step. Ask for help early when you can.
We do our best until we know better. This library is here to help you know better.
References
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (2015). More than 1 million households forced to give up their beloved pet each year.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (n.d.). Position statement: Keeping pets and people together.
North Shore Animal League America. (n.d.). DOGust: The universal birthday for shelter dogs.
Weiss, E., Gramann, S., Spain, C. V., & Slater, M. (2015). Goodbye to a good friend: An exploration of the re-homing of cats and dogs in the U.S. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 5, 435-456.
About the Author
Carlos F. Morales, CPDT-KA, CDBC, is a force-free dog trainer and behavior consultant based in Long Beach, California. He helps families build safer, happier relationships with their dogs through modern, ethical, evidence-based training. He lives in a little house by the beach with his partner, three dogs—GoGo, Kiba, and Choji—and a sassy cat named Habibti.
