“Learning to Trust Again: A Day in My Life” — by Tharros (Chief Treat Inspector, Certified Good Boy)

Woof, I’m Tharros.

If you’ve met me before, you probably noticed I’m the kind of dog who likes to take his time with people. I’m not shy—I’m thoughtful. I watch, I sniff, I think. Some humans rush right in, but not me. I like to make sure you’re the kind of person who understands dogs like me… dogs who need a moment before jumping into friendships.

My human says I’m “a loving dog who’s a little weary of people at first, but loyal and goofy once I warm up.” I think that’s pretty accurate.

And trust me: once I love you, I really love you. I’ll even let you in on my best dog-dad jokes.
(You’re welcome in advance.)

Learning to Feel Safe Again

When I first came home, everything felt big. New people, new sounds, new expectations. I didn’t know who to trust yet, so I kept my guard up.

My human didn’t push me. She let me come forward when I was ready. She tossed toys, let me explore, and never forced anything.

That’s when I started thinking:
“Hey… maybe this human gets me.”
(Which is impressive, because half the time even I don’t get me.)

Every day I learned a little more.
Every day she helped me feel braver.

Soon the world wasn’t so loud or confusing anymore.
Or maybe I just got louder. Hard to say.

How I See the World Now

I still like to evaluate new humans before I decide they’re friend material. I mean, you wouldn’t walk up to a random person and lick their face right away… would you? (If you would… I won’t judge, but maybe keep that a dog thing.)

But once someone shows me kindness, patience, or even just a gentle smile… well, I melt a little. My tail starts wagging, I do the famous head tilt, and suddenly I’m like:

“Congratulations, human. You’ve unlocked the deluxe friendship package.”

I don’t love everyone instantly, but once I do, I love deeply.
Like… “I will follow you into the bathroom” deeply.

Why My Human Does What She Does

Watching her work with other dogs makes sense to me. She treats every dog like an individual—like we each have a story, needs, fears, and strengths. She believes training should help us feel understood, not pressured.

She follows a simple philosophy: play, trust, learn.
Pretty smart if you ask me.

I’m living proof that patience works.

If You’re a Dog Like Me…

If the world feels overwhelming
If people feel unpredictable
If you want to be brave but you’re not sure how
…you’re in the right place.

I did it.
You can too.
And my human can show you.

Plus, here’s one more dog-dad joke before we wrap up:

Why did the dog bring a pencil to his training session?
Because he wanted to draw attention!
(I know. Comedy gold.)

A Friendly Final Woof

Thanks for taking the time to step into my paws for a little while. Trust isn’t something that happens overnight—it’s something we build slowly, with patience, kindness, and a few good belly rubs. If you’re a dog who’s still figuring out the world, or a human trying to understand your dog a little better, just know this:

You’re not alone.
You’re capable.
And with the right support, you can grow into the brave, confident version of yourself—just like I did.

I hope to meet you someday. I’ll probably bark at you first… but if you give me a moment, I promise I’ll be your friend for life.

Until then, keep playing, keep learning, and most importantly…
stay pawsitive. 🐾

— Tharros, Chief Treat Inspector & Certified Good Boy