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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Homeless feeding questioned Disc golf course coming to Cave Junction park Human remains found in burning trailer Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service Barn fire may have been human-caused Emergency services Inmates to get mental health, addiction treatment Missing Medford man found safe in Sweet Home Politics and Elections Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Commissioner candidates Talbert, Roberts duel for endorsements Falls: Jackson County sheriff's race isn't over Former sheriff calls Winters' retirement decision 'very wise' Will 'GMO effect' shape election? 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Medford airport has busiest September ever County hopes to spur renewable energy Real Estate News Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters People In Business Transportation Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Opinion Latest Election Letters, Oct.11 Another View: Congress must act on firefighting budget Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Matthew T. 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Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Human remains found in burning trailer ... Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Gaining a new leash on life Humane Society agility course builds confidence and adoptability for shelter dogs Cookies, a 4-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix, sits in a caged area in the front lobby of the Southern Oregon Humane Society in Medford waiting for the next visitor to fall in love with her and maybe even adopt her. By AMANDA BARKER MailTribune.com By AMANDA BARKER Posted Jul. 29, 2013 @ 12:01 am Updated Aug 15, 2013 at 11:29 AM By AMANDA BARKER Posted Jul. 29, 2013 @ 12:01 am Updated Aug 15, 2013 at 11:29 AM » RELATED CONTENT Adopt a pet --> If you want to adopt a pet from the Southern Oregon Humane Society, visit their website at sohumane.org to view the dogs and cats that are available for adoption and to get some background on each ... » Read more X Adopt a pet If you want to adopt a pet from the Southern Oregon Humane Society, visit their website at sohumane.org to view the dogs and cats that are available for adoption and to get some background on each animal. You can also download the adoption application to fill out before going to the Adoption Center. • Happy Ending • Training Day » Social News Cookies, a 4-year-old Jack Russell Terrier mix, sits in a caged area in the front lobby of the Southern Oregon Humane Society in Medford waiting for the next visitor to fall in love with her and maybe even adopt her. To increase the chance of that happening, staff members at the Humane Society are putting Cookies through a training course aimed at making her more adoptable. As Cookies' handler, Ashley Schwab, hooks a blue leash to the dog's harness, the terrier cowers down and tucks her tail between her legs. It's time for her agility lesson, which she normally loves, albeit Cookies hasn't caught on yet. But the minute she feels the rush of Medford's heat as she steps out the back door of the Humane Society, Cookies' black-spotted right ear slowly rises up and her tail shoots up from between her legs — she seems to realize it's agility time and she starts looking more confident. The Humane Society in Medford is home to one of the few agility courses on the West Coast, says Humane Society Executive Director Kenn Altine. "It's a very rare thing for an animal-welfare program to have such a structured and guided training program," he says, noting that the course opened in March. The agility equipment, which the Humane Society received from various sponsors, is professional-grade equipment that is normally used to train dogs for agility competitions. The course contains a variety of elements, including three tunnels, hurdles, three different-sized teeter-totters, three different-sized A-frames and The Walk, a raised plank the dogs scamper across. "A lot of places just let the dogs do whatever they want with the equipment," he says. "But here, we work with the dogs on the course because it builds their confidence." Building confidence is especially important for dogs like Cookies, who has been at the shelter since March and is still awaiting adoption. Before Cookies braves the teeter-totter, the medium-sized A-frame and The Walk, Altine bends over and gives her a soft T-bone treat. Cookies steps onto the purple and orange teeter-totter with two goals — eat the treat and earn some affection. As the teeter-totter drops to the other side, Cookies' ears rise higher and higher. She then attempts the small A-frame, walking up one side and down the other, which she manages with no trouble at all. "Such a good job, mama!" Altine says as he gives her another treat. "This is amazing, because she is happy and engaged," he says. And the happier she is, the better her chances of finding a new home. "The more she succeeds, the more she builds her confidence," Altine says. "The more confident she is, the more adoptable she becomes." Cookies isn't the only dog using the equipment in an effort to become more attractive to people looking for a new household companion. Muffin, a 7-year-old, brown dachshund that has been at the Humane Society since July 3, is also working to build her confidence with the agility course. Showing initiative, the wiener dog decides to brave the agility course without being bribed with treats. "Some do it just for the love," Altine says. Muffin can't seem to get enough of the course. Even with her tongue hanging out of the side of her mouth and drool dripping to the dirt, Muffin seems determined to accomplish almost every obstacle without a break. She completes the teeter-totter without hesitation, and before Altine can congratulate her, she is already to the top of the small A-frame, where she pauses to look up at Altine with her big, brown eyes, as if waiting for him to acknowledge her speed. "Such a good girl, mama!" he says to the exhausted Muffin. But the small obstacles aren't enough of a challenge. The 15-pound wiener dog looks up to the large A-frame. She is determined. And just as she completed the small obstacles with flying colors, the large A-frame is now also in her past. "One last obstacle for the day," Altine says. "The hurdles." For a low-to-the-ground wiener dog, this is a big deal, Altine says. With Muffin's leash in hand, Schwab starts jogging to get Muffin ready. In the blink of an eye, Muffin has jumped over three consecutive hurdles as if she were a golden retriever. "This course is a huge confidence builder for shy dogs," Altine says. "It also calms hyper dogs down." The agility course isn't just a confidence builder, it's a life-saver for many dogs. Both Cookies and Muffin were slated for euthanasia at their previous public shelters. The Southern Oregon Humane Society gave them a reprieve in hopes that the attention and confidence they gained on the agility course would make them more adoptable. "Muffin is a sweetheart who will provide love and companionship every day of her life," he says. "Cookies tends to be shy, but working on the agility course with the trainers several times a week helps her to learn that humans do come back." Reach Mail Tribune intern Amanda Barker at 541-776-4368 or at [email protected]. By AMANDA BARKER MailTribune.com By AMANDA BARKER Posted Jul. 29, 2013 @ 12:01 am Updated Aug 15, 2013 at 11:29 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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