Meet Vader: From the Euthanasia List to a New Chance at Primal Canine

We went to the shelter to perform behavioral assessments on a few dogs and somehow ended up coming home with one!

Meet Vader, formerly known as Apollo, a roughly 4-month-old puppy who was on the euthanasia list and running out of time.

We weren't planning on pulling a dog that day. The plan was simply to evaluate a few dogs and see how we could help. But once we met this little dude and spent some time working with him, we couldn't leave him behind.

So Vader came back to Primal Canine with us, and his training started almost immediately.

How Vader Ended Up at the Shelter

Vader originally arrived at the shelter as a stray. He was eventually adopted, but unfortunately he was returned for biting.

The thing is — Vader is a puppy.

At roughly four months old, using his mouth, testing boundaries, playing hard, and needing to learn appropriate limits aren't exactly surprising behaviors. Puppies need structure, training, outlets, and someone willing to teach them what is expected.

Vader also appears to be a puppy who genuinely enjoys working, which means that energy needs somewhere productive to go.

After being returned to the shelter, Vader was eventually placed on the euthanasia list.

He was actually supposed to be euthanized a couple of days before we met him. Because we had arranged to come in and evaluate him, the shelter held onto him long enough for us to meet him.

Once we did, we couldn't let that be the end of his story.

We took him with us.

Vader's First Training Session

Because we had absolutely no intention of bringing home another dog that day, Vader's first session with us was about as impromptu as it gets.

We got back from the shelter and went straight to work.

There was no reason to make things complicated. We wanted to introduce Vader to everyone while getting a better idea of the puppy in front of us.

We started with some basic luring, engagement, food work, and play.

Right away, Vader showed us some qualities we really like.

He has great food drive, loves to play, wants to engage, and seems excited about working with us.

For a puppy just coming out of the shelter and entering an entirely new environment, that's a pretty good place to start.

Why Apollo Became Vader

It didn't take very long for this puppy's personality to start showing.

He's a good little dude, but he's also got a funny, spicy personality.

So Apollo didn't quite seem to fit anymore.

With that little bit of a dark side showing through, Vader seemed much more appropriate 😂

Now Vader gets to start over with a new name, a new training foundation, and hopefully very soon, a new family.

Training the Dog in Front of Us

Over the coming days and weeks, we'll continue learning more about Vader.

Rather than making assumptions about him based solely on what happened before he came to us, we're going to work with the dog that's actually standing in front of us.

We'll continue building his engagement, obedience, communication, confidence, play, and overall foundation while giving him productive outlets for all that puppy energy.

As we learn more about him, we'll also get a much better idea of what type of home will be the best fit.

That's one of the benefits of having a rescue dog actively training while looking for a home. We aren't simply trying to find someone willing to take him.

We want to understand Vader and find the right home for him.

Vader Is Available for Adoption

Vader is safe, he's training with us, and now he needs a forever home.

His training will continue while he's with us, and we're going to document his progress so everyone can follow along and watch this little dude develop.

If you're interested in adopting Vader, please reach out to Primal Canine for more information.

And even if you aren't in a position to adopt right now, you can still make a huge difference.

Share Vader's story.

Share his training videos, send them to friends and family, and help us get this puppy in front of as many potential adopters as possible.

A few days ago, Vader's future was uncertain.

Now he's safe, he's working, and he has another chance.

Let's find this spicy little dude his forever home.

Dog Training in Gilroy, San Jose & the Bay Area

Primal Canine is based in Gilroy, California, providing professional dog training for all behaviors, ages, and goals.

Our programs include puppy training, basic and advanced obedience, off-leash training, behavior modification, board and train programs, working-dog development, and protection training.

We work with dog owners throughout Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Jose, Hollister, Santa Cruz, Monterey, the South Bay, the greater Bay Area, and surrounding Northern California communities.

Whether you're starting with a young puppy like Vader, dealing with behavioral challenges, looking for reliable off-leash obedience, or pursuing more advanced training, our goal is to build a program around the dog and handler in front of us.

Need help with your dog?

Contact Primal Canine to learn more about our training programs and find the right option for you and your dog.

And be sure to follow along on YouTube and social media as we continue documenting Vader's training and search for his forever home.