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Hilo, a husky at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, arrived wary of people handling his neck. His caregivers took collar training a little at a time: showing him the collar from a distance, pairing it with treats, and moving closer as he became comfortable. Best Friends’ feature says he now puts his head through his collar and heads out on leash outings.
Learning to feel safe around a collar
Hilo moved into the Shipley Dog Lodges, where the sanctuary’s behavior team works with caregivers to support dogs who need additional guidance. Because Hilo was uncomfortable with neck handling, even getting ready for a walk could be difficult.
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His caregivers began with small steps. They showed him the collar from a distance and paired its presence with treats, then gradually brought it closer. The feature describes this as helping Hilo learn that the collar predicted something positive. His routine now includes willingly putting his head through it.
This is the account of one dog’s individualized experience at the sanctuary, not a prescribed training plan or a guarantee that another dog will respond the same way. The story is reported by Best Friends Animal Society.
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The goofy side his caregivers know
Once Hilo is comfortable, his personality comes through in ways his caregivers describe with affection. Jamie Prewett, a Best Friends caregiver, says, “He’s the silliest dog. We’re always laughing with him.”
- At the dog park, leaving can turn into a game of keep-away followed by zoomies.
- If his leash catches under a leg, he may howl about it—even when it is not actually stopping him. As Prewett puts it, “Even if it’s not hindering him at all, he still yells about it.”
- Bedtime can bring a vocal protest before he settles down.
There are also recognizable directions for finding him around Dogtown. Best Friends caregiver Claire Blalock says, “Once you get to the husky lying with his head on the gate, turn.” Prewett describes Hilo as “probably the most dog-friendly dog we care for,” while noting he takes a minute to let someone into his circle.
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A companion to Crocodile
Hilo’s presence has also mattered to Crocodile, another dog at the sanctuary. Prewett calls him “a role model for Crocodile.” Blalock says Crocodile watches Hilo and seems to think, “Maybe this place isn’t so scary.” Those are caregivers’ observations about the two dogs, rather than a measured behavioral finding.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the feature says about no-kill
Best Friends Animal Society defines no-kill as saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, while taking community safety and pets’ quality of life into account. The organization says its goal is for every U.S. shelter and community to reach no-kill, and emphasizes that shelter staff need support and participation from their communities.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The feature says Hilo is ready for a home. It is a story, not a current adoption listing, and does not establish whether he is available now. Anyone interested in adopting him should check for a current official listing.
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