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Coordinator: Carol Aulick

Meet Cody – A Remarkable Comeback Story

Cody is one special dog, and if you’re looking for a loyal, fun, adventure-ready companion, you don’t want to miss him. He is currently located in Florida.

Cody has undergone an incredible transformation and truly come into his own. Today, he is confident, engaged, and full of life.

He’s an absolute blast to play with — bring out a tug or a ball and watch him light up. He loves walks and hikes, and when he gets the chance to stretch out in an open field, he runs like the wind. It’s pure joy to watch.

Cody is:

• Crate trained

• House trained

• Solid in basic obedience

• Good on leash

• Reliable with recall

• Excellent with other dogs

In fact, he’s currently serving as a “helper dog” for the trainer who is fostering him — a testament to his stability and social skills with other dogs.

Because Cody does have prey drive, he will not be placed in a home with cats or small children.

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Cody’s Journey

When Cody was first evaluated at the shelter, there were no red flags. He showed no aggression, was not reactive, and did well with other dogs.

However, about a month into his initial foster placement, he began showing reactivity toward unfamiliar people entering the home. His foster became uncomfortable taking him out publicly.

ABMR had a recommended trainer come out to assess him and he filmed his interaction with Cody (you can watch a small portion of it here):  https://youtu.be/A5fvs_OOUaw

He suggested a slow desensitization and counterconditioning approach.   You can hear him say that from seeing Cody's reactions, it will be a fairly long journey because Cody's reactions are pretty intense and severe. The prognosis was not good.

Then everything changed.

ABMR connected with Matt Welch of Dog Training Boca (https://dogtrainingboca.com/), and Cody began fostering with him. Under Matt’s guidance, Cody’s transformation has been extraordinary.

When Cody first arrived, he lacked confidence, was fearful of and reactive with new people, had no interest in toys, and was overweight. Today, he is confident, playful, balanced, and engaged with life. He now loves tug, enjoys playing ball, thrives in pack settings, and carries himself like a completely different dog.

Matt does a great job explaining Cody's journey in this video:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EyevJSvrb/ .  About 11 minutes in, he shows video before and after with tug on string!  

Here are some additional videos that Matt shared:

Cody loving pack life: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1K1bboJD9Q/

Cody walking with the pack: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16UPW3d3fT/

Confidence - playing ball with Nick: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CGxvVMyRB/

The focus of his training wasn’t simply managing behavior — it was building confidence and giving Cody the tools to understand and navigate the world in a healthy, stable way.

The result? A happy, resilient dog who is ready for his next chapter.

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What Cody Needs

Cody will thrive with:

• A confident, consistent handler

• Continued structure and leadership

• An active home that enjoys walks, hikes, and play

• No cats or small children

In return, you’ll get a loyal, energetic, deeply connected companion who has already done the hard work of growth.

Cody’s story is one of resilience and proper guidance unlocking potential. He’s not just “available” — he’s ready.

If you’re looking for a dog with heart, drive, and a comeback story that proves what’s possible, Cody might just be your guy.

Please contact Carol, his coordinator, via email at caulick@malinoisrescue.org for more information.  If you are interested in adopting Cody ,  please fill out the adopition application: https://www.malinoisrescue.org/forms/form?formid=6574

Good with Dogs, Not Good with Cats, Good with Older/Considerate Kids Only, Good with Adults

ABMR thanks you for taking the time to look at our malinois available for adoption.