From Shelter Dog to Full-Time Sidekick
by Carol Mowdy Bond
It’s been eight years since Krista Davis noticed a 2-year-old canine detainee at Lawton Animal Welfare’s city shelter.
“He looked defeated, unsure,” says Davis. “I could tell he wanted connection, like he was saying, ‘I’m scared, but I don’t want to be.’”
Davis adopted the dog, but he was so nervous and withdrawn, she almost had to carry him out of the shelter. She named him Tripp. Once home, she realized just how much healing lay ahead. He avoided interaction, didn’t know how to play and seemed unsure of how to simply be a dog.
To help ease Tripp’s insecurities, Davis set up an open pen in the living room and placed his blanket inside. He was free to come and go at will, but it was his personal sanctuary with no other visitors allowed inside.
“I didn’t tiptoe around him,” she says. “I went about daily life with the quiet confidence that he belonged there. He was included in the household from day one, but he was allowed to participate on his own terms.”
Unconditional Love
Davis did not try to change Tripp to meet her needs. Instead, she chose to appreciate him unconditionally.
“Tripp taught me that sensitivity and intelligence often go hand in hand,” she says. “For some dogs, sensitivity can actually reflect how much they notice and process the world around them. The qualities that made Tripp cautious in a new environment are the qualities that now make him exceptionally intelligent, trainable and aware.”
After a few days in his new home, Tripp walked over to Davis, placed his chin on her knee and asked for attention — his first moment of full connection. From that point forward, she slowly began training him to respond to the usual commands.
“I think the process worked because it balanced his safety, autonomy and engagement,” she says.
But Davis also taught Tripp a variety of tricks including how to roll over, play dead, shake with the correct paw depending on which hand she offered, wave hello, speak and balance treats on his nose.
“Tripp figured out the tricks I taught him can be used to communicate what he wants,” says Davis. “In his mind, waving and barking aren’t just tricks. They are a way of saying, ‘Excuse me, I’d like you to throw my toy.’ He didn’t just learn tricks. He learned how to use them to speak to me.”
Now Tripp not only knows how to be a dog, but he also delights in being silly and having fun. He eagerly chases a flying disc or ball, and when he doesn’t have a playmate, he entertains himself by tossing his toys into the air before chasing them down. Tripp also loves to swim, even if it’s just a dip in the livestock watering trough.
From the Golden State to the Sooner State
An Oklahoma transplant, Davis grew up around pets and animals. As a girl, her first true animal soulmate was her pet rat, Lloyd. She was heavily involved in high school FFA with rabbits, sheep and a steer.
These days, when she isn’t on her acreage near Duncan, you’ll likely find Davis behind a camera lens, photographing horse events, portraits and real estate images for her business, Krista Davis Signature Portraiture. And Tripp is usually under foot, whether at home or elsewhere.
On the acreage, Tripp is the on-site security team. He also helps Davis with barn and equine chores and gardening, hangs out when the farrier is on location and keeps her company while she runs errands, hikes or visits friends.
When a neighbor’s sheep repeatedly made their way onto her property, Davis released Tripp into the pasture and said, “Herd ‘em up.” With no warning and no training, Tripp worked the sheep back to their home property.
Tripp also accompanies Davis as she photographs horse and livestock events. As her well-behaved sidekick, he calmly takes in all the activity. His favorite thing is watching the cows in the cutting pen and cow horse runs. When people see Davis, they expect to see Tripp by her side.
The McNab
Originally tagged as a Border Collie, Tripp’s looks, demeanor and herding instincts closely match the breed. But Davis believes he is actually a McNab Shepherd, also known as a McNab Collie, a breed frequently mistaken for a Border Collie.
A common herding breed used by cattle ranchers, the McNab has natural instincts that make it well suited for managing large herds, often in rugged terrain. Adults typically weigh 30 to 55 pounds. Coat colors range from solid black and deep to medium red or mahogany to tricolor, blond and sable. Eye color varies along with coat color.
“Tripp is intelligent, sensitive, athletic, incredibly thoughtful and observant,” Davis says. “He’s my adventure partner, my shadow. He and I are a package deal.”
