From Fearful Barks to Neighborhood Star

When Mojo moved into a new neighborhood, he was nervous about all the unfamiliar faces. He barked at everyone he saw. But his owners came up with a clever plan that turned the whole neighborhood into his fan club.

A Rough Start in Life

Annie adopted Mojo in 2022. She didn't know much about his past, but it was clear he hadn't had an easy early life. While he quickly bonded with his family members, Mojo was deeply afraid of strangers.

But Annie noticed something important: whenever a tennis ball appeared, Mojo forgot all about his fears and anxieties. He just wanted to play.

The Tennis Ball Solution

After moving to a new neighborhood, Annie and her boyfriend had a bright idea. They hung a bucket of tennis balls on their fence with a simple sign that read: "I promise I'm not mean, just throw the tennis ball and we'll be friends."

The couple felt like nervous parents watching their child try to make friends for the first time. Would anyone stop to play with their fearful dog?

An Instant Hit

Their worries disappeared quickly. Within twenty minutes, a neighbor stopped to play fetch with Mojo. This wasn't just a quick hello - the neighbor stayed for a full hour!

Soon, Mojo had more friends than he could count. Kids raced to the tennis ball bucket after school. The mailman became a regular player. Even dog walkers made Mojo's house a planned stop on their daily routes.

The Most Popular Dogs on the Block

Mojo just needed the right way to break the ice with new people. Now, he and his sister Lily are the most popular dogs in the neighborhood.

Sometimes, the simplest solutions work best. For Mojo, a bucket of tennis balls was all it took to transform from a fearful dog into the neighborhood's favorite four-legged friend.