New Addition

[Popcorn]

Jane

Two of our newfs came in looking like that. Starved, freaked and fried. Odin is going to blossom like the flowers outside your windows right now. It kind of depends how long they were abused and in what way. One gal took a year until she bonded. Then she exploded with sass and joy.

Our older rescue, with worse and longer abuse, took three years to really feel comfortable with all people, but now -- she's in total heaven! and at ease with all people. Her situation might be more analogous to Odin's -- she was beaten and there were guns involved so loud noises are frightening. Never lived with humans. The only people she let near her for the first year (willingly) were my two very young toddlers. Then she was ALL Mama newf.

I personally love having rescues because I find it a challenge to work with their quirks. Plus, it does feel like you are doing some good in the world. And when they finally get comfortable and have forgotten their past -- that is the best thing to experience on a daily basis!!

Yay Odin.

Liz

 

[Popcorn]

I just wanted to add with Momo, our very abused newfy gal that took three years to really melt away the past, we didn't do a lot to remediate the abuse. We just let nature take it's course, and surrounded her with a happy loving family. I did do lots of on-leash walks, and lots of dog park (the former to bond, the latter for her pleasure -- because she loved dogs).

The only "therapy" we did was my husband. She was especially terrified of him (and all men). He would kind of go into her hiding spot (under a table) and every day give her treats, ear washes, and deep rubs. At first she was terrified and lay frozen. Then she would involuntarily groan with pleasure but still be scared of him. Eventually (we are talking 3 years) she grew to love it and demand it! Now, let's just say, she thinks she is his second (or first!!) wife!!

That was the only active intervention we did. Everything else she did on her own -- just integrating with us as she felt comfortable.

Good LUck!