skillie
New member
Everybody this is Tara.
Following the passing of our beloved Molly at Xmas we were unsure if we’d ever get another dog our hearts were well and truly broken and continue to be. We sent Charlie to doggy day care 2 days a week to help him get over her loss and give him the doggy company he so badly needs but as time grew on we knew this was no substitute for a full time buddy and also we were a great doggy home going to waste, we had always said we’d adopt in the future and liked the idea of a German Shepherd. While on holiday in New York one of our local charity recues posted a dog on facebook who instantly grabbed our attention. We were taken by her beauty and sadness and thought she could be just what we wanted and we could def be what she wanted. but at the same time we felt like we couldn’t bring ourselves to get another dog so we held back. A couple of weeks later they posted her pics again and we decided to go meet her. She was so withdrawn and terrified and so awfully sad it broke our hearts, as did all the other dogs in the shelter and how people can just be so terrible. Despite not knowing how she would fit in with us, our lives, Charlie, our home, her behaviour etc we agreed a trial foster with a view to adopting should everything work out. we had no idea what to expect but we knew she had been through a tough time she is missing part of her ear and was so scared and sad and we just promised we’d at least get her out of the shelter as she clearly wasn’t coping well there but we could see a spark in there and just knew there was so much potential in her.
in the 6 weeks she’s been with us she’s come on in leaps and bounds and shes a different dog today than she was when we bailed her out of the shelter (see first thumbnails below). She’s settled into our routine and life in the countryside perfectly, she still has some issues with confidence, trust and fearfulness to overcome but no doubt in time she’ll get over those things too, she is improving daily. having seen how much shes come on in a couple of weeks I can only imagine her given more time and patience.
Shes so much happier now, she gives us a great welcome when we get up in the morning, has mastered her toilet training which she had none of when she arrived, is great with Charlie and is learning lots from him, they play away and sleep beside each other; although he stole her new bed and she stole his! Its great for him to be the big brother type figure now too looking after her and showing her about. She’s quickly learned that he’s spoiled rotten and that following his lead is a safe plan. She loves her trips to the park in the car, has been groomed and lets me brush her now etc. Again she watched me brushing Charlie and saw how much praise and attention he was getting, and decided; that was for her too. she has been switched onto BARF diet and thinks all her xmas’s have come together, she goes loopy at dinner time! she’s also off to “school” she went on her evaluation week and passed with flying colours and fitted in instantly playing with all the new doggies while returning to Charlie all the time if in doubt for reassurance and he was shadowing her making sure no one picked on the new kid in class which is very cute,
shes such a clever, sweet girl, loves her cuddles and learns very quickly, walks perfectly on her lead or off it to heel. Didn’t have to worry about our garden not being enclosed, she goes out and is back at the door looking to come back in to the comfort as soon as she’s done her business. She has instant recall when called and leaps into the back of the car as soon as you open the boot. She has no destructive tendencies, is brilliantly behaved, is great with kids and other dogs. She still is a bit nervy of me but follows me everywhere and is always trying to impress me and show me how good she is. She must have had a preious male owner who used heavy handed techniques as she really tries hard to show me how good she is and loves me but is also quite fearful of me but getting less so all the time. When I collect her from my mother in laws or daycare she gets really excited and crys, whimpers, paws, mouths etc. she gets two walks a day at the moment one before 7am and one after 7pm; and is very fascinated by the local hares in our garden. There isn’t an ounce of aggression in her and she takes treats etc so gently from you. Herself and Dawn get on fantastic and think she lets her guard down around her more and feels more comfortable play fighting and goofing around etc shes always willing to dish out a few kisses to her too.
Following the passing of our beloved Molly at Xmas we were unsure if we’d ever get another dog our hearts were well and truly broken and continue to be. We sent Charlie to doggy day care 2 days a week to help him get over her loss and give him the doggy company he so badly needs but as time grew on we knew this was no substitute for a full time buddy and also we were a great doggy home going to waste, we had always said we’d adopt in the future and liked the idea of a German Shepherd. While on holiday in New York one of our local charity recues posted a dog on facebook who instantly grabbed our attention. We were taken by her beauty and sadness and thought she could be just what we wanted and we could def be what she wanted. but at the same time we felt like we couldn’t bring ourselves to get another dog so we held back. A couple of weeks later they posted her pics again and we decided to go meet her. She was so withdrawn and terrified and so awfully sad it broke our hearts, as did all the other dogs in the shelter and how people can just be so terrible. Despite not knowing how she would fit in with us, our lives, Charlie, our home, her behaviour etc we agreed a trial foster with a view to adopting should everything work out. we had no idea what to expect but we knew she had been through a tough time she is missing part of her ear and was so scared and sad and we just promised we’d at least get her out of the shelter as she clearly wasn’t coping well there but we could see a spark in there and just knew there was so much potential in her.
in the 6 weeks she’s been with us she’s come on in leaps and bounds and shes a different dog today than she was when we bailed her out of the shelter (see first thumbnails below). She’s settled into our routine and life in the countryside perfectly, she still has some issues with confidence, trust and fearfulness to overcome but no doubt in time she’ll get over those things too, she is improving daily. having seen how much shes come on in a couple of weeks I can only imagine her given more time and patience.
Shes so much happier now, she gives us a great welcome when we get up in the morning, has mastered her toilet training which she had none of when she arrived, is great with Charlie and is learning lots from him, they play away and sleep beside each other; although he stole her new bed and she stole his! Its great for him to be the big brother type figure now too looking after her and showing her about. She’s quickly learned that he’s spoiled rotten and that following his lead is a safe plan. She loves her trips to the park in the car, has been groomed and lets me brush her now etc. Again she watched me brushing Charlie and saw how much praise and attention he was getting, and decided; that was for her too. she has been switched onto BARF diet and thinks all her xmas’s have come together, she goes loopy at dinner time! she’s also off to “school” she went on her evaluation week and passed with flying colours and fitted in instantly playing with all the new doggies while returning to Charlie all the time if in doubt for reassurance and he was shadowing her making sure no one picked on the new kid in class which is very cute,
shes such a clever, sweet girl, loves her cuddles and learns very quickly, walks perfectly on her lead or off it to heel. Didn’t have to worry about our garden not being enclosed, she goes out and is back at the door looking to come back in to the comfort as soon as she’s done her business. She has instant recall when called and leaps into the back of the car as soon as you open the boot. She has no destructive tendencies, is brilliantly behaved, is great with kids and other dogs. She still is a bit nervy of me but follows me everywhere and is always trying to impress me and show me how good she is. She must have had a preious male owner who used heavy handed techniques as she really tries hard to show me how good she is and loves me but is also quite fearful of me but getting less so all the time. When I collect her from my mother in laws or daycare she gets really excited and crys, whimpers, paws, mouths etc. she gets two walks a day at the moment one before 7am and one after 7pm; and is very fascinated by the local hares in our garden. There isn’t an ounce of aggression in her and she takes treats etc so gently from you. Herself and Dawn get on fantastic and think she lets her guard down around her more and feels more comfortable play fighting and goofing around etc shes always willing to dish out a few kisses to her too.
