Luna on the left, age six months, has been them for just one-and-a-half weeks. She came from a pound where she had still been with her littermates. As well as not being used to living in a house, she’s not used to traffic either. She hid in the crate for Read more…
Consider Jasmine’s early life. She was found as a young puppy along with one sibling beside a road. From there she will have ended up in an open shelter for about six months, having to hold her own with lots of other dogs. No wonder her priority is to feel Read more…
Scared rescue Letty has been with the young couple for just one week now. The Greek rescue is one year old and everything is new to her. Every sight, every sound, every person – all things we take for granted – bombard her with so many new and scary things Read more…
Sienna was, until a few weeks ago, a street dog in Romania. She is about 18 months old and was found with one puppy. It took a week to catch her. No wonder she is wary of people though she’s fine with dogs. They are giving her an amazing home. Read more…
Ethel can be two different dogs.
She is friendly and confident around people when out of the house whether she knows them or not. She enjoys visits to a cafe and days at daycare.
At home the young Cockerpoo is a different dog. (more…)
I love happy endings so I have brought this story of three years ago to the front. Robbie’s hackles rise and he barks at people. People often don’t see things from their dog’s point of view until it’s pointed out. There seems no alternative but to keep walking towards the thing the dog Read more…
Woody has changed.
If I had gone to see him about three months ago, the Cockerpoo, then about 8 months old, would have been very friendly and happy to see me. In fact, I would not have been needed at all.
Instead, when the man opened the door to let me in, Woody continued barking at me. He was obviously very scared – and brave.
Beside him was their adorable new 8-week-old puppy Fred who wasn’t fazed at all.
Puppy Fred is how Woody used to be. They come from the same breeder with the same father. Woody was a carefree, happy puppy. He loved everyone.
It’s not surprising that two-year-old Moose suffers from lack of confidence around people. Considering his background as a puppy born on the streets of Romania, he’s doing great. They didn’t have him until he was sixteen weeks old.
No socialisation will have taken place during the crucial early weeks and what encounters he did have with people were very likely scary ones and now hard-wired into his brain.
What a big change in living style the mix-breed terrier has had.
It seems Poppy came from a fairly manic household with comings and goings, unpredictable young people and lots of noise. Judging by how she may now wince or recoil from hands, it’s very likely she wasn’t handled very kindly.
It’s possible a man treated her harshly, though it is common for nervous dogs to be more afraid of men than of women.
They asked one of the older children if they were sorry to see her go. The child said, ‘Not really’. (more…)
Stunning seven month old Chow Chow Chai is fearful of people. Sometimes the best laid plans simply go wrong. Very carefully socialised. I can’t fault her young owners. From the start they have done everything by the book. Then, sometime between four and eight weeks ago she became fearful of Read more…