reassurance for our approach to a new and nervous dog

[RulusMum]

I have no real advice to offer, but do know with some hounds tiny steps become huge milestones.You are absolutely doing everything right and what a lucky hound to have found such committed owners, bless you both.

Please let us know how Willow progresses.

[leon]

Here's a bit of an update. Willow has been here for nearly 9 weeks now.

She actively seeks our company now. For me, this means being in the same room albeit with about 4 metres of safety space between us. For my wife, this means approaching her for physical contact, nuzzling into her hands, leaning against her leg, play mouthing etc. We are forcing the walk thing - Helen has to wrestle a bit to get the harness on, then carry her to the car, but once we are at the park, she is walking really well. Tail not tucked, interested in smells and birds (and sheep in next field).

She has taken to raw food without any mishap and is crunching through chicken carcasses, rabbits and breast of lamb with no qualms.

There is still tension between her and Woody, but she deals with him brilliantly, and it is not stopping her from doing what she wants.

In short, slow but sure progress. It would be nice if she cold trust us equally, but at least she is getting positive interactions with at least one of us shows she is able to form relationships with humans.

[ritab]

All sounds really promising - I had to wait much longer for Gizzi to approach us - over a year. You'll look back and wonder why you were worried. We do!

Anyway I'm really glad she's getting there. Incidentally we forced the walk thing - at the time I hadn't had any advice and didn't know about this forum. We had to almost drag her out of the house. Once out she was OK - but didn't like any heavy traffic. After many months I noticed she wasn't bothering about the buses. And now after 22 months she doesn't seem too bothered about lorries. She took about 3 months to start sniffing on walks - it was on a farm track that has horses, foxes, hares, stoats. Something was obviously too good to resist...

[gazer]

Good to read that Willow is making progress, it's small steps but these will continue and she will learn to relax more and come to trust you
Just read your first post and Willow has come on brilliantly from then.

Still such a short time she has been with you, her demons may never really disappear but they are starting to fade a little bit which is lovely to see isn't it.

Some pics would be great and keep the updates coming

[leon]

Here is a video of her walking this morning - her tail is nowhere near touching her belly any more. . She came on leaps and bounds last night seeking attention and strokes. Much more confident in the house.

[julies]

Brill - it does cvome, you just have to be patient ... they're worth it

Don't forget she probably has never seen traffic so her fear is understandable and her new world is full of things she's never seen before so no wonder she's scared My girl was really frightened of car headlights and tyres swishing thro rain .. she did settle eventually

She's doing really well

Julie

[tinar]

Lovely video, what a brave wee girl she is, and what a patient caring family she has got now to help her through.

[leon]

Update. Wilow goes from strength to strength. We have the use of the local Dogs Trust secure field each week to let her have a run - she stays with us all the way, albeit in large lolloping laps!

[samburns]

Fabulous video, I imagine the running does her the world of good


How is Willow getting on generally? and with you at home?  Hoping she is steadily starting to relax

[Letty's Mum]

How lovely to see her offlead now. I've just read through this thread from start to finish. I think she's done amazingly well, she's a lucky girl to have landed with someone so patient and understanding
Helen x

[leon]

Jul 5, 2013 17:18:03 GMT -5 samburns said:

Fabulous video, I imagine the running does her the world of good


How is Willow getting on generally? and with you at home?  Hoping she is steadily starting to relax

Thanks:)

She's doing brilliantly in many respects. The most notable thing is she is really good at night and when left at home - no more wetting indoors, trashing or destroying her bed - she must be so much more relaxed and comfortable here now. She's joined us at night by sleeping on the landing upstairs now with Woody, rather than on her own under the stairs. She will approach me for a quiet fuss at night time but still won't let me put a lead or harness on her. She wags and play bows in the front room with my wife, but is still quite wary of me most of the time. She is terribly scared of other people outside, so we need to think about that once she is more comfortable with me.

Still a difficult dog,but many percents less of a difficult dog than she was 12 weeks ago. It all looks good for a slow and steady rehabilitation.

[julies]

Great and you've done wonders in a very short time Check out TTouch which is lovely to relax them and also a great way to introduce strangers to her ... teach the strangers how to do a TTouch then they can do something familiar to her so she should be a little more relaxed ....

Like you say slow and steady ... also don't let people crouch and stare at her when they meet her - very scarey for most dogs and particularly a nervous one

I'd try to stop the mouthing as well ... either try not to let her get so excited that it starts or your wife can try squeaking and turning her back to show it's not acceptable ...

Well done, she's doing great

Julie

[becgeo]

Hi Leon,

That enclosed field looks amazing, how did you arrange that with Dog's Trust??

Bec x

[allthehounds]

Hi Leon, I've just read all your posts about your new girl Willow and just wanted to say how great it is to see such commitment and patience. Your updates brought tears to my eyes as I read how nervous Willow was on day one and how much she's improved just 9 weeks later. You and your wife must be miracle workers! It sounds as though you've done a fantastic job with her and it must be very rewarding for you both to see her growing in confidence. Our new girl Lily has been with us about 6 months now and she was very nervous and frightened of everything when she came. She was rescued from a pound in Ireland where she was about to be put to sleep so we don't have any history to go on but something bad has obviously happened to her in the past. She's really grown in confidence in the past few months and is an absolute terror now but my parents just came to stay with us and it was like going back to square one unfortunately. She wouldn't go near them, barked if they spoke and cowered in the corner of the living room, it was really upsetting to see when we know how much she's changed. Once they'd gone to bed though she ran about the house kicking her legs in the air as though she knew she had a few hours to herself to relax again!! We've obviously got a lot more work to do than we thought but like you it's all a game of patience and taking one day at a time. Good luck with Willow and what a transformation in such a short time, you must be very proud of her and she's certainly a gorgeous girl.
Sian x

[Flaperoo]

Just update myself with her progress. You have done so well with her

You must feel great that she is now starting to trust a bit more, and that she is so much more relaxed.

It takes time and patience but she is showing all the right signs.

Maryx