Post by Lisa on May 22, 2015 10:31:32 GMT -5
UNDER ASSESSMENT
Meet Teddy. Whilst collecting the dog food today we got a phone call from our local stray pound regarding a bearded collie x lurcher boy who had to be sadly owner surrendered into their care as his elderly owner was ill. Teddy was absolutely terrified in there so much so that the kennel staff could not get near him, he lay cowering in his bed showing his teeth and they knew that no member of the public would rightly take him in such a fearful state. We rushed straight down there and indeed I was met with the worlds most frightened growly boy showing me his beautiful pearly white smile. I quietly slipped into the kennel and sat beside his bed not giving him any eye contact or making any verbal contact either whilst he turned his head away slow growling. After a while of me ignoring him he started to look a little more curious so I offered him cornbeef which he happily took from my hand but a chanced body touch would still result in a growl and a full flash once again of his gnashers although I could gently touch under his chin after handing over the food. After about 15 minutes I started to gently drag his bed a little closer to me which he was not overly happy with but not daring to move out of it he dealt with, offered the lead he ignored me still and reverted back to growling so I continued to feed the cornbeef before moving the bed even closer. I knew I had to get him up on his feet before we were going to get anywhere, I could see the trust building and that I was *safe* had clicked in but he still was not willing to get out of that bed * that safe space*. I did not want to force the lead onto him bless him until he was ready but I had no doubt in my mind he would NOT have bitten had I but I just didnt see the need to push him quicker than he wanted to work with me. I had to chance my arm and move the bed a little closer and sure enough as I moved the bed close enough to me that he could not get away he stood up although cowed and with his tail tucked under, one more piece of cornbeef at that point whilst on his feet and he literally just turned then, flung himself into my body and buried his head under my arm pit and squeezed in so tight I thought he would never leave me. We had a couple of minutes cuddles and kisses and then we left heart emoticon This boy is to die for, he is currently very overweight but is the gentlest little soul so far you could wish to meet. He has lost his owner, his owner who was quite clearly his world and he now needs to become someone elses world. He deserves to be the love of someones life he will offer it back tenfold and is clearly a very loyal boy. He is only around 24-25 inches these photos just make him look bigger. Teddy is 2 1/2 said to be housetrained, good with dogs and has been around children as young as 2. The only thing I can see he needs at the moment is a little work on the lead, his lead manners seem to have slipped but its clear he has not been regularly walked for a good while, a little of it though may have been the fear of strange places and he was sort of weaving in and out. I am sure once he settles the lead walking will settle down. I just hope this wonderful boy has a loving heart come along and put the smile back on his face soon. Once out of the kennel he was all cuddles and kisses and although gutted to be back in OUR kennels after moving him he did not take back to his bed and was fine with us going in and out and giving him more and more big cuddles.
Meet Teddy. Whilst collecting the dog food today we got a phone call from our local stray pound regarding a bearded collie x lurcher boy who had to be sadly owner surrendered into their care as his elderly owner was ill. Teddy was absolutely terrified in there so much so that the kennel staff could not get near him, he lay cowering in his bed showing his teeth and they knew that no member of the public would rightly take him in such a fearful state. We rushed straight down there and indeed I was met with the worlds most frightened growly boy showing me his beautiful pearly white smile. I quietly slipped into the kennel and sat beside his bed not giving him any eye contact or making any verbal contact either whilst he turned his head away slow growling. After a while of me ignoring him he started to look a little more curious so I offered him cornbeef which he happily took from my hand but a chanced body touch would still result in a growl and a full flash once again of his gnashers although I could gently touch under his chin after handing over the food. After about 15 minutes I started to gently drag his bed a little closer to me which he was not overly happy with but not daring to move out of it he dealt with, offered the lead he ignored me still and reverted back to growling so I continued to feed the cornbeef before moving the bed even closer. I knew I had to get him up on his feet before we were going to get anywhere, I could see the trust building and that I was *safe* had clicked in but he still was not willing to get out of that bed * that safe space*. I did not want to force the lead onto him bless him until he was ready but I had no doubt in my mind he would NOT have bitten had I but I just didnt see the need to push him quicker than he wanted to work with me. I had to chance my arm and move the bed a little closer and sure enough as I moved the bed close enough to me that he could not get away he stood up although cowed and with his tail tucked under, one more piece of cornbeef at that point whilst on his feet and he literally just turned then, flung himself into my body and buried his head under my arm pit and squeezed in so tight I thought he would never leave me. We had a couple of minutes cuddles and kisses and then we left heart emoticon This boy is to die for, he is currently very overweight but is the gentlest little soul so far you could wish to meet. He has lost his owner, his owner who was quite clearly his world and he now needs to become someone elses world. He deserves to be the love of someones life he will offer it back tenfold and is clearly a very loyal boy. He is only around 24-25 inches these photos just make him look bigger. Teddy is 2 1/2 said to be housetrained, good with dogs and has been around children as young as 2. The only thing I can see he needs at the moment is a little work on the lead, his lead manners seem to have slipped but its clear he has not been regularly walked for a good while, a little of it though may have been the fear of strange places and he was sort of weaving in and out. I am sure once he settles the lead walking will settle down. I just hope this wonderful boy has a loving heart come along and put the smile back on his face soon. Once out of the kennel he was all cuddles and kisses and although gutted to be back in OUR kennels after moving him he did not take back to his bed and was fine with us going in and out and giving him more and more big cuddles.