A Whole Day without an Accident

January 28, 2010

My Mom says I'm awesome. I went a whole day without having an accident in the house. I'd much rather go outside anyway, but sometimes I just have to go....

Mom was not so happy with me this morning. Although she didn't actually say anything, I saw she was kinda mad when she went to put on her leather boots and she saw I'd chewed a whole piece right out. Ooops! Even though I have toys to chew, that boot was pretty tasty.

Last night I slept on the bed with my two pals. I was nervous, but no one tried to grab me or even cuddle up to me. I'm starting to feel safer now.

No more stitches!

 Today I got my stitches out. I was really nervous travelling in the car to the Doctor's office, but I didn't throw up or anything. When I got home, I went right outside and had a pee :) My Mom says she's so proud of me because yesterday I didn't have even one accident in the house. I'm going to try to only go outside today too.

I still don't like getting dragged around on a leash - there's too many noises, but Mom says I'll have to get used to it. She says I need to learn that human hands are gentle too. She held me on her lap for a while last night. I was so nervous at first, I was absolutely stiff, but then I started to relax a bit. I'm not ready to have a cuddle with anyone; I don't even like to rest in a dog bed. I'm used to the floor. I'm not so sure even about the pillows in my overnight crate. Everything is so different now. Maybe I'll learn to like being warm and safe....

Learning to Walk on Leash

This evening was the fourth time Mom took me for a walk. My pals, Brandi and Chester, seem to love going for walks. I don't really get it. I am hooked into this harness and tied to a leash and dragged around. It's really scary out in the world. Cars drive by, garage doors open and shut, people are everywhere walking and talking, even stopping to look at me.... There are so many strange sounds and movements; each one makes me frightened.

Today I learned to get off the deck out in to the back yard. I can almost fly, well jump down two steps anyway.

It's been five whole days!

The food keeps coming and I get my own bowl! It's nice and warm here in the house, but Oh Boy is it cold outside. I run out and have a quick pee, but my feet get so cold so quickly! It's so cold I want to get inside; even though I'm afraid, I will scoot back through the door knowing my Foster Mom is hiding behind it. She hasn't tried to grab me when I come in, so I guess it's safe enough.

I like to know where everyone is in the house, but I'm not ready yet to go into other rooms. Mostly I stay in the main room where my foster brother and sister and Mom hang out. It's nice and quiet here so I feel mostly safe. I don't like loud noises or quick movements. I get really scared and hunch down so no one will see me.

I want to get closer to my Mom, and I wag my tail when she says my name, but I'm just too scared to let her touch me yet. I really like my foster brother and sister and want to play with them, but my Mom says they also came from scary places and don't really know how to play like other dogs. Wouldn't it be great if I could live in a home with another gentle, playful dog?

Adorable Reba

January 22


A first update from Foster Mom:

After a long haul from Ohio, Reba arrived with her two Pom pals to Peterborough. She has been spayed and had dental work and seems to be recovering quite well. She is a very timid little girl and it will take some time for her to learn how to trust people after all she endured in a puppy mill.

Despite a traumatizing past, she remains very sweet natured. She likes other dogs, but is sad now that her Pom pal from Ohio has gone to another foster home. She is very nervous around people and is hesitant to even move past a human for fear she might be hurt. Reba will go outside with the other dogs and will go "potty", but she has regular accidents in the house. We are working on pee pad training. Once she gains some confidence, I'm sure she will catch on.

A few words from Reba:

Everything has changed so much. It was a very long trip from where I was to where I am now. It was really scary meeting so many people. And then I had an operation, but I feel much better now. The nice lady here feeds me and gives me treats which I really like. Maybe one day I'll let her pat me, but I'm not sure about that yet.