My very, very close dear sweet friend whom I love deeply. Foster dog friend 12 years old. |
Shady is my 12 year old Cocker Spaniel foster dog, who I met about 16 months ago. He was raised from a puppy by senior citizens who probably were not able to fulfill his needs as well as needed. This is usually because of their physical states, lack of knowledge, and energy level and health. They probably loved him very much and most likely treated him like their child. Dogs do not do well when treated like human children. They must have a pack leader who will set rules, boundaries, and limitations which is necessary for the dogs psychological well being and feeling safe and secure. As part of their nature if there is no leader they feel it necessary to take that position even when they do not want this position. As a result of Shady being forced into the leader ship position, he spent his life unsure, insecure, and frightened. He was a natural follower. His fear and other unwanted insecurities and uncertainties caused him great instability. Having pent up energy from not getting the exercise he needed also caused Shady to have additional issues and he therefore began to get more unstable. By the time her was 11 years old her had became so unstable that losing his people made things much worse for him. Not understanding why things were suddenly changing, he became more fearful. The rescue saved him from probably being put into a worse situation. A member of the rescue; a groomer; tried to groom him and got bitten. I asked to be Shady's foster person because of his red zone dangerous behavior which wasn't his fault. Unfortunately when dogs become unstable its most of the time because of their needs not being met properly and fully. I was afraid Shady would pay with his life for something which was not his fault and desperately wanted to help him and give his as good a life as possible. Fortunately the rescue allowed me to foster Shady. When I first met him he was with another Cocker Spaniel who was 14 years old. She was a sweet little girl who was eventually adopted. The very first thing I did when they arrived was take them for a walk and show them the neighborhood. Dogs naturally follow their leader and roam and explore their territory. They love to migrate everyday as a pack with their pack leader. So by taking them for a walk I was doing what is normal for them. Migration and exploring their new territory. I do my very best to try to work with nature and do what is natural in the dog world for my dog friends. There is nothing better for a dog than to follow the leader and go for a long walk. I immediately took the lead and mentally thought about them following me. This works very well because dogs pick up on what you picture in your mind and think about. They are very sensitive to your spirit and emotions. My new animal friends who are dogs and who have the breed of Cocker Spaniel, and then nice names, were very happy to explore the area. I gave them permission to sniff after they followed me for a while. They relieved themselves, enjoyed their walk, and then we went into the house. I entered the house first, then invited them to follow me. The first and only room they were allowed to explore was the kitchen and this is because I wanted them to have the time to get used to their new situation and understand that I was in charge and would take care of them. After they calmed down and seemed comfortable, I very slowly invited them to come with me and see a few more rooms in the house. I showed them their beds where they would sleep with me in the bedroom, the living room where we would be able to hang out with the birds, and then we returned to the kitchen where we stayed while I get their stuff organized and set up so they had places for getting food and water. I made certain to set things up the way they were going to remain because dogs are creatures of habit and like familiarity. Later just before diner time we went for a walk to fufill their need to migrate to find food and water. With every move I made the decision, lead the way, and showed them what was expected of them. This is security for dogs. Upon returning, I prepared their food and when I decided to give it to them, I asked then to wait a moment. This is so that they can calm down and have a less excited frame of mind. Food and excitement can be a very, very dangerous combination. Shady lives to eat. He inhaled his food, so I gad to make certain he didn't take food which did not belong to him . A little while after they ate we went outside again so they could relieve themselves. This was the beginning of their new pack security. I fulfilled their basic needs for food, water, exercise, disapline, and affection. Later before going to bed, I pet them and gave them a treat. After Shady had been with me for three days, I was seriously wondering why he bit the groomer. The first night together Coco stood with her front paws on my bed and I lifted her off gently and indicated she should lay on her bed. About half an hour later there was front paws on my bed again. I did the same thing again and to my surprise teeth very firmly and gently touched my hand. Ok, this had to be Shady. A sign of what he had penned up inside. Pent up energy and fear and very, very dangerous combination's. By the third day it rained. When the dogs came in from outside, I wiped their paws. Another incident with this was when I gently started to pick up Shady's paw. The teeth came around again. He grabbed me more strongly this time. My best guess about putting the picture together as to why Shady bit the groomer is that something happened either at the vets or the groomers which frightened his and/or was painful. One issue I needed to work with him on was trust. He was very fearful and un-trusting of being handled and examined. I discovered this when we went for his vet visit. He became so fearful that he went catatonic. Shaking so severely and then becoming a statue is a sign of a red zone dog who through no fault of theirs, can be very extremely unpredictable and dangerous. I knew Shady had been misunderstood because the person who brought him to me said he was anti social and wanted to be left alone. At the beginning, I could sense this was the opposite of what he longed fore and that he had it in him to be a sweet, kind, obedient companion. I decided to go for walks to the vet and just go into the waiting room and hang out for a short time so that Shady would eventually realize he didn't have to be frightened of being at the vets. They also do grooming, so it was important for him to get used to the groomers. During our visits Shady got treats and was pet and by the staff. He is doing extremely well going to the vet now for check ups and grooming. This process of working with him so he is calm and secure when visiting is still a work in progress. It takes time and leadership to help a dog rehabilitate. Right now Shady is more able to be and act like a dog, have better stability, and not be as afraid. I'm extremely concerned about his health and hope he will be with me longer. Tuesday he has a vet appointment. I'm glad he has learned to be a dog and not have to be pressed into the role of being human, and that her has had the exercise, fulfillment he needs, and the leadership he has longed for and requires for a happy life. I celebrate and rejoice in knowing him. He had taught me so much and given his all to me and the people he had met. Shady is a very sweet, knid, and loving dog who I thank for teaching me about friendship and leadership and how to work with dogs who have been deprived of the very basics they need to be stable. Shady I love you, you are worthy of and a valuable friend. I hope we have more time together with you being healthy and enjoying life. Shady has a love for the simple things in life and being with people. He doesn't want to be alone. I want Shady to be happy secure and feeling safe along with not being afraid, no matter what happens in the future. He is a precious being and has a sweet kind spirit who deserves to have the very best life can give. I love you Shady. Bella is very concrned about Shady and is leffing me know when ever possible when Shady needs something. She appears to sense and understand better and more than me what is happening with Shady. Bella is helping Shady and me as much as she is able. I'm getting upset again and so should stop now. I don't want the dogs or other animals to feel my pain and grief at these events. I'll let you know what happens with the vet appointment. I'm hoping for the best and preparing for....; I'm not going to go there. I know Shady has a very serious medical condition and being 12 years old this is extremely hard on him. Because of the heat, events in august, and I did not how sick Shady is. Even had I known earlier, I'm not sure if this would have made a difference. I told Shady last night how much I loved him and that what ever he needed to do is ok. He is still trying to and wanting to enjoy life as much as possible. Unfortunately this is getting more difficult for him. There isn't anything I can do right now except wait and support him every way possible and make him as comfortable as possible. Because of what I know about this past which isn't much; and because of what I've experienced and observed; it would be a blessing for him to go to sleep and move on. If he were healthy I would love to spend many more years with him. I hope there is something medical which will help him have more quality of life. He deserves the best life and quality of life possible with good health. I lost the work just before saving and so had to copy paste the content. I hope to return and fix this back to the original in the future. |