However, when my contact told me the shelter director said "this dog has no future here" because he was an owner turn in, scared to death and really non responsive.... well, it was as if I had a tap on the shoulder and God said.... here's your new foster, you will figure out a way to get everything done and help Andrew (called C.D. at the shelter).
SO...When Andrew came to me Monday I was seeing in my minds eye months and months of rehabilitation and patience. Thankfully, I've seen a lot of improvement in Andrew since Monday (just 3 days!). I tried to bond with Andrew one on one and it was going well, but slow. I did't want to push him and stress him out, but he lookede so depressed that I needed to do something that would make that little tail wag. So, on the basis of how Tyler came out of his shell when other dogs were present, I used BonnieBlue to help him adjust faster. It was working pretty good. He would follow us both around the yard. Showing respect to Bonnie and attentive to me most of the time, but skittish.
Then I thought, OK...let's try Tucker again, but on leash. I've had Tucker almost a year (June) and haven't started his official obedience training per se, although I've been training him to stay, watch, wait, off, and down in the house during daily activities. Tucker seems to know his role, although occasionally he will get so excited wanting to play, he will forget. He is amazing! Good signs from Andrew are that he goes to Tucker's face and will lick him in the mouth. Andrew tolerates Tucker's sniffing and almost knocking him over, although he's a little hesitant. It's like he really wants to come out of that shell, but it's at little spurts at the time. Andrew will run and play, then tuck his tail, then play jump, then scoot away with tail tucked. It's like he's afraid to open up completely yet. He's more open with another dog around and will actually follow Tucker and me into his kennel to end the session. Other times he didn't know what I wanted so he would shut down somewhat. Mainly sit and just look at me. Then a time or two I would have to pick him up and take him in the kennel. I'm still not using a leash or touching the collar when moving him in and out of the kennel or yard. It may be that in a former life he was snatched around by the collar and leash so he's highly sensitive.
When I sit down in front of him I will gradually touch the collar, but mostly I am trying to gain his trust by scratching him under the chin, on the chest and on his belly. He is starting to lean into me for whole body rubs but only presents his back side to me right now. Once he presented his face to me while I rubbed his body.
A moment yesterday gave me more hope when he did not flinch when I touched his collar then gave him an ear scratch and he actually didn't move away when I rubbed the inside of his ear. He leaned into that and enjoyed it. So hopefully I will be able to clean out his ears soon.
It's still difficult getting the eye drops in his eyes without a "drive by " approach, cause I don't want to corner him.
He's a smart pup! Last night it was still quite hot to me in the garage, so I kept the fan on high. When I came out this morning he had pulled the donut bed out of the crate and was happily and cozily sleeping away.
Another good point is that Andrew appears to be potty trained. He has not soiled in his kennel a single time since Monday. He whines to get outside.
C.D. aka Andrew at shelter before he had to be shaved down, due to mats all over his body.
Andrew with a great shave down. You can still see his sunbleached hair around his muzzle and eyebrows. Makes him look kinda like a beagle :)... If I had not seen his before picture, that would be my guess.
A petite little boy ESS at 34 pounds.
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