Awesome post, and made me feel better about Willow. She was not a puppymill dog by any means, and is originally from a well-respected breeder in California. But then she went to a breeder in Virginia...who decided she would not be breeding size, and came to my breeder in NC, who proved her wrong...lol. I don't think it was so much neglect through all this time as just being "one of many" and being an extremely sensitive dog. But I have felt for the past month that I am back to rehabilitating a rescue...
However, she has made strides, and has definitely become "velcro dog", at least part of the time. But I wish the changes in behavior were more consistent. I had forgotten how it will go back and forth daily on the trust issue...when she actually comes to me in the playyard when I call her, it makes me feel like we have accomplished sooo much in the last month. But then something will startle her in the house, and the next time we are outside she will stay in the far corner and act afraid again.
It is such a startling contrast between Nemo's confident and secure manner and hers. If I ever needed a confirmation on whether or not I was raising puppies correctly, I've definitely got it from this.
~Twitterpate |