Teasel
VIP Member
It's truly delightful to read how you're both getting on you know :) Thanks for updating!
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Been Found By A Rescue Dog
- Post starter City Slicker
- Start date
- Status
- Post starter
- #86
City Slicker
Platinum Member
Thank you @ShodokanJenn, @Berlinda
I just found out now that this wonderful fellow 'really' likes the cold (head slap to forehead since he's a northern dog lol). We are heading out for some neighbourhood sight seeing!
I just found out now that this wonderful fellow 'really' likes the cold (head slap to forehead since he's a northern dog lol). We are heading out for some neighbourhood sight seeing!
D
Deleted member 12723
Have fun boys!
- Post starter
- #89
City Slicker
Platinum Member
Hank has been doing so amazingly well - he continues to find his confidence and there are more and more times when he looks like he 'knows' he is home.
Sometimes I will look at him resting and he will look at me with those 'soul' eyes and I feel he knows he is home. Other times when he's walking on his leash he will hold his head at a specific angle and it looks like he is the happiest and most relaxed boy ever with not a care in the world and the entire world has no threat to him at all.
He loves the car - now he jumps right up in. The other day he missed a bit and slipped hitting his muzzle on the seat. I let out a loud sound of alarm and concern but when I saw the goofy look on his face I quickly began laughing. I was actually trying to smooth it in case he had the impulse to pee - but this time I think I may have seen him 'smile'. He was very goofy after but he didn't pee and normally he would have when he heard me express alarm like that.
He's so much better on his leash - For his leash work, he knows 'woah', 'sit', 'ok', 'leave it', and 'on by'. I have to be careful to be really calm when I tell him these commands because if I am loud he will pin his ears back, lower his head and arch his back a bit which I think might still be fear.
He is trying really hard to be the best boy - he still has a problem with off-leash dogs but when I say 'on-by' and I move between him and the other dog and I protect his back end and we move swiftly he moves through much faster and smoother.
He loves children - when he sees them you can tell how much he loves them - he curls his body and it's the only time he will tug a bit on the leash. He's met several children now mostly down at the lake where there is lots of room for him to move away and not on a city sidewalk.
I asked an older boy with a skateboard go past Hank and then come back and give him a biscuit that I had brought - it went beautifully. Hank took the biscuit with such a soft and gentle mouth and even with the loudness of the skateboard and the excitement, Hank was so relaxed. The boy was so happy to be helping Hank - he asked if I needed help walking him or teaching him things and that he would be glad to help. He had such a nice energy and I saw Hank respond right away.
His fur is growing in more and with it he shows interest wandering around his yard without his leash now and exploring. When I let him out in the morning and anything is different in his yard than it was the night before, he goes right to it to check it out.
He got hold of a hunk of bread that I think a bird probably dropped and I saw him with it. I put my hand out and said 'give'. I am not sure he knew what that meant but he dropped it and I rushed and gave him peanut butter which I think he thought was a good trade. I was thrilled that he didn't show any challenge but I wanted to give him some reinforcement that if he gave me what I asked for I would give him something good.
I had been reading about object guarding which is common with hurt dogs so I am glad it came up. Now we practise 'give' and I think he thinks that's the word for 'peanut butter'. ; )
We are going to the vet Tuesday because I found what looks like what I think is a 'hotspot' - when i called the vet, I sent him pics I had taken with my phone - I was a bit concerned but he said he thought it was a hotspot and could be diet or medication related and it was nothing to be worried about.
It's a typical looking hot spot and I got some aloe to put on it. It seems to calm him and he doesn't lick it so much.
Thank you all again for all your support.
Sometimes I will look at him resting and he will look at me with those 'soul' eyes and I feel he knows he is home. Other times when he's walking on his leash he will hold his head at a specific angle and it looks like he is the happiest and most relaxed boy ever with not a care in the world and the entire world has no threat to him at all.
He loves the car - now he jumps right up in. The other day he missed a bit and slipped hitting his muzzle on the seat. I let out a loud sound of alarm and concern but when I saw the goofy look on his face I quickly began laughing. I was actually trying to smooth it in case he had the impulse to pee - but this time I think I may have seen him 'smile'. He was very goofy after but he didn't pee and normally he would have when he heard me express alarm like that.
He's so much better on his leash - For his leash work, he knows 'woah', 'sit', 'ok', 'leave it', and 'on by'. I have to be careful to be really calm when I tell him these commands because if I am loud he will pin his ears back, lower his head and arch his back a bit which I think might still be fear.
He is trying really hard to be the best boy - he still has a problem with off-leash dogs but when I say 'on-by' and I move between him and the other dog and I protect his back end and we move swiftly he moves through much faster and smoother.
He loves children - when he sees them you can tell how much he loves them - he curls his body and it's the only time he will tug a bit on the leash. He's met several children now mostly down at the lake where there is lots of room for him to move away and not on a city sidewalk.
I asked an older boy with a skateboard go past Hank and then come back and give him a biscuit that I had brought - it went beautifully. Hank took the biscuit with such a soft and gentle mouth and even with the loudness of the skateboard and the excitement, Hank was so relaxed. The boy was so happy to be helping Hank - he asked if I needed help walking him or teaching him things and that he would be glad to help. He had such a nice energy and I saw Hank respond right away.
His fur is growing in more and with it he shows interest wandering around his yard without his leash now and exploring. When I let him out in the morning and anything is different in his yard than it was the night before, he goes right to it to check it out.
He got hold of a hunk of bread that I think a bird probably dropped and I saw him with it. I put my hand out and said 'give'. I am not sure he knew what that meant but he dropped it and I rushed and gave him peanut butter which I think he thought was a good trade. I was thrilled that he didn't show any challenge but I wanted to give him some reinforcement that if he gave me what I asked for I would give him something good.
I had been reading about object guarding which is common with hurt dogs so I am glad it came up. Now we practise 'give' and I think he thinks that's the word for 'peanut butter'. ; )
We are going to the vet Tuesday because I found what looks like what I think is a 'hotspot' - when i called the vet, I sent him pics I had taken with my phone - I was a bit concerned but he said he thought it was a hotspot and could be diet or medication related and it was nothing to be worried about.
It's a typical looking hot spot and I got some aloe to put on it. It seems to calm him and he doesn't lick it so much.
Thank you all again for all your support.
D
Deleted member 28740
Woof and WOOF. :tup::hug::tup: And waggy tails. I love when Bella's does the full circle womper.
Peanut butter is a miracle worker.
Peanut butter is a miracle worker.
ShodokanJenn
Platinum Member
Your journey with Hank reminds me of a dog my dad rescued when I was a kid. His name was Murphy. He was found in a metal crate in below zero weather having been severely beaten and starved. He had almost no hair and his skin was peeling off. Watching him heal and learn what a dog deserves (love) was heart warming. Reading about Hank brings back that sense of fulfillment.
The Albatross
VIP Member
Sounds like Hank and you are a very good and compatible fit City Slicker! Thank you for sharing your adventures with him here.
ladee
VIP Member
I am just now reading this thread... First time I have had a 'healing' cry in a long time. I think I so relate to Hank, and to you also with the love you have been wanting to express... What an awesome loving mom you are. So so so happy for both of you !!!!
D
Deleted member 12723
Thank you so much for keeping this thread going with updates. Your Hank is one lucky boy! And you are blessed by his company. I am so happy for the both of you. For me this is the best thread ever. I really appreciate your sharing Hank with me.
- Post starter
- #95
City Slicker
Platinum Member
Thank you @gizmo for your words. It is my honour to share Hank with you.
@ladee, thank you for telling me about your healing cry. I have definitely been doing a lot of that since Hank came into my life. Sometimes at the least expected moment too lol.
@The Albatross, thank you for your comments. I haven't really ever experienced this before so it's new to me, this blissful feeling of compatibility. Where no words are required really - sometimes just looks and 'heart-speak' - I truly feel like the luckiest person in the world to have flunked fostering lol.
@ShodokanJenn, I am happy to hear this brings thoughts for you of dear Murphy. The thought of him there in the cold like that breaks my heart but the love you showed him swells it with gratitude.
@Changeling - thank you again so much for the peanut butter tip. It's the be all and end all for Hank as far as I can tell. It's been a real game-changer for him and a real acceleration for his trust.
I will have more updates soon.
@ladee, thank you for telling me about your healing cry. I have definitely been doing a lot of that since Hank came into my life. Sometimes at the least expected moment too lol.
@The Albatross, thank you for your comments. I haven't really ever experienced this before so it's new to me, this blissful feeling of compatibility. Where no words are required really - sometimes just looks and 'heart-speak' - I truly feel like the luckiest person in the world to have flunked fostering lol.
@ShodokanJenn, I am happy to hear this brings thoughts for you of dear Murphy. The thought of him there in the cold like that breaks my heart but the love you showed him swells it with gratitude.
@Changeling - thank you again so much for the peanut butter tip. It's the be all and end all for Hank as far as I can tell. It's been a real game-changer for him and a real acceleration for his trust.
I will have more updates soon.
- Post starter
- #96
City Slicker
Platinum Member
Healing old Wounds through the love of a rescue dog.
I thought I would put this update here because I credit Hank and the amazing creature that he is and all I have learned so far from him so far in our journey.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Since ending a relationship with my ex a while back my sister suggested I meet a new guy. He is someone she works with and someone she had always thought would make a good match for me.
I questioned the timing since Hank has been in my life and we have created such an amazing 'nuclear family', but maybe the time was right - plus I have been working hard on keeping doors open rather than getting so insulated with my own world.The guy sounded good when she described him to me and sent me his pic and his link'd-in bio. But when I asked her about whether he had experience with dogs she said she didn't know. I thought it might be at least worth while to speak with the guy and at least see how it felt.
I said a tentative 'ok' and gave her permission to pass my email to him. After a few emails back and forth with him just to sort out a time for a phone call I gave him my number.
He called last night and we spoke on the phone for a bit. He had a great voice, nice insights about things. We spoke for a while and then I asked him his experience with dogs. He said he never grew up with them but he always thought maybe there was room in his life for one.
Right then I had a red flag go off. I didn't like the way he said there would 'maybe' be 'room' for a dog. I am not sure what I expected him to say but that wasn't it. And maybe it was the tone in which he said it.
Right then the call switched tracks and it became a dog interview. I was suddenly interviewing not a date for me but for who would be good energy for Hank. I didn't like any of his 'dog' answers - and he said 'what, don't tell me you are some kind of crazy cat lady' and there was a tone of disdain in his voice.
As of this writing I still don't know if I was already so biased on hearing or 'feeling' what I perceived of as the negative tone of his answers but I thanked him for the call and said this wasn't going to work out.
After the call I took a few minutes to figure out what had happened and I almost choked with laughter at myself and how one tracked I became when he said , 'are we still talking about going to the gym?'.
Then it hit me:
I was just given the chance to heal another old wound - one in which when I was growing up my mother always chose the guy over the kids, chosen her comfort and needs over what was best and safe for us. She knew how vulnerable we were, hell we were babies, kids, and yet she risked us anyway, every time.
And here I was in a situation that was my version of being faced with the same choice - of course very different circumstances but the same values and principles in play and presented with making a choice.
I chose.
I chose Hank and I chose me. And something big in me shifted, moved into place.
I got the recipe for Frosty Paws and made them for Hank.
I spent the most amazing time cuddling his muzzle and watching TV feeling safe and loved and needed.
I thought I would put this update here because I credit Hank and the amazing creature that he is and all I have learned so far from him so far in our journey.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Since ending a relationship with my ex a while back my sister suggested I meet a new guy. He is someone she works with and someone she had always thought would make a good match for me.
I questioned the timing since Hank has been in my life and we have created such an amazing 'nuclear family', but maybe the time was right - plus I have been working hard on keeping doors open rather than getting so insulated with my own world.The guy sounded good when she described him to me and sent me his pic and his link'd-in bio. But when I asked her about whether he had experience with dogs she said she didn't know. I thought it might be at least worth while to speak with the guy and at least see how it felt.
I said a tentative 'ok' and gave her permission to pass my email to him. After a few emails back and forth with him just to sort out a time for a phone call I gave him my number.
He called last night and we spoke on the phone for a bit. He had a great voice, nice insights about things. We spoke for a while and then I asked him his experience with dogs. He said he never grew up with them but he always thought maybe there was room in his life for one.
Right then I had a red flag go off. I didn't like the way he said there would 'maybe' be 'room' for a dog. I am not sure what I expected him to say but that wasn't it. And maybe it was the tone in which he said it.
Right then the call switched tracks and it became a dog interview. I was suddenly interviewing not a date for me but for who would be good energy for Hank. I didn't like any of his 'dog' answers - and he said 'what, don't tell me you are some kind of crazy cat lady' and there was a tone of disdain in his voice.
As of this writing I still don't know if I was already so biased on hearing or 'feeling' what I perceived of as the negative tone of his answers but I thanked him for the call and said this wasn't going to work out.
After the call I took a few minutes to figure out what had happened and I almost choked with laughter at myself and how one tracked I became when he said , 'are we still talking about going to the gym?'.
Then it hit me:
I was just given the chance to heal another old wound - one in which when I was growing up my mother always chose the guy over the kids, chosen her comfort and needs over what was best and safe for us. She knew how vulnerable we were, hell we were babies, kids, and yet she risked us anyway, every time.
And here I was in a situation that was my version of being faced with the same choice - of course very different circumstances but the same values and principles in play and presented with making a choice.
I chose.
I chose Hank and I chose me. And something big in me shifted, moved into place.
I got the recipe for Frosty Paws and made them for Hank.
I spent the most amazing time cuddling his muzzle and watching TV feeling safe and loved and needed.
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