Little Moments Equal Big Progress

It’s the little moments that feel like big progress with Bonnie and Clyde. Having spent their entire life until now in a small, poop-covered room, they are like giant, bewildered puppies most of the time.

In the early days, we worked on eye contact and impulse control (sit before being let out of crate or out the door or having dinner served). I improved my ability to be patient and learned to respond to the tiniest improvement. Now, over a month later, they’ve both more or less mastered those big asks.

Both are getting better on the leash. They tend to panic at the sight/sound of new things, swerving in front of me. Having nearly been taken out on multiple occasions, they are getting better at trusting the leash and I am getting better at paying attention to potential ‘threats’. They have grown comfortable and curious about the cars that pass, but still are frightened by large trucks or tractors passing.

Neither pup was very coordinated in the early days, having never run full speed or jumped on anything besides the wall or a person. Clyde is the most ambitious, racing around after toys and inciting games of keep away. He tends to run from his crate to Bonnie’s in the morning, which involves taking a giant leap through the baby gate and up a small step. Most days this results in a wipe out, his big paws splayed in all directions. He rolls over and leaps to his feet undeterred. He has, for the most part, mastered jumping up on the futon, but still misses the mark sometimes and has to crawl up awkwardly. When Bonnie makes it onto the futon, it seems like an accident. Both of them like to stretch out full length like canine pin-up stars, on the soft blankets that cover it.

Their appreciation makes sense because it’s the only soft spot they’ve ever had. I still don’t put beds in their crates, since, once again I’m down to only one crate-sized bed after the other one was befouled during those first two weeks. Thankfully, they learned that it was possible (and preferred) to potty outside. Both have been doing well, but there is still an occasional pee accident, when one or the other gets too busy outside in the yard and forgets to go before bed. So we stick to multiple towels that are easily washed.

Bonnie’s sunny personality has really come into full bloom. She is always in a happy mood, her energy literally causing her to bounce in place at times. She is a busy little girl, dancing, spinning, sniffing, working the fenceline looking for anything new. She loves attention and will nudge me, and if I don’t respond, put her paws up on my desk to get my attention. She would be happiest with all-day pets and scratches. After a lifetime of zero touches, she is making up for lost time.

This past weekend, with help from Nick and my friend, Holly, I began taking B & C on outings. We go everywhere double-leashed because they are still a flight risk and panic at new sights/sounds.

On Saturday, we tackled the Farmer’s Market. For the first twenty minutes, we stood off to the side watching wide eyed. But soon enough, they were able to move amongst the people, shyly meeting new friends (who were all slipped cheese sticks to feed them). Once they discovered that new humans usually had cheese sticks, they became emboldened and accepted pets and attention. Bonnie usually took the lead, but once the cheese came out, Clyde nosed his way in for his share.

More outings – to the park, the Brewhouse, to Traveler’s Treasures (a dog friendly shop in Woodstock, where Joy spoiled them with fancy dog treats and individual bowls of water).

Because Clyde has an adopter but Bonnie does not, we took her solo to a winery on Monday. She was a rock star, greeting everyone who approached her and eventually relaxing enough to sprawl out and snore beside our table. She did great meeting new dogs (she liked the smaller ones and was a little afraid of the really big ones).

Toys remain a huge joy for both pups and they play keep away and tug all day long. They chew toys, but not destructively. I don’t think I’ve ever had stuffed toys live so long in the foster cottage. Only once have they pulled one apart, but it already had a sizable tear from a previous foster before I gave it to them. Neither has (thankfully) figured out how to dig; they are the first foster dogs not to leave fresh ‘dog holes’ all over the dog yard.

I’m excited for Clyde to start his new life this week with a local family who are patient and ready for the challenge of helping Clyde learn to be a dog. He has the sweetest manners and such a fun personality. He’s still frightened of new people, but with careful, deliberate introductions taken on his terms and at his speed, he will gain confidence.

A local trainer and volunteer for HSSC stopped by yesterday and spent a little time with each. She confirmed that they are sweet, sweet dogs who with the right adopters will likely be just fine, despite their tough start. She gave me some great ideas to share with Clyde’s adopters to help him make a good transition, and taught me a few tricks too.

If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting Bonnie, visit www.hsscva.org to learn more.

If you’re in Shenandoah County (or willing to drive here), you can see a few other available dogs I’m involved with on my Facebook page, Adoptable Dogs in Shenandoah County).

Until Each One Has a Home,

Cara

For information on me, my writing, and books, visit CaraWrites.com.

If you’d like regular updates of all our foster dogs past and present, plus occasional dog care/training tips, and occasional foster cat updates (!) be sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog. If you’d like to see dogs I’m connected to who are available for adoption in Shenandoah County, visit Adoptable Dogs in Shenandoah County on Facebook.

And if you’d like to know where all these dogs come from and how you can help solve the crisis of too many unwanted dogs in our shelters, visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org and subscribe to our blog where we share stories of our travels to shelters, rescues, and dog pounds.

If you can’t get enough foster dog stories, check out my book: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs. Or its follow up that takes you to the shelters in the south One Hundred Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues.

I love to hear from readers and dog-hearted people! Email me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.

If you’d like to support the work we do (and save the rescue and me some money), shop our Amazon wishlist. We are most in need of dog beds that fit inside large crates and high-value treats.