Today I was at adoptions with my fosters (none got adopted... pout) so I wasn't here for most of the day... When I got home, I can't say Simba was ecstatic to see me like everyone else was, but he seemed like he was a tiny bit happy... The biggest news of the day is that he has given up the kennel and chosen to sleep in the plush circular doggie bed I also put in the Xpen area for him!
To me, this is a BIG step for a little one! The kennel was security, safety, a place to go when he was nervous, anxious, etc... The doggie bed doesn't have a cover or sides, so it requires him to feel a little more trusting of his environment....
Tonight we expanded the area and my daughter stepped in, then sat down... After a few minutes, Simba jumped into her lap... We think he was really trying to get off his sweater as well as wanting that human interaction, but we'll take it!
He went from periods of leaning into her, then afraid and retreating back into the kennel, out again and into her lap, back to the kennel. We decided to take off the sweater if he wanted out of it that bad and after a few tries, she was able to get it off... She stayed in the Xpen area for a time, and then he seemed like he was getting too much stimulation, so she climbed out... At that point, we attempted another intro with Frito while Simba seemed so 'out there' and willing... It went well and Frito was a perfect gentleman as he always is, friendly towards all...
At that point, we halted it all... Simba was getting yappy, too excited and we felt like we'd done enough work for one day/night, so I brought him a thick plush blankee and as soon as I laid it on the doggie bed, he was in and arranging it like he wanted... It seemed to release the pressure (anxiety?) almost on the spot and he's circled up in there right now...
This is the issue with rehabilitating rescue dogs... You don't know any of their background or history so you do the best you can - try things, observe the reactions, don't push TOO hard but challenge consistently to make progress - even if it is in small baby steps... As long as you have the time, patience, TLC and space to give them what they need to 'come back,' they will... The shelters don't have any of these things - they're always against the gun and the budget for the sheer volume of incoming dogs and cats never decreases, but always increases beyond the capacity of their facilities and budgets...
I'm pleased with the fact he's not clinging to that kennel now (50 hours into this) and made the attempt at connecting by climbing into my daugher's lap... When I talk to him, he responds attentively... He has some sensitivity along his spine, but I'm not sure if this is a medical or psychological issue at this point... Once he becomes a little more hand-friendly, we'll go to the vets and have some Xrays run to make sure it is a psychological issue (this is what I suspect from the way he reacts)... He's pretty stable today on those back legs and while the Synovi G3 can't have made this change already, maybe it is the chicken and brown rice... Dunno, but he's much more stable today, despite the splayed feet.
Well, tomorrow's another day and I'll be home all day... Tomorrow we are going to attempt to get that harness off of him, for I think it is too small... We've done enough work and made enough progress for one day!
