My New Rescue Sweetheart!

[PupLuver]

Color me VERY happy to announce that I recently adopted a little 2yr old , longhaired, female Chihuahua from our local dog Rescue foundation! Her name is Fredonia and she was a puppy mill dog . She was kept caged for all of her two years and bred at least once in that time. She was utterly scared to death of people to the point of shaking violently and peeing and having diahhrea due to the fear reaction. She wouldn't eat in front of us, nor go potty, nor move around at all.

I've had her just over two months. When she came home with us (it's just me and the hubby), she would either hide in a corner and cower or lie down in a bed with her eyes closed as if to shut out the world. She was rather ill at first, but we made sure she got medication, and we worked with her to get her to eat at all that first week. Because she wouldn't eat, would hold her stools until she had serious gastro problems, wouldn't drink water and essentially tried desparately to just disappear herself, we weren't sure she'd make it. For about two weeks I wondered if she was just too damaged...she was acting just like someone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

It also was obvious that she had never been taught to play and had no inclination to do so with a ball or a toy or a bone. She did not "connect" that any human being was safe; all that she deemed "safe" was her dog bed---and she would not move around the room she was in, nor anyplace in the house...she'd just sit in the bed. Obviously, she was mimicking her entire life: sitting in a cage.

Eventually, she began to eat during the day if I left the food out and left the room. Now, she eagerly eats her food as soon as I put it down for her!

And, the saving grace in helping her was that I immediately recognized how SMART she was... I had previously had a Toy Poodle who was litterbox trained, and wanted my Chi to be litterbox trained as well. AMAZINGLY, this little girl caught on to being litterbox trained in ONE day! She's only made one mistake since (but she was sick that day, so I don't count it!). Once I realized that she was so smart, I decided to observe her situation and let HER show me how to help her...and she has!

Because she keyed in on the dog bed as "safe", I got several more and have spread them around the house and made it a "game" to follow me from bed to bed. This is helping her to understand what "freedom" is and that I am encouraging her to NOT "stay in the cage". It's slow, but she is gaining confidence...so much so that in the mornings when we "Begin Fredonia's Day" (my phrase to her to cue her that it's time to move out) she is now jumping around, wagging her tail and doing the Happy Dance out to the living room! She's happy and eager to start Fredonia's Day now!

She still will not initiate a move from the beds, but if I ask her, she will definitely come to me near a bed, so we are making great progress.

Thanks for listening about Fredonia! She is just the sweetest doggy and so very, very cute...she's got my hubby and I wrapped right around her little paw!

IF any of you have dealt with this sort of behavior problem, I would very much appreciate any suggestions you may have on how to help Fredonia to be more willing to freely move around. I am concerned that she stays so sedentary in her bed(s) unless I ask her to move...which I do quite a bit, but it isn't a good thing...she should want to move more, right? (FYI, she's in great health now...nothing wrong with her, nor is she in pain or sick...this is a behavior situation due to her terrible puppy mill existence.)

Here's a photo of my newest little sweetheart, Miss Fredonia!

[Bosley Slave]

Aw Fredonia, you sweetie. Time will make all the difference in the world. Aw, sounds like you are doing the right thing and she is coming around nicely. Don't forget to have everyone that comes to the house pick up a super treat and toss gentle to her (don't make eye contact) so she associates goodies from people that come in the house. Keep us updated and more pictures, what a sweetheart. And thank you for saving little Ms. Fredonia!

[agilitydog]

Aw she is a cutie. Thanks for rescuing her.

[Bclover92]

What a cutie, I think your doing the right thing by letting her come out and making life a happy game. The best thing to do was let her come otu and let ehr sit in her bed. you ahve done it how all people "should" deal with this. Most people drag em out and make it not a happy thing... You have done the opposite..

I also agree with the above....

[RoughCollies]

She's adorable! Good job on saving her.

[Aescleah]

o geesh the poor baby. i bet that dog really has post traumatic disorder. sounds like if there was ever a baby needing rescue this is it.

Ashley

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Aw... what a great story! I think you are doing the right thing by taking it slow, encouraging her and letting her move at her own pace. I would just praise her to high heaven with your happy voice when she moves about. Maybe leave tiny treats on the beds encouraging her to move around, then leave treats in places off the bed and encourage her as she finds them.

Great job!

[Aescleah]

i think i also have to say that it take a special person to rehabilitate a fearful dog like that

respectfully
Ashley

[Shepherd/Husky]

Kudos to rescue.........

[brosen]

thanks for sharing your story. I too have a timid rescue dog (although not as badly upset as yours) that i am hoping will one day be a happy loving dog in our house.
**HUGS** and keep us posted!