He made a pillow for himself after playing!
When we adopted Charlie, it was Christmas Eve. His first family dropped him off just before halloween. His adoption papers showed a temperament test, and it said he didn't like toys. I guess that just goes to prove that he was really scared and depressed at the pound. He's a very sensitive boy. One dirty look or harsh tone from me can result in a total shut down on his part.
If you know anyone considering adopting, tell them they will be saving a life. Charlie has always been a rare find, as you can't take just any dog and train them into service. That being said, if he wasn't fed well, loved much, and trained with consistency, he wouldn't have blossomed as much this year as he has. His first family gave him up, and he was scared, thinking the pound was his life from then on. He didn't understand what he did to end up there. (He didn't do anything!) Ever since our mutual liberation, it's been constant training and play, mixed with sleeping.
He was food aggressive, never knowing when or what his next meal would be. He would snap at the cats or us if we neared him while eating. With constant work, he now trusts us all to feed him well, and on time. He knows hard work earns extra love and cookie treats. He knows if the cats take kibble, he will get extra kibble and they will be kicked out of the food area. Now if I out my hand in his bowl, he sits down and waits for me to move!
He was scared of car rides, always thinking we were going to drop him off forever. We always worked hard to encourage him to get in to the car on his own. At first it could easily take an hour to load him up! But we all agreed he needed to choose on his own and not be forced in because I can't physically correct or control him, it has to be psychological. So we'd load up kibble and toys and have one of us on one side, waiting and offering petting, and the other would urge and pet any time he made a move toward the car. It was exhausting, but now just the word "car!" launches him in, and he then circles in the seat before sitting.
He has changed so much, and so quickly that it's weird for me, thinking back.
Charlie, the week of Christmas 2013, right after our liberation.
Today, confident and healthy, happy to do laundry and just be a pack.
I can take him outside off leash to do his business, and he will return from 4 feet away. He knows when he's on duty his focus needs to be completely on me, and he doesn't wander off. He has just surprised me in so many ways - not just his physical transformations either! My sweet boy. I'm just so lucky his first family didn't love him enough. He is such a constant support to me now.
He's grown more than the almost 30 lbs. he put on since Christmas Day. He's grown into a dog almost ready for the public access test. ....but he doesn't like toys. ;)
He's got such a great life! Glad he's come out of his shell!
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