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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,033
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Updates on Tess from her foster Mum
We are fostering little Tess. She came home with me from Wiccaweys on Saturday.
Tess is having a very quiet lifestyle for the moment as she is very afraid of people and easily spooked.
On Sunday she spent most of the morning hiding under conifers at the back of one of our flower beds - the invisible dog! I tethered her with a long line.
Later we used a shorter lead so she had to be a little braver and emerge.
I have yet to take her beyond the garden. Hopefully we might try at the weekend. She has spent time tethered in the garden - not our usual routine but I am afraid I may not be able to catch her otherwise. Her exercise has been circuits of the garden on a lead skirting the flower bed edges - the speed has decreased a little as she has felt a less scared and now sometimes she wags her tail.
Each day there are little signs of increased confidence. She is sleeping in a crate at night but coming out by herself when we open the door in the morning, she will eat nearer to us....
Oddly enough for a timid dog, she is quite happy to be picked up and sit on my lap. She likes her tummy tickled and last night got brave enough to give me a wash!
Today it's triumphant Tess!
She has been for her 1st walk beyond the garden. We could tell she wanted to come out by increasing amounts of barking when I've gone out with our 3. Anyway I thought it would be terrible with non-stop spooking and/or traffic lunging. It is pretty quiet where we live but yesterday she ran round the garden excitedly and barked when anything passed in the road.
Tess has amazed us both. She pulled a lot but no car lunging and no panic stricken flinging about so we were well pleased. Cars passed us and a push bike - no reaction In the field we met a friend with her 2 lively Jack Russells. Tess lay down when she saw other people but then she got up & greeted the dogs & allowed my friend to stroke her. . She also loves playing ball in the garden
This may seem very trivial to some people but I am absolutely thrilled with her progress. Gradually we are seeing less of the little girl we called "Terrified Tess" and more of a happier little lady and it is only 1 week today since she arrived. I'm so pleased I could
Another day, another walk.
This time Tess managed nearly an hour - just me and 4 dogs. I now know I can manage to take Tess & the others on my own so she will get at least 1 walk a day from now onwards.
We met another friend with her dog - Tess greeted the dog and allowed Becky to stroke her. Now what I need is to go out on a walk and meet a sympathetic man - for Tess's benefit of course!!!! She is much more wary of Patrick than me so I suspect she might be more frightened of men in general - either that or I have a scary husband
She is coming out of her scared little shell but was a right little minx yesterday - we tried her without a trailing lead in the garden, no problems 1st time, 10 mins catching her the 2nd time. From her point of view it was a great game I suspect!
Phase 2
I think we are just emerging from another phase in Tess's development - for the last few days she has been "Try it on Tess". She must have been feeling more confident and decided to test a few boundaries including traffic lunges. We seem to have got some of that out of her system with a couple of roadside observation sessions coupled with some clear messages about what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Yesterday Misty did me a huge favour - when Tess lunged and crashed into her Misty decided to upturn her and then stand on her. I think Tess understood that one alright.
Tess is enjoying walks on a long line and I no longer have problems catching her in the garden. Most of the time she comes to me and sits when called, especially when she knows it is time for a walk. She will also come up to me and lift her head for a fuss. She is much more wary of Patrick and scuttles off when he enters the room but once he sits down she is fine.
She now insists on spending time in the same room as us all (she barks to complain if shut out) whereas early on she was quite happy to stay in the kitchen on her own. So I think overall it is progress
Tess meets Terry
Another day, another milestone. Yesterday on our walks, Tess was a lot more attentive, looking up at me more often & running back on the long line sitting in front of me and asking for treats. Time to start some recall training now she is relaxed on her walks perhaps.
Anyway today I decided to take chopped sausages as an added incentive for her to come when called. Needless to say those went down well & Tess realises that with all the competition about it doesn't do to delay with the recall!
On our way back from an hour and a half across the fields we met Terry & his dog Talisker. Tess barked at Terry and I requested he stood there and totally ignored her. She gave up being silly and focused on the other dogs instead. I was able to feed all 5 pieces of sausage and Tess was not bothered by Terry being there. Terry was really patient and we both sat down in the field (probably looked very odd!) until Tess came close enough and eventually took sausages from Terry. It only took a few minutes and I am ridiculously pleased. Maybe I should get a life!