It's official! We formally adopted Sunny (formerly Puffy) to our family yesterday!! We figured that he was going to be a permanent foster, so we might as well. This way, the rescue can use the money they were spending on his upkeep on another needy dog.
As promised, Linda, the rescue dirctor, didn't charge us an adoption fee, and she will also pay for a needed dental, which Sunny will get within the next two weeks. :B She is just thrilled that he's getting a home, which she never thought was possible, due to his fear issues. Most people want a cuddly, playful dog, especially when it's a small dog, and Sunny isn't there yet (and wont' be for quite awhile).
Sunny's little personality is starting to emerge, and he's actually pretty hysterical! He will bark once he's had enough to eat (he's fed in his crate, b/c he won't eat otherwise), and he'll also bark when he wants to come back inside from pottying. It's just a small bark, like he's saying, "hey, I'm done; come get me!"
I put a dog bed behind the couch in the dining room (the rooms are open to each other) a few days ago, so he can see us, but we can't see him directly. He gets nervous if we're watching him, and he's not comfortable being in plain sight. I tried moving the bed a little closer to the couch yesterday, but still behind it, but he went over to the area where it used to be and started furiously scratching the floor in that spot! I laughed so hard, because he was SO mad! It was as if he was saying, "put the d*** bed back HERE where it belongs!!" Of course, I moved the bed back, and there was peace in the household once again. :R
He's not wearing a belly band any longer, and he's doing well with not pottying in the house. :C We're still leaving his leash on him inside and outside, because he's still so skittish that he sometimes won't let us touch him. The leash gives us a little more control when we have to catch him.
Sunny's getting a little better about going through doorways. Before, we'd have to completely leave the area before he'd go through a door way. Now, we just have to step a few feet away and not look at him, and he'll come through within a few seconds. He still likes to follow us around, as long as we don't turn around and look at him directly. I talk to him as I walk, getting him used to a friendly voice. He's also fascinated watching us play with our other dog, Maddie, but of course, won't join in yet.
Sunny definitely has his preferences, and appears to be a smart little booger. I can't wait until he starts trusting us a little more.
Baby steps...
Sunny's Gotcha Day! (4-12-14)
As promised, Linda, the rescue dirctor, didn't charge us an adoption fee, and she will also pay for a needed dental, which Sunny will get within the next two weeks. :B She is just thrilled that he's getting a home, which she never thought was possible, due to his fear issues. Most people want a cuddly, playful dog, especially when it's a small dog, and Sunny isn't there yet (and wont' be for quite awhile).
Sunny's little personality is starting to emerge, and he's actually pretty hysterical! He will bark once he's had enough to eat (he's fed in his crate, b/c he won't eat otherwise), and he'll also bark when he wants to come back inside from pottying. It's just a small bark, like he's saying, "hey, I'm done; come get me!"
I put a dog bed behind the couch in the dining room (the rooms are open to each other) a few days ago, so he can see us, but we can't see him directly. He gets nervous if we're watching him, and he's not comfortable being in plain sight. I tried moving the bed a little closer to the couch yesterday, but still behind it, but he went over to the area where it used to be and started furiously scratching the floor in that spot! I laughed so hard, because he was SO mad! It was as if he was saying, "put the d*** bed back HERE where it belongs!!" Of course, I moved the bed back, and there was peace in the household once again. :R
He's not wearing a belly band any longer, and he's doing well with not pottying in the house. :C We're still leaving his leash on him inside and outside, because he's still so skittish that he sometimes won't let us touch him. The leash gives us a little more control when we have to catch him.
Sunny's getting a little better about going through doorways. Before, we'd have to completely leave the area before he'd go through a door way. Now, we just have to step a few feet away and not look at him, and he'll come through within a few seconds. He still likes to follow us around, as long as we don't turn around and look at him directly. I talk to him as I walk, getting him used to a friendly voice. He's also fascinated watching us play with our other dog, Maddie, but of course, won't join in yet.
Sunny definitely has his preferences, and appears to be a smart little booger. I can't wait until he starts trusting us a little more.
Baby steps...
Sunny's Gotcha Day! (4-12-14)
Sunny had his hair did today! Of course, Maddie had to check my groom job to see if I did it right - lol! Sunny was good, except for his front feet, just like last time. I had to put a mesh muzzle on him to get them done. He was fine for everything else, including his back feet - go figure! :h I told him I was so sorry that he was a poodle and had to go through this every few weeks! ๐
Thanks everyone, for your kind words. We wanted to adopt Sunny from the beginning, but we were hesitant when we found out his history and the severity of his issues. The rescue actually suggested that we foster first, to make sure we could deal with his issues, which I think was very smart.
Our other dog, Maddie, is being a great role model for Sunny, and Sunny follows her around. Of course, he also witnessed Maddie chasing down, cornering, and almost catching a young rabbit yesterday in our yard (fortunately, she came to me when the bunny hid under an overturned wheelbarrow, but was FURIOUS with me when the bunny then escaped - she's such a terrier!). :R Sunny watches Maddie intently when we're loving on her, playing fetch with her, calling her to us, etc. He now doesn't have to be put on the tie-out outside (I still keep the leash on him, which he drags around "just in case"). He'll come back inside when called, following Maddie.
He'll learn to act like a dog yet!
Our other dog, Maddie, is being a great role model for Sunny, and Sunny follows her around. Of course, he also witnessed Maddie chasing down, cornering, and almost catching a young rabbit yesterday in our yard (fortunately, she came to me when the bunny hid under an overturned wheelbarrow, but was FURIOUS with me when the bunny then escaped - she's such a terrier!). :R Sunny watches Maddie intently when we're loving on her, playing fetch with her, calling her to us, etc. He now doesn't have to be put on the tie-out outside (I still keep the leash on him, which he drags around "just in case"). He'll come back inside when called, following Maddie.
He'll learn to act like a dog yet!
