From Anguish to Agility - A Rescue Dog Success Story
Bella's Update: Nine Months in Her Forever Home
Do you remember Bella? A few weeks ago, I shared the story of how she was rescued from a puppy farm where she was kept as a breeding bitch, and what we did to help her start building a fear-free, happy life with her new family. Well, Bella's been with her forever people for about nine months now, and I wanted to give you an insight into how she’s doing.
At home, she’s totally settled in. It turns out she’s a really smart dog who just loves to please and stay busy.
Things weren't quite so simple when she ventured outside, though. The whole world was just too much for her! It seemed incomprehensible: so much bigger, crazier, louder, and smellier than that tiny, desperate concrete pen at the puppy farm. If another dog got too close, she would lose control —rearing up, barking, and lunging. Men were also a big trigger, especially if they wore dark clothes; they sent her into a total panic.
Little Steps
Thankfully, her new family has been amazing at helping her ease into the outside world. They’ve let her see and smell the things that scare her, but always from far enough away that she can stay calm. She checks in with them for reassurance and a little distraction, which helps her know they are there to look after her.
Slowly but surely, she’s even started getting closer to my dog. Since my dog is trained to stay calm and not interact unless I say so, she’s been the perfect role model.
Finally—and this was huge—knowing she could dash away if she needed to, she crept forward and actually sniffed my dog's rear end. I'm sure she picked up all sorts of information about Delphi—age, gender, mood, who knows what a dog's nose can gather! But it was a major milestone. After that, she became noticeably more relaxed with Delphi and will now walk alongside some other dogs too, even if it's still at a distance.
Not so long after that she even managed to meet two calm, gentle guys in dark clothes who were kind enough to help us to practice.
Bigger steps, and jumps
Bella has done so well that her guardian decided to try her out at an agility session. Her first time was a solo visit, where she received a careful introduction to all the new sights, sounds, and textures. She absolutely loved it! Now, she happily attends sessions with other dogs and people and is becoming as excited and focused as they are.
Bella (and her family) still have a little way to go before they can completely relax when they're on walks, but they are all so much more settled and positive. It's truly wonderful to watch her progress!
