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Sunday, November 10, 2024

Six Months with Penny – Oh My Canine!


Friday night time, after the ladies have been down, I climbed beneath my weighted blanket with a glass of wine, Dogland (so, so good, btw), and Penny, who promptly fell asleep on my arm.

She twitched somewhat as she snoozed, and when John walked by means of the bed room on his technique to the closet, she lifted her head.

We each assumed she noticed or smelled him. However, when he approached to pet her, she leapt away from bed with a bark and a growl.

He jumped again.

Instantly, Penny realized it was John and settled. He, nevertheless, felt very unsettled.

She is so good and candy and mild that we frequently neglect–and, thus, take as a right–that she got here to us with important trauma.

And regardless that six good months have helped her heal considerably, she has greater than two years earlier than that full of neglect and abuse. After we neglect that reality, after we drop our cautious consideration, that can all the time be on us, by no means on her.

With that in thoughts, I needed to share Penny’s replace partly to assist anybody else who’s adopted a canine from comparable circumstances really feel much less alone, and partly to present myself a document in order that I can proceed to look again and see how far we’ve come.

Me, a white woman with brown curled hair past my shoulders, wearing a yellow blouse and dark washed jeans, and my dog, Penny, a white dog with brown spots over her hips and tail. I'm crouched down giving her face some squishes. We're on a wood plank bridge with a marsh behind us. The day is overcast.

As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. Picture: Pictures By Austyn – Carmel, Indiana

I do know you understand this sense as a result of I’m pretty sure it’s common: How on earth does time transfer so quick?

Penny joined our household somewhat greater than six months in the past, and whereas that’s hardly any time in any respect, it additionally appears like she’s been right here ceaselessly.

However, first, should you’re new right here, welcome! We misplaced our canine, Cooper, final fall, and it was actually, actually tough for us and our ladies. Whereas we didn’t plan for issues to maneuver so shortly, we adopted Penny and listed below are a couple of posts to catch you up on her story:

Meet Penny!

The three-3-3 Rule for Canine Rescue

It’s okay to not be okay

And that brings us to right now, the six-ish-month mark with fairly Penny.

This previous week has been fascinating.

Together with the incident with John, a number of occasions not too long ago she lurched out of sleep with a giant growl or bark. We’ve bolstered the dog-safe floor guidelines with the ladies of no waking or petting Penny if she’s asleep. If we have to wake her up, I’ll achieve this by both flicking the lights or stomping my toes.

Regardless that she appears so settled in, worry nonetheless plagues my lady.

That’s been obvious, too, with a regression on our neighborhood strolls.

We observed Penny startled way over normal on our walks.

At first, the whole lot scared her, so walks have been gradual and treat-heavy as we tried to move one home, then two, then the block, and so forth. It didn’t take her lengthy to comprehend she loved walks and, so long as we stored it gradual, she persevered. (Sluggish, for actual. It takes her about an hour to stroll a mile.)

After a couple of months, Penny confidently walked the identified streets of our neighborhood and delighted in strolling by means of parks and alongside trails.

Sometimes, although, she flinches. One thing scares her, and she or he cowers.

Pancakes.

After which… recovers.

This week, although, she struggled to get better. It’s not been as dangerous because it was these first couple months, however it definitely appears like a setback.

On the flip facet:

Twice within the final month, she walked down the entrance hallway in our home.

It is a feat she’s but to try till now. You may’ve seen on Instagram a couple of months in the past, Penny conquering the hallway in the home that connects the bed room to the kitchen to the lounge:

After a couple of tries over a pair weeks, a swap flipped and she or he was over it!

Now, I’m not going to say she’s “conquering” the entrance hallway in the identical method.

She’s completed it solely these two occasions, and she or he has a wonderfully affordable path to keep away from it altogether (she will stroll by means of the lounge to go upstairs and by no means have to make use of that hallway), however the truth that she’s tried it–twice!–appears like ahead progress.

One step ahead and one other step again

I suppose that’s restoration, isn’t it?

Progress won’t ever be linear.

The previous lives on in her thoughts and her physique.

However, prior to now six months she’s realized that good meals comes recurrently. She’s realized learn how to ask for what she desires. She’s realized learn how to cuddle and zoom across the yard.

She’s nonetheless studying security.

She’s studying she will belief us, that we are going to by no means damage her. She’s studying learn how to play with toys. She’s studying learn how to dwell with two very completely different cats. She’s studying that she’s protected even when she doesn’t all the time really feel protected.

So, what are the six-month classes?

Time and endurance, earlier than all else.

We have to bear in mind to not take progress as a right. She’s doing wonderful AND we have to account for and accommodate the previous she carries together with her.

Principally, I’m so grateful for this candy lady. She’s an unbelievable canine. Mild, candy, humorous, and on the cusp of letting her foolish facet free!

I’m additionally grateful to be entrusted together with her care, to assist her discover her footing and really feel protected on this planet.

I’m excited to see the place she goes within the subsequent six months and am leaving this submit right here to look again on after we’re celebrating her first gotcha day as a result of I’ve a lot religion in Penny. I do know every small setback might be accompanied by even larger leaps ahead.

Till then, time and endurance. Which all of us deserve.


Should you loved this submit, you’ll additionally get pleasure from my forthcoming e book, For the Love of Canine, from Regalo Press in 2025. It’s chock stuffed with the newest analysis in canine cognition mixed with tales of my canines to convey the info to life. To remain up-to-date on the newest with my publication information, observe alongside on Instagram. I’d love to attach with you and your canine!



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