Pam, that was a wonderful story to share. Proves how smart dogs are, and they have memories too.
Sent from Becky's iPhone On Feb 29, 2012, at 8:38 PM, Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]> wrote: > Actually it doesn't apply to just rescue dogs, it applies to any dog that has > had a previous owner. Dogs are completely loyal to their owner/pack leader. > They can't understand why they can't be with them, even if that owner was > cruel to them. So it is not so much wanting to run away from you, but rather > they want to run back home. If any of your dogs were separated from you for > more then a week, I can almost guarantee you that they will try to get back > home again, and so it is with any dog that we adopt. > > Tell you a quick story about Princess. The first time I visited Princess at > the shelter and they put her down on the floor and she immediately went to > the door. Now human logic dictates that she just plain wanted to get out of > there. She completely ignored me and the worker, no matter how hard we tried > to get her attention, she just stared at the door and a couple of times > jumped at it. I sat down and the worker sat next to me and we waited to see > if she would show any interaction at all, she didn't. After another 15 > minutes of trying to coax her to come for a good scratch, I said to the > worker that "I feel so bad for her, but she doesn't like me and I don't think > that it would work out, and it is time for me to go home." All of a sudden > Princess did a 360 and ran across the room and jumped up onto my lap. She sat > facing me, with her paws on each of my shoulders and layed her head on my > neck and froze. I think she was waiting to see if I was going to yell at her > or pet her. The worker was just as shocked as I was. Of course, beside the > fact that she was suppose to be put down, because of leash aggression and not > reacting to humans at all for attention, I completely gave in and said if the > owner doesn't show up within the next couple of days then I want her. So I > signed for her and had to wait it out. I did visit her everyday for several > days and brought her a blanket and toy and treats. By the third visit, I > actually got a tail wag and knew that it would work out once she was brought > back to good health and some good training. > > Here's the twist on the story. Once I got her home, she did nothing but > constantly go to the door and jump at the door, so I am thinking that she > probably has a bad stomach and walked her several times, and each time we got > back inside she would do the same thing. She never even checked out the rest > of the place, like a normal dog would. Next day she went to the Vet and got > all her test. She didn't have the runs, but constantly drove me crazy with > wanting to go out, this was going on all day and all night. Finally on the > 3rd day, she was resting and I was on the phone and was explaining how she > was at the shelter and I had used the word 'home' in the conversation. All of > a sudden she jumped up and got all excited barking at the door to go out. I > made her go to her bed and be quiet and went back on the phone. Again I was > talking and that is when I realized what all her fuss was about for 3 days > and why she acted the way she did at the shelter and I tested her several > times to prove that I was right. She heard me say the word > 'home' and thought I was going to take her there, that's why she jumped on my > lap like that, and that is why she reacted when I was on the phone. > > Smart dog, she knew that word, and her loyalty belonged to her previous > owner. Eskie's are incredibly loyal dogs. The AE rescues know that they are > high risk runaways when they transport them and take extra precautions. AE > owners also know that they are very aloof and wary to strangers, and because > of this they are one of the most misunderstood breeds in shelters, so I > learned later. It took Princess 8 months before she finally settled down and > really trusted me and excepted this place as her 'home'. During that time, > whenever we were out and I would pull up in the parking lot and start walking > to our door, I would use the word 'home' and she finally excepted this as her > new home. I know for a fact, that if Princess ever got lost, she would try > just as hard to get back 'home' to me now. Just for the record, she has never > sat on my lap like that again, nor will she put her paws on my shoulders like > that, no matter how many times I have tried. > > Adopted dogs in general have a lifetime of memories, and it is so silly for > us to think that within a couple of weeks or even months to expect any dog to > forget their prior life and the people that they loved. We can't forget the > people that we have lost during our lives and how much harder it must be for > them, who can't explain it. You never know what word you will use in a > conversation or to them that has a special meaning to them. They all have > somewhat of a vocabulary from their previous owner too. Be patient, the day > will come for Tino that if he ever got lost, his new loyalty will be to go > 'home' to you too. > > <Z-5067~1.GIF> > > > > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Pam Dean > Date: 2/29/2012 6:58:29 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [Chihuahuas] flight risk > > > I have always heard that rescues are a big flight risk and in some way I can > understand their confusion. First I was there and now I am here..where do I > belong?? Tino is definetely that. We have had to Tino proof every little > raised spot or small hole in the fencing as he is determined to make his way > out. And he will even try when you are standing there looking at him. > I think hubby has hurt feelings about it..like he isn't happy with us or > something because he is trying to get out of the fence. Anybody have any > ideas as to why they do it..or is it just a case of wanderlust.. > > > > > TODAY(Beta) • Powered by Yahoo! > Thousands of movies to vanish from Netflix > Classics like “Scarface†and newer hits like “Toy Story 3†won't be > available starting Wednesday. > Privacy Policy
