Time flies when you are having fun, and Molly and I have been having a blast!
On April first of last year, Molly came to me from another state and another life. Our lives haven’t been the same since that day.
And it’s all for the good.
The Molly I got that day was a frightened, insecure dog. Her entire life had been uprooted and the people she known for years were suddenly gone. To add insult to that injury, she was so filthy this person she didn’t know gave her a bath. What a way to start a relationship.
This the Molly I met via Adopt-a-Pet
Yup. That is photo that lead me to her and her to me. It took a lot back and forth before it was all settled and Molly made the journey to her new home.
That Molly, the one in photo, was scared, didn’t know how walk on a lead, was extremely leash reactive and aggressive. She would see another dog across the street or down the block and go bananas. She’d lunge and bark loudly. She was not a fun dog to walk. While she got the hang of a basic heel very quickly, the rest was not going away anytime soon. *sigh*
The first week home, Molly slept – a lot. She ate, went for walks and slept. Many rescue dogs do that. Once they start to feel safe and secure, they sleep. The release of all that tension is exhausting.
Molly was wonderful with most people. I had to go to work, and Molly couldn’t go to work with me until she was vaccinated, so my bestie came stayed with her during the day that first week. Bless my friend forever. She walked Molly several times a day and made her heel and walk with manners. The aggressive behavior was not going anywhere soon, but we both did the best we could dealing with Molly. I knew we needed help.
After that first week, Molly made to the vet and got vaccinated. That meant she could come to work with me. We did a weekend trial run so Molly could see the office and get used to the space before she was there with all my co-workers. She did perfect.
She met all my co-workers and liked all of them. She wasn’t keen on men, but wasn’t aggressive with them. She was just leary and very reserved around them. Since I work with all women, the issue with men wasn’t a problem at work.
Today, everyone has a Molly Cookie jar in their office. Molly visits everyone every morning and after our lunchtime walk. Everyone gets a Molly kiss. She loves her extended pack.
I knew we needed help with the aggressive behavior. A place and class was recommended to me from someone I happened to run into at a dog park. Someone I didn’t even know. Just another dog person. (I would take Molly and only go in if no one else was there. She could not be in with other dogs). So I went to the kennel where the class was and we got all signed up and ready to attend.
The class is mix of training and group play. The dogs that can be in a group get to play together. Dogs like Molly are put in a side pen (with me) where they are safe and all the other dogs are safe. The steps are small and every step is supervised. The trainer showed me how intervene and not let Molly just go off on the other dogs. It was slow going, Molly got better as the weeks went on. During this time, we met another dog of the same breed and his owners. Bubba is an easy going dog, and even when Molly barked at him, he just shrugged it off and didn’t engage. The prize though, is Bubba’s dad. This lovely man came into our little pen and sat on the floor. He and I talked, and he offered Molly pets but never forced it. He just sat on floor and let Molly figure him out. Pretty soon Molly let him pet her, took treats he offered, then she was all for ear scratches. It wasn’t long before they were friends.
Then Molly got where she wasn’t barking at Bubba. Soon she was sitting next to him (fence between them) with no issues. Before long she was sitting next to Bubs with no fence between them and no aggression.
Molly was ready to try daycare. Since Bub’s mom works there, we made sure she was in run next to Bubs. Since Molly couldn’t be in a group to play, she got one on one play time with a staffer. Once she got comfortable with the situation, they tried her out in playtime with just Bubs (always supervised). Yup. Her and Bubs chased each other all over the play yard. From just Bubs, they added Bub’s buddy Mo, and Molly was on her way to playing in a group. The three of them are hilarious together.
Now that she could get along with two other dogs, we tried her in the weekly group. Well, a small part of the group. Since we could use the outside yards , Molly joined Bubs, Gizmo, and couple of other dogs in a play group. Molly discovered play was fun! Of course now, she is fully in the once a week play group and can go to the dog park and get along with almost any dog she meets. If she doesn’t like a dog, she just disengages and goes elsewhere.
We started obedience classes. From basic to advanced, Molly has made it through with flying colours. She struggled with some things but we worked on them (three minute down stays are hard!) and now Molly now holds 4 AKC titles. Next, we begin to learn agility.
Today, Molly is full of life, loving and very social. She loves men and makes a point of visiting all the dog dads at play group. All of her leash aggression is gone. We can walk past dogs on the sidewalk without a hitch. We go downtown, to the dog parks, to patio restaurants, in shops and anyplace we want to go.
Molly loves her trainer and everyone at the kennel she goes to for daycare (she goes once or twice a week so she can be a dog and play in her very large social circle). And they all love her. Every single person at that kennel helped Molly on her journey to being a happy, social dog.
To anyone out there who is thinking of adopting/rescuing a dog – do it. Just be aware adopted dogs often come with issues. It takes time and work to get through them. Don’t expect miracles. Dogs take their own time and are not at all concerned with your schedule. You may need the help of a trainer, so take the time to find the right trainer for you and your dog.
Don’t over restrict yourself on the dog you are looking for. I wanted a female dog, but did look a few male dogs. I wanted a brown (liver) and roan German Wirehaired Pointer. I got a black Wire Haired Pointing Griffon. Molly is nothing I was looking for and everything I wanted.
That is by far, THE most important thing.
** Note: AKC now has a program for mixed breed dogs and unregistered purebred dogs. Your dog gets an AKC number that allows them to earn AKC titles and compete at AKC events. Your dog must be spayed/neutered and you will need proof of that from your vet. Go to https://www.akc.org/ and look for the PALS program.
Mindfulofchattering 