~ Gone to the Dogs ~

The last few days have been a whirl of excitement starting with a knock on my door last Thursday evening.  Who on earth could it be?  We don't get too many visitors out here in Podunk since we are a little off the beaten path.  If family or friends plan to stop by they generally call first to make sure we are going to be home.  A quick peek through the window revealed the neighbor from down the road.  Out here neighbors come by for two reasons.  

1.  One of your animals is on their property

2. They need help with something

My chickens are bedded down for the day and we don't have any other animals so number one is out of the question.  He must need help with something. Much to my surprise it was neither of the two.  He had come to ask if we would be interested in a dog.  Not just any dog but a Service trained German Shepard.  As some you know we took in my Gramp's GS, Lobo,  when Gramp's past away a few years ago.  After Lobo's passing we swore off having another dog.  It's like losing a child when they pass.   But once a dog lover always a dog lover.  It's taken some time to heal and we think we might give this dog a chance, well at least go and visit with her to see if we thought it would be a good match for us.  As you can guess we fell in love with this sweet girl.  Her name is Kahleesi.  She is a year old.  She has been abused and neglected.  Her first owner was a mean old man that abused her to the point of drawing blood.  Her rescuer trained her and tried to give her a good home but due to life she soon became neglected.  He realized Kahleesi deserved a good life of love and attention.

 Since the cage life is all she knows we have some hurdles overcome.  She's very well behaved, but how bad can you be if you won't leave the cage.  She is free to roam but is afraid to leave her safe place.  Did anyone notice the old ugly quilt under the cage?  Hubby wanted to toss the old quilt but I knew it would come in handy someday.  Its the perfect sized to put under the cage so the cage won't scratch the hardwood floor.  

Slowly we are getting acquainted, learning about each other by spending time outside.  She does really well on a leash and follows basic commands well.

Today we went out the front door to go on our walk and then came in the back door.  As we came in the back door she became terrified and tried to go back outside.  We noticed yesterday when she came out of her cage she was avoiding the hard flooring in the dining room.  Taking one large step out of her cage and onto the living room carpet.   I need to work on her fear of floors without carpet.  Over half of our home is some type of hard flooring.  

When called she looks away as if I don't even exist.  But what his little gal doesn't know is I'm more determined than she is stubborn or scared.  The living life in fear and neglect is over.  Today she will learn to deal with this floor and love it.  I've googled the hardwood floor phobia and watched a YouTube video on the subject.  Now to help my girl.

Here's the video if  you have a dog with this phobia.  I'll let you know if it works for us.