Apache Rehomed January 2009
He was a baby, just ten months old and he had already done a stint in a pound and had at least three homes. He had lived in the garden with people who openly admitted they were not fit to look after him before he came into the care of WYDR They were lovely people who had rescues him because he was deaf and it was not that they were unfit but just that he had problems that they had no experience of and he needed help to deal with them. I think it showed just how much they cared about him to not just take the easy option of having him put to sleep but to advertise for help. He had developed neurotic behaviour because in his quiet, un-stimulated world he was bored.
Like all habits it is easy to pick them up but can be darn difficult to break, learnt behaviour in dogs is just the same. Apache didn’t spin on the spot because he had a mental problem, he span because it was what he did to amuse himself and it was like a comfort blanket that he did not only when he was bored but also when he was confused or scared.
He will never really lose that but he will learn that he doesn't need to do it and everytually it will be replaced, for the most part with something else. Establishing the 'something else' was the hard part.
Water pistols, common garden children's water pistols provided a quick spray to the face which was enough to make him stop to find out where it came from. It took days (and a very wet house) until he got it.
Cats were a real problem for him. He wanted to chase those that didn't get out of his way. A throw-back to being shut in a garden ... cats were fair game then. Treacle, our disabled cat took refuge in the bedroom which did at least ensure her safety.
Apache and Teija clashed. In fact they clashed big time as neither could read the others body language and although Apache could see Teija he was determined to be the dominant one. He had never lived with other dogs before and so often fear got the better of him. But Kali to the rescue ... she hated them fighting and started to pull Apache by the tail backwards away from Teija when things kicked-off. This new found skill was then employed by Kali at all opportunities. Fights were intercepted before they really go going, Treacle suddenly had her own minder and any spinning was halted with a quick tail tug. Kali had a new mission in life and Apache loved her and so did as he was told. She taught him the merits of toys and how to be part of a gang. He was finally being the puppy he had never had the chance to be.
He had good food, was groomed which he loved, dogs to play with and people to love him - physically and mentally he just blossomed.
I was in love and also in total turmoil. He was a foster and I was determined not to join the ranks of those who failed and succumbed to that love that turns a foster dog into a forever family member. But whoever got him would have to be really special and my high standards were even higher for this young man.
There was a lot of interest in him from the start but I didn't want to make the wrong choice for him and have him bounce homes yet again. I needed to find someone who would understand and not be fazed by his behavioural issues and someone who would not see the use of sign language as a problem. What I need was a guardian angel for him.
On the 19th January 2010 I found them in the form of a lovely couple who had fostered for Dogs Trust and were now looking for a dog of their own. They had years of experience of dogs rescued from crisis situations and so were not put off by his issues and their children were deaf so signing was normal for them.
Apache loved them from the first sniff and they were equally as smitten.
I cried buckets over this dog. Frustration and anger at his life before he came to me, joy over the progress he made, love at the first kiss he instigated and mixed emotions when I handed him over to his new family.
He was very special and I love getting the up-dates on him but ...
there is still a little part of me that regrets not failing as a foster carer and adding him to my forever pack.
Like all habits it is easy to pick them up but can be darn difficult to break, learnt behaviour in dogs is just the same. Apache didn’t spin on the spot because he had a mental problem, he span because it was what he did to amuse himself and it was like a comfort blanket that he did not only when he was bored but also when he was confused or scared.
He will never really lose that but he will learn that he doesn't need to do it and everytually it will be replaced, for the most part with something else. Establishing the 'something else' was the hard part.
Water pistols, common garden children's water pistols provided a quick spray to the face which was enough to make him stop to find out where it came from. It took days (and a very wet house) until he got it.
Cats were a real problem for him. He wanted to chase those that didn't get out of his way. A throw-back to being shut in a garden ... cats were fair game then. Treacle, our disabled cat took refuge in the bedroom which did at least ensure her safety.
Apache and Teija clashed. In fact they clashed big time as neither could read the others body language and although Apache could see Teija he was determined to be the dominant one. He had never lived with other dogs before and so often fear got the better of him. But Kali to the rescue ... she hated them fighting and started to pull Apache by the tail backwards away from Teija when things kicked-off. This new found skill was then employed by Kali at all opportunities. Fights were intercepted before they really go going, Treacle suddenly had her own minder and any spinning was halted with a quick tail tug. Kali had a new mission in life and Apache loved her and so did as he was told. She taught him the merits of toys and how to be part of a gang. He was finally being the puppy he had never had the chance to be.
He had good food, was groomed which he loved, dogs to play with and people to love him - physically and mentally he just blossomed.
I was in love and also in total turmoil. He was a foster and I was determined not to join the ranks of those who failed and succumbed to that love that turns a foster dog into a forever family member. But whoever got him would have to be really special and my high standards were even higher for this young man.
There was a lot of interest in him from the start but I didn't want to make the wrong choice for him and have him bounce homes yet again. I needed to find someone who would understand and not be fazed by his behavioural issues and someone who would not see the use of sign language as a problem. What I need was a guardian angel for him.
On the 19th January 2010 I found them in the form of a lovely couple who had fostered for Dogs Trust and were now looking for a dog of their own. They had years of experience of dogs rescued from crisis situations and so were not put off by his issues and their children were deaf so signing was normal for them.
Apache loved them from the first sniff and they were equally as smitten.
I cried buckets over this dog. Frustration and anger at his life before he came to me, joy over the progress he made, love at the first kiss he instigated and mixed emotions when I handed him over to his new family.
He was very special and I love getting the up-dates on him but ...
there is still a little part of me that regrets not failing as a foster carer and adding him to my forever pack.
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