Lots going on...

Lots has gone on since the last post... So to catch up here... 

Prior to being spayed, I noticed the harness Millie had on was too tight and eventually I had to cut it off of her... I suspect she has bruised ribs (??) from where it was around her mid section - this could be causing part of the screaming she does when you pick her up, so everyone is alerted now to ONLY do a two-handed lift (one hand under her butt)... 

I tagged Millie with an IDTag just in case she gets away from me... Not that I anticipate this to happen, but because she's so spooky, I'm not so sure she'd come back with me calling her.... Took me almost an hour to cut that halter off and put a normal collar on her with the tag (and numerous scratches as she did everything she could to scramble out of my arms)... 

She's starting to learn her name now... If I say it, I'll get a tail wag (courtesy of great treats she can't seem to resist)... If left alone, she'll stay in the corner in that opened kennel... If encouraged and she's in the mood, you can possibly pick her up and love up on her... She's a face clawer, so we have to break that habit gently... I've gotten my first Millie kiss already, so I'm hopeful and encouraged...

Last night for the first time she was up in my lap and 'TV-snoozing' with some of the other guys... Even allowing them to touch her as she slept... At one point she stretched out and the dog pile shifted... I wish I had a camera on top of my head and a 'Jeannie-blink' would have snapped the picture... But the deep sigh she gave was enough payback to me... 

Since her arrival, we've let her sleep where she wants to and her choice has been the kennel in the corner that is pretty close to a den-like environment... Last night I decided it was time to push the envelope a bit and after a nice relaxing night, I picked her up and carried her into the bedroom... I have two kennels stacked one on top of the other with a firm board in between them... Once fosters settle in, they're allowed to sleep inside our bedroom (the bed being reserved for our dogs)...

Although Millie is very comfortable in a kennel and actually prefers them, she had several anxiety sessions once I secured her in the kennel... I had brought along a few dehydrated chicken strips for her to munch on in the hopes she realized that this kennel and room was special... It took awhile, but I was able to help her un-compress her anxiety by reaching through the bars and cooing to her... She could see me laying down and trying to go to sleep because that kennel is on eye-level to me and eventually she relaxed and went to sleep as well... 

I didn't bother taking her to adoptions on Saturday... She's FAR from being adoptable... I'm talking months from now... On occasion, she'll still show her teeth at another dog but has learned to not attempt to bite... No one here is a biter nor a bite intimidatory persona either...  They do know the hierarchy of the pack and expect every dog and foster to follow the rules however...

Seems like everything freaks Millie out - the fan, the outside, the wind, the wind chimes, sudden movement - even the sizzle of something cooking on the stove... She spends 75% of her time with that object look of fear in her eyes and seldom relaxes for long periods of time overall...

Potty training?... Well, that's something we're working on too... She'll stand in front of you and widdle without a thought... She's underweight and I'm working on that, but I think her nerves get to her periodically as well... We get on a good track for a day or two, and then she's challenged by something and gets the runs shortly thereafter... 

Forget playing with toys... Not in her vocabulary... Last night I did watch her watch Nacho and Scudders playing with each other... A little bit later Millie attempted that same behavior with Princess (another small, mild-mannered and sweetheart) - it lasted about 15 seconds and then Millie screamed, Princess was taken aback and it ended as quick as it began...

But I am hopefully... I've only failed to turn one dog around in many years, but he was a Jack-Chi with a ton of issues from the shelter... He eventually did get adopted into a very special and understanding home, so every dog can earn a great furever home if only you believe, ya know?