New Foster Dog
We got our latest foster dog yesterday. Her name is "Missy" and she is a 35 lb "Collie X Terrier". She's really cute. But... (big but)... she is unsocialized. Really, really unsocialized. She won't even drink water or stand up if we are watching her. She hides behind trees if she's outside or in her kennel (or in the pantry! if you can't stop her) while inside. She lays down and refuses to move with a leash on, or with a person standing by her. Luckily she's not aggressive at all, so we can pick her up and move her (tiring, but mostly effective). Pippin really likes her, but she's still being a bit standoffish with him... it's going to take her a long time to settle in and start coming out of her shell.
Last night we tried crating her, and after about an hour and a half she started crying, barking, and howling. When she started howling I came downstairs, and found that she had pooped in the kennel. Outside with her, and some cleaning. Then we put her back up for the night, and tried to go to sleep again. Two hours later, barking and howling. No feces this time, but we just let her go outside and stay there. On the one hand we gave in... on the other hand we got some sleep and didn't have to spend all night trying to get her cornered in the back yard so that we could pick her up and take her back inside.
This afternoon we'll get to embark on the adventures of eating (will she do it at all? will she do it while we watch?) and acclimating her. This will basiclaly involve carrying her into the living room and letting her hide inside a crate with the door open, then ignoring her for hours at a time and hoping that she starts to get used to humans.
Last night we tried crating her, and after about an hour and a half she started crying, barking, and howling. When she started howling I came downstairs, and found that she had pooped in the kennel. Outside with her, and some cleaning. Then we put her back up for the night, and tried to go to sleep again. Two hours later, barking and howling. No feces this time, but we just let her go outside and stay there. On the one hand we gave in... on the other hand we got some sleep and didn't have to spend all night trying to get her cornered in the back yard so that we could pick her up and take her back inside.
This afternoon we'll get to embark on the adventures of eating (will she do it at all? will she do it while we watch?) and acclimating her. This will basiclaly involve carrying her into the living room and letting her hide inside a crate with the door open, then ignoring her for hours at a time and hoping that she starts to get used to humans.