31/01/2022
Miss Pepper is by far the most complex dog I have ever fostered. She seems to be like a chameleon that changes her nature depending on who she's with. She is not a cuddly dog in the sense that she likes her personal space unviolated, but enjoys companionship & soft pets. She can be funny & exuberant even as a senior & will bring you her toy to gain your attention. She will pilfer things she knows she shouldn't (like steal your shoes or stuff out of a drawer... yes she is adept at opening drawers!) but it's mostly just to get your attention. She is curious & smart. She is great on recall & can be off leash on our acreage; she never goes far & always comes when called. She has been great with the farm animals & good with other hounds in the house (but has a tendency to be bossy & defend her private area). Recently, Pepper has graduated from her own private area & has displayed a desire to be more integrated in the center of things. It's been a long time getting to this point... you see, Pepper's issue is that she is very fear reactive if she feels threatened or cornered (she will bark & snap or bite, then retreat as soon as possible)... so it's important to never be intimidating to her; she responds quickly & easily to redirection and a consistent lifestyle. It takes a long time to earn her trust, but she's come such a long way in the time she's been with me. I expect she will continue to blossom.
