Our hearts are so full with the progress poppy has made in the woods and on hikes! While she still is uneasy at times and this may be something she always carries with her - she has learned to trust humans and even make connections and this alone is amazing.
Are you looking for your next sporty boy?! I know one of our founders would scoop him up - maybe you will!!!
Crush - crushing a workout when he arrived!
Crush - a purebred golden will soon be accepting applications once we have spent more time getting to know him and he has undergone some behavioral assessments as well as lost a few pounds. Keep checking back on his progress.
Good Morning. 🌞☀️
Someone doesn’t want to get out of bed. 💤
Have you ever met such a beautiful soul? Reba is gentle and playful full of life and joy ready for her family (kiddos a must)!
While she would prefer her home to be one where she can be the center of their world she still does get along with others just no cats please.
I’d say Oreo is settling in nicely!!! Congrats little man.
In just a few sessions of guidance and LOADS of patience, support and calm understanding this girl is actively jumping into a car crate AND a car. Only a few months ago she was beyond terrified of them ( and still is when they are moving - that comes from living on a highway for over 5 months)
What does this mean for a dog like poppy? Well for her this opens the opportunity for more adventures out and about. It means we don’t have to restrict her environment. It means we don’t have to socially pressure her to pick her up or load her via crate to take her places.
This for her, is a HUGE step in a good direction as it will allow her to learn further how to live aside a human companion. As Poppy genetically is independent and does not seek much from humans this was further enhanced with her past trauma. We are working hard to show her a space where we will work with her - this has comprised of NO OBEDIENCE at all. It has simply been patience, time together learning each others movement and behavior, understand pressure, and giving as well as celebrating every single tiny thing she does that may seem so small. For her confidence and resetting her nervous system will take us MONTHS to do, and husbandry items such as getting in a car not only builds her opportunities but allows her to make the choice, to feel accomplished and to build confidence and trust in her handler through cooperation.
Another incredible moment with this girl.
POPPY IS ON 🔥 FIRE 🔥
Over the past week we made a few adjustments to Poppy’s training plan. After being with us almost four months - progress was being had and it was time for phase three - transitions to real life and moving away from just existing. This plan has included utilized three conditioned cues we’ve worked hard on with her
👉 Let’s go - we are moving forward together
👉 Box up - go into your crate (she loves a little too much currently)
👉 All done - slow down and relax what your doing ( useful for her frantic behavior)
We have have spent time giving her lifestyle cues in regards to the “what” we are doing when we do it such as we are getting up now, we are going inside/outside, and time to go potty etc.
We have worked to keep ourselves neutral in many ways as well as the dogs she interacts with. Her handlers have all worked to build a strong trusting relationship with her while building confidence and boundaries. This has taken many hours of sitting in nature, floating in the pool, laying in the grass, etc. She, as many fearful feral dogs and just fearful dogs in general do not need obedience or to be rushed - they need understanding, they require patience, they require a professional that understand every single moment in which is spent with them! Poppy will remain in our care and training program until we feel she is fully ready to take in the world, BUT also the RIGHT person to fulfill her needs and our requirements enters her life.
We now work to put her in more life-like situations such as moving her to a different location allowing her more exposures, involving her in regular training sessions, allowing her to interact in field socials, pack hikes, household noises and beginning to introduce new faces to her world with positivity yet ease. She will engage in a few new adventures over the course of the next 45 days many of which we hope will lead to potentially more success for our girl!
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