Meeting a rescue dog tonight!

[ArklePig]

Fodhla is being a superstar at my parents house.

She walked in the door on Friday, has a sniff about and snuggled up beside my mam and fell asleep. She hasn't put a paw out of place and has found a rug next to the patio door which catches the sun as her favourite snoozey place. She is loving all the extra attention. My dad took a nap yesterday and took her with him so she's happy as a pig in the proverbial

We're going out tonight and they are babysitting and it's nice not to have to worry as they minded her at Christmas one night and I think she was slightly too much for my mam at that stage. She loves dogs, but only really when they are good company and not much work, and she hasn't had a dog in 15 years.

My parents live on about a half acre that's not fenced in and on a busy road so we've been keeping her on the lead in the garden just in case. Yesterday my dad took her down to sniff his newly planted trees, when the cows across the road appeared. She howled at each one and it echoed across the valley. Quite the sound. Today the cows came in again and she just sat and watched then from the window.

She's really enjoying country life.

There's no point to this post only my absolute joy at having one of those dogs who is civilised enough to bring places. Makes life so much better.

 

[splashgirl45]

It’s nice to see a rescue dog settling so well, all credit to you and OH for working hard

 

[smolmaus]

You've put the work in AP and you deserve to reap the rewards of a happy, confident and settled child. She is absolutely perfect.

 

[Moobli]

Love following Fodhla’s adventures. She’s a great ambassador for rescue dogs.

 

[ArklePig]

She definitely is an ambassador! When we first got her I thought, this is horrendous, if we ever get another it'll be a puppy but now seeing her coming out the other side I know the next one will be a rehome again!

Once we get her lead walking skills nailed (and we're going in the right direction since the trainer came out the other week) and have built her tolerance for being home alone we'll be winning Mr AP wants both of those things ironed out before we introduce another and I can't say he's wrong to be fair.

 

[Moobli]

I’m undecided on my next dog - puppy or rehome/rescue. They both bring their own problems and joys.
I really should have said you’re both ambassadors for choosing a rescue dog as you’ve put your heart, soul, sweat, blood and tears into making it work. It’s lovely to see the relationship blossoming and growing.

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks @Moobli that is really nice of you to say.

I'm hoping the next one will be a little easier because we will be more experienced and also I definitely over thought everything because I was so worried about damaging her. I think I had done so much research I found it hard to go with my gut when she came along.

You would never know to meet her just how frantic she was at the start, a testament to her great nature as well. All Fodhla wants in life is walks, sleep, and to be where the people are.

We are going for a walk later on with her Irish Water Spaniel cousin so she has a great day ahead for her last day of holidays!

 

[ArklePig]

She had a great walk with her cousins
She also found a tennis ball and a goat's hoof on her adventure so she now thinks the hills of East Clare are magic.

 

[ArklePig]

Just sticking this update in here to remind myself in future how far we've come.

So as some of you know from the photo thread, Fodhla and I had a little car crash this morning. She was in her crate in the boot and it was the front passenger side that got hit so she didn't feel any impact really but there was quite a bang.

I removed her from the car, she seemed totally fine (and still is) and phoned Mr AP to come get her. I couldn't leave her in the car as it was totally immobilised and in the middle of a busy roundabout. Stood on a grassy hill off a foot path and she was a little bit confused like, where's my walk? This is not a park or woods or hill. I was glad to have the harness and collar so I could double clip her just incase but she was really good. Anyway she was pretty good in the 20 mins it took Mr AP to arrive, and when he did he put her in his car to wait for recovery. She literally just got in and lay down, and went to sleep after a while. We were there for ages! When we got home I gave her some sniffy games and then she went to sleep, and then later on she went to the gym with Mr AP and has been chilling since. Just like a normal day.

If this has happened a few months ago she would have freaked out, even at just been stood on the side of a foot path doing nothing. She is an easy going queen and I love to see it.

I'm slightly anticipating there may be issues getting her back in the crate in that particular car (if it's not a write off) but if there is we'll deal with it, and I'm so glad that she was able to handle what was for me a very stressful situation and I'm glad I wasn't stressing about her too much.

She's currently snoring her head off on her yellow chair, content and relaxed.

 

[Caol Ila]

I'm glad you're both fine. Hope the car is too.

You see so many people with their dogs loose in the passenger seat. Good reason not to do that!

 

[ArklePig]

I'm glad you're both fine. Hope the car is too.

You see so many people with their dogs loose in the passenger seat. Good reason not to do that!

Definitely! It scares me so much. One of the first questions the police asked when they arrived was if she was secured because apparently it can invalidate your insurance if not. I'm pretty obsessive about road safety in general but will me more so especially re dogs going forward.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When I had my accident last year, car slamming into the side of mine, my dogs were in their crates and I quite thought they would be traumatised as the younger one in particular is noise sensitive, but no, didn't seem the slightest bit bothered. I was a shaking wreck but they just carried on as normal.

 

[ArklePig]

When I had my accident last year, car slamming into the side of mine, my dogs were in their crates and I quite thought they would be traumatised as the younger one in particular is noise sensitive, but no, didn't seem the slightest bit bothered. I was a shaking wreck but they just carried on as normal.

I'm glad you were all okay! It's funny how we worry more about them. I'm glad your dog had no lasting effects either!

After it first happened the traffic stopped and I was stood by the boot of my car and a nice man said to me ever so kindly, do you think you could get off the road in case someone hits you. I said I couldn't my dog was in the boot and I needed to make sure noone hit her, and he looked at me like I was slightly insane and ever so gently said 'and do you have a lead'. Then I snapped out of it I think the dog was only mildly perturbed to be woken suddenly as she always sleeps in the car.

Second person on the scene, fortunately, was a lady driving a speed van who was a retired police officer and she radioed for help and stopped the other traffic, and then escorted me and the other driver and Fodhla across the road and made sure Fodhla got some good fuss (she was a dog person).

 

[ArklePig]

We brought Fodhla to a reunion day run by the rescue we got her from today. All the volunteers remembered her and were so delighted to see her looking so well. I entered her in their fun dog show too and FUMED like a pageant mam that she didn't win

She has also been treated to a new collar.

 

[ArklePig]

Feeling a bit sappy of a Saturday morning but I'm just gazing at her thinking about how it's all been worth it.

It's now been 9 months of Fodhla and honestly, what a dog. Just when I think she can't get any better she suddenly does.

The biggest improvement recently is that because we have worked so hard on her confidence she has now developed independence and her separation training is coming along brilliantly as a result. We would still like to get this up a bit to about 4 hours, but for a dog who wouldn't let me go to the toilet before she's coming along great.
She's just doing amazing I can't put into words how great she is.

We were out walking recently and she was being an angel and a nice lady with two spaniels commented on how well behaved and beautiful she is. I could have cried with happiness because she truly is. Lead walking is still not solidified but much better, but that's the only thing left to sort and it's going the right direction all the time.

I'm so proud of her

 

[ArklePig]

I've been neglecting my Fodhla diary, but it just dawned on me that next month it'll be one whole year of Fodhla!

She is still an angel. We brought her to the vet the other day, have been suspecting an allergy to chicken but just wanted to run the symptoms by the vet incase I was missing anything. The vet and the receptionist couldn't get over her, she's a different dog to the last time they saw her (I think maybe February?). Full of compliments for her behaviour and apparently she is in peak condition too which made me happy-I worry about her getting fat.

We brought her to a pointer meet up a few weeks ago. There were some English, some GSP and a wirehaired. All lovely and well behaved dogs and owners. There was one stage where a number of them were chasing birds around the perimeter, but not my dog, nope, she was busy hunting for forgotten toys in the bushes. She just makes me laugh so much she's all fun all the time.

Can't believe it's nearly a year since we brought home the whirling dervish who's default behaviour was mouth hump bark. Now her default behaviour is eat sleep play repeat, and everyone comments on her lovely nature and how gentle she is She is so good now at making choices and knows when she wants to be left alone and when she wants cuddles. Her FOMO had really diminished. If someone walks into the house she will grab her chew and go to bed. When someone she really likes comes in she tries her hardest not to jump up and sits at their feet wiggling as if she is going to burst if they don't pet her. She seems to know who's not a dog person and tends to leave them alone.

Mr AP and I were laughing last night about how another rescue had got back to us saying they had a male black lab, aged 2, toilet trained, settled, just a bit boisterous and how we made the completely unhinged choice. I never told this forum the choice we had because I knew you would all have sensibly pushed me toward the lab
Given the chance I'd make the same choice again.

She was a project for sure and the project is ongoing but I couldn't be happier with her, and I think she's pretty happy with us too.

Couldn't have done half of it without some of the excellent advice here and I'm so grateful for everyone's help when we really needed it.

 

[TheOldTrout]

What a lovely story!

 

[oldandgold]

Lucky girl and lucky you, sounds like all 4 paws are well under the table now

 

[ArklePig]

Score today as the dog park was empty and I wasn't really feeling well enough for a big walk so win win.

We hide things around the park for her to find and being half spaniel she is very very good at this game, and it really tires her out without having to tire me out. Here I am hiding one behind my back hence her pose

A kerry beagle came in to the park as we were leaving which was also a win, I've never met one in person.

 

[ArklePig]

I haven't updated my Fodhla diary in about 6 months. Probably because she's an angel. We're just back from spending Christmas with our families where she was not welcome she's so happy to be home and we're happy to be home with her. And I can honestly say I'm never putting myself out like that again it wasn't worth it and I missed her far too much. Christmas is for family and she's mine. She pulled me in the door, sniffed most of the house and then promptly got on the bed. My separation anxiety is far worse than hers, she had a great time

Can't believe it's 2024 already and we've had her since 2022. Time flies when you're obsessed

 

[EllieBeast]

It’s so lovely that you’re enjoying each other so much

We’re the same, where we go, the dogs come. We very rarely go abroad but are lucky that my parents are superstar dog grandparents and are happy to have them if we do.

if the dogs weren’t welcome at either of our families homes, they probably wouldn’t see a lot of us!!

 

[ArklePig]

It’s so lovely that you’re enjoying each other so much

We’re the same, where we go, the dogs come. We very rarely go abroad but are lucky that my parents are superstar dog grandparents and are happy to have them if we do.

if the dogs weren’t welcome at either of our families homes, they probably wouldn’t see a lot of us!!

Yes my parents know this and they're happy to have her but this year my sister called the shots and I got railroaded in a time of shock/grief. Won't be letting it happen again for sure!