josh676 Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Hi all, long time reader first time poster! We rescued Sasha around 2 months ago from a shelter, we had done pretty extensive reading on BC's and Kelpies as they were the breed we had decided would most suit our lifestyle, when we got her she was a bit of a basket case, here is something I posted on another board 'We got her home on monday night, that's when we realised it wasn't just nervousness from being in the pound, she would shy away if you approached her ( and by that I mean less than walking speed ), loud noises made her jump and she refuses to walk through some doorways. She is very well socialised and has no problems with other dogs, just people, she walks well on the lead as well, but she refuses to walk through door ways as mentioned.' She was also terrified of my uniform (I am in the Army) she would be awesome with us over weekends, but as soon as we returned from work on monday she would be terrified again. It took time and patience (around 4 weeks to turn the corner, and another 4 weeks to where she is now) , but with every day spent with her, training her, walking her, she became more and more balanced. She's now actually almost brave! I took her to work the other day, and she was sniffing around offices and walking up to introduce herself to people. She is very smart, and is now motivated by food, and praise. Very well behaved while we are here, waits for invitations to join us on the couch, or for a cuddle in bed. Not so well behaved when left at home alone fora working day, but it's just a bit of chewing, and not her fault. When she's naughty all you need to do is speak in a certain voice and she knows, the only problem is once she has been scolded she tends to hide for the next few hours, luckily we've only had to tell her off once or twice. So thank you all here that have contributed to this site, as it has been an amazing resource to help us help Sasha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh676 Posted August 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 And to show how nervous she was when we first got her, a picture from the pound. In the picture she looks happy, in fact she was shaking, panting, and refusing to acknowledge we were there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Elle Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Love those split faced dogs! Sasha is a beauty and is very lucky to have been adopted by you. Best of luck with her! And welcome to the boards. D'Elle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Festerling Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 What a beautiful and lucky girl. Good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShoresDog Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Sasha is lovely, and it sounds like you're doing a great job helping her settle in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufftie Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 what a beauty. cuddle often!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 She's beautiful! Thank you for giving a rescue dog a chance...it sounds like she is doing very well, and I know you'll continue to see her blossom. Have fun with her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Nice to meet Sasha. She is beautiful. Thanks for rescuing that wonderful dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildFlower Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Welcome to the Boards! Sasha is beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Welcome! At the risk of sounding repetitious, she is beautiful! And as others have said, thank you for giving her a chance. I imagine her love and loyalty will reward you in spades. I look forward to seeing many more pictures! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Welcome to the boards. Thank you for the photos. Sasha is beautiful. Thank you for rescuing her. Jovi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jexa Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 She's adorable! I went through the same type of process with Rudder...he just huddled in a ball and shook violently at the shelter. It's so rewarding so see their personalities start to come out as they gain confidence! More pictures please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brady's mom Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Oh she is gorgeous! It sounds like you are all on the start of a wonderful journey together. <3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachdogz Posted August 10, 2012 Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Welcome and congratulations on finding such a lovely dog. You will find raising raising a rescue dog one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.....they give back so much more than you can imagine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh676 Posted August 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 Thank you all for the kind responses! It really is rewarding to see her develop from a girl that would lie down and refuse to move if a truck drove past, that would freak out at a camera, or a person walking, into the balanced calm dog she is now (Well almost) we still walk her on a long lead if we take her to an open space, with how skitty she used to be I'm just unwilling to risk her running away and ignoring her recall if something scares her for some reason, but we'll get there I guess! A couple more photos in the mean time, she really enjoyed playing around in the wet and splashing through puddles, she really wanted to herd up a flock of kangaroos as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh676 Posted August 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2012 She's adorable! I went through the same type of process with Rudder...he just huddled in a ball and shook violently at the shelter. It's so rewarding so see their personalities start to come out as they gain confidence! More pictures please Sounds like Sasha and Rudder would get along well! It was a very challenging first 2 or 3 weeks with how scared she was. She had a favourite corner to hide in whenever it got too much for here! How long did it take with rudder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jexa Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 Well, that's a very open ended question. It took a week for him decide he liked me, a couple weeks to not run for cover at every new noise, about a month to really settle in to my house, a couple months to stop submissive urinating whenever he saw someone new, and a few more months to approach a stranger close enough to take a treat. He still (9 months later) is scared of most strangers. He's only a little hesitant around women initially, and he'll now actually go up to a guy who's with a dog or a woman he trusts. I think you can expect her true personality to show in a few weeks, though of course it depends, ironically, on her personality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 Kudos to you for rescuing a shelter dog, and for being smartly cautious with her as you both adjust to each other. Nothing scares me more than hearing about a dog running off, especially one that is known to be shy and anxious. It can happen in the blink of an eye. Very best wishes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassidy Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 Welcome. I am so glad to hear the success you are having with Sasha. Dogs that have had those kinds of issues and when you work with them patiently as you are doing, not only do they recover and are able to have a happy life, but they remember the time you took with them and the patience you had and the love you gave them when no one else would,I believe they become ever more loyal and appreciative and makes for a much stronger bond with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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