"Home..."

Home - Dierks Bentley

This song got me teary-eyed in the car today (as it usually does, but today for different reasons.)  

 

Today I got to thinking more about Grace's struggles she must have with question of:  "Where is HOME?"

Kansas--->Tijuana--->California---->First foster home--->Second Foster Home--->Us

"It's been a long hard ride...got a ways to go..."

 

I wonder when she will realize that this is HOME and that she can relax and know she is going to be cared for and kept safe.  

"Brave...gotta call it brave..."

I need to keep my patience, be strong, and do my best to help her become braver each day...

Walks

~This morning's walk went AWESOME, even though it was tough getting her up and out again. I can't keep picking her up, so I did the tug and "Let's Go!' until she followed.  I was so proud of her - minimal pulling, relaxed more, and greeted some challenges of meeting new people and dogs! She was very skittish around the new people, but she was quite comfortable around the 3 dogs she sniffed and met. She even met a fellow greyhound, but it was just the house-sitter walking him. Hopefully we see him again! I could tell she felt at ease with him. She even let me talk to a neighbor outside my house for a few minutes while leaning against me. Normally she starts to pull if I stop to talk to someone. Perhaps she is feeling more comfortable with me if she was leaning in?

~Tonight's walk went well, even though once again I had a tough time getting her to leave the house. I need to work on this part. No amount of treats helps when she gets as anxious as she does when it's time to go for a walk. I need to figure out how to make the leaving part more positive. She probably hates it because I've had to pick her up, now I am having to pull her a bit to get her up and out.

Once we are out and walking she seems to enjoy herself unless we see or hear a stressor (kids, skateboards, too many strange people, etc.) On this walk she saw one of the dogs (Woody the big fluffy brown dog) and his owner from this morning, so it was good for Grace to see "familiar" friends. The woman's son was with her, so it was also good for her to get some exposure to another child. He stayed back, so Grace just observed him. She got spooked when we passed a man and his son playing ball in the front yard. A positive I can take from this is that she only pulled for a little bit after, then calmed down. Normally if she's really worked up she will pull the whole way home after something like that. I am trying to look at the positives. She also saw a cat. She reacted the same way she does with Béla, even when the cat moved. That's a good sign, since greyhounds an react very differently to small animals outside vs small animals inside.

Today Craig asked if we will ever have a "normal dog."

Of course we will.

It will just take time.

And patience.

And understanding.

And LOVE.