Buddy, The Foster Dog
Buddy, the two-year-old Cocker Spaniel rescue dog now being fostered has come a long way in a week's time.
He's no longer quite the bad little boy, obstreperously challenging, furiously unbiddable, quick to snap, remorselessly biting. He's gone from a lovely appearing middling-size dog with a questionable temperament and a flash-quick attitude to a more gentle persona.
But a week cannot possibly accomplish all that. The change is veneer-thin, and he has to be worked with continually. Still, he is now quick to respond affirmatively; call and he comes. He is more to be trusted around the other dogs; no longer snapping and nipping at their muzzles. He will now allow himself to be brushed, twigs to be pulled from his long ears; without attempting kamikaze tactics.
He has attached himself nicely to the ten-year-old girl who casually accepts his attention and loves him freely as yet another of her coterie of playfriends and admirers, ready to take up the ball and run with it; easy now to dislodge it from his muzzle, and await its toss again. He's more careful now about standing up and reaching up to the kitchen counter or table to extract whatever delectable morsel may be standing there innocently, awaiting his greedy snatch.
He has not yet been permitted to walk without a leash. These walks tend to be in areas where he could be easily lost to sight, where, if he chose not to respond to the command to return it might be problematical to seek him out amongst the trees, shrubs and long grasses. For this week-end walk, though, he is being permitted to walk with the other dogs, off leash. And he responds with alacrity; when he hears the whistle he turns and returns.
It is now a pleasure to observe how gracefully and beautifully he lopes along, sniffs curiously at the scent of deer, alongside the other dogs. He has earned some degree of trust. His walkers enjoy the coolness of the day, the light breeze keeping biting insects away. The large dogs galumph along the trail, the smaller dogs trip lightly along.
We pass clusters of vipers buglos, wild coneflower, black-eyed Susan, Queen Anne's lace, goldenrod. Monarch butterflies flit about close to the milkweed, and we stop now and again to view the colourful caterpillars lodged on individual leaves of the milkweed.
This is a fine beginning. Buddy the foster dog will yet be trainable. He will eventually be deserving of a good home, with people who will love him and provide security for him. And he will enrich their lives.
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, August 15, 2006
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