Remember a few days ago, when I wrote about four sleepover dogs Mark and I took home from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to offer them an afternoon and evening of extra love, fun, and adventure? Remember Martha? Remember how we dropped her off at Dogtown again in the morning, after mixed experiences and interactions with her?
How cute is she, right?
A Second Chance
Well, we decided to give her another chance. It was all about familiarizing Martha with new people and situations, so the caregivers had more information to go by, right? That same day, we had lunch at the Angel Village Café one last time, visited with one of the founders of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and picked Martha up again for another outing and sleepover.
Trouble
Martha joined us to our favorite Kanab area campsite by Belly of the Dragon. Things went well in the afternoon. She enjoyed her walks, crossing the river, and getting lots of cuddles and attention. She was very attached to Mark and always happily returned to the van.
When darkness fell, instead of relaxing like she had done the previous evening, she started panting and hyperventilating. It wasn’t hot inside at all. We took her out again. Maybe this happened because she hadn’t pooped yet? Maybe she needed to drink more water? After a couple of hours of no improvement and us worrying, we called the Best Friends support team – on Sunday night.
While we barely believed it – Martha had a great time during the afternoon and was getting to know us better – the diagnosis was stress/anxiety. We couldn’t forget that this was a new situation for her! Everything about it. Seven long months, she’d lived in a run at Best Friends with one doggie roommate. Did we want the team leader to come and pick her up? No. As long as it wasn’t an emergency. (I worried she’d eaten something and was poisoned. The internet does funny things with you!) It wasn’t.
Luckily, her symptoms soon slowed down and she slept quietly through the night. In the morning, it was kisses and tail wagging all around again. No fear of the Belly of the Dragon, not too anxious when we left her alone for ten minutes, filming and watching her behavior, no problems eating or drinking or doing her business. Yet, she kept stalling when I walked her on my own and “freaking out” when Mark wasn’t around. And how about her stressed behavior in town the other day? How would she do when encountering dogs and kids? We had many unanswered questions.
Third Chance?
Mark had valid concerns. I wanted a third “try out”. We both agreed we couldn’t spend another week in Kanab (we’d already lingered an extra five days) and let everyone at Dogtown hang, as we kept taking Martha for outings and sleepovers. As promised, we showed up with the dog at 11am on Monday. Instead of leaving her, we committed to another 24-hour period with Martha. Jeff brought more food and praised her qualities once more. Off we went. Again!
We decided to go about our business that day, running errands, leaving her in the car for short periods of time, going for walks together in nature and on the edge of town, tying her outside on a long leash, while we dealt with dinner inside the van. She relaxed and did great!
Does She Stay or Does She Go Now?
The morning of day four with Martha, we had our big discussion. Her head on my lap, she nudged my arm. Then, she sat up and locked eyes with Mark.
Were we ready to change our entire lives and have a dog join in our adventures? Restricted adventures. Higher cost of living. More responsibility. No more flying? How about future house sits? More sacrifices. Reduced freedom. More laundry. Increased water use. Less room in the camper van. But… more smiles and pleasure all around!
Yes.
On Tuesday morning, June 4th, we returned to Dogtown Headquarters for the last time. Not to drop Martha off, but to complete the adoption process and pay the adoption fee ($100). News spread quickly and soon, most caregivers we got to know over the last weeks, swung by with a smile to congratulate us.
Filling out the paperwork with Jessica from adoption, as Amie and Jeff swing by to congratulate us.
Every adopted dog from Best Friends comes micro-chipped and vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and with a goodie bag: collar, leash, stuffed toy, plastic bowl, dog treats, over a week’s worth of food. Ours included a six-month supply of flea and tick medicine as well, because of a generous donation. We received information with phone numbers in case we could use help at some point (trainers are available for free to adopters) and there’s always the lifetime guarantee that Best Friends takes any adopted dog back if needed.
It’s official! We’ve adopted Martha!
The vet checked her out, did another blood test because we wanted to start her on heartworm medicine, and provided a clean health certificate. As an extra bonus, she didn’t charge us for the three months of heartworm pills either. We felt extremely fortunate.
Jeff says goodbye to his favorite dog.
Jeff and Martha said their goodbyes to each other and we left, our new dog in tow. We stayed two extra days at the river to acclimatize Martha a bit more and catch up with work for me. Then, the three of us hit the road.
Zesty has a new crew member as we hit the road again.
A Bit More about Maya
As obvious from the title of this post, we renamed Martha Maya. Her first known name was Laverne. You can see, she needed a new one again. Yet, we didn’t want to stray too far from the last one, given to her at Best Friends. For anyone interested, this was her adoption listing. Or most of it, as the pdf file was cut off when we grabbed it. (Click to enlarge.)
Maya is 4.5 years old and a hurricane Harvey (Texas) rescue. She was one of the dogs that never reunited with her original owner. Best Friends saved 1,000 dogs on that mission down south and placed some of the dogs with “more potential” in other shelters (Network Partners) they work with. Maya was adopted from a humane society in Utah, but returned after one week. Then, she left again and came back nine months later, at which point Best Friends Animal Sanctuary readmitted her in October 2018.
Maya – a 4.5-year-old Shepherd mix
Maya is a mixed breed – officially a Shepherd mix, but someone must have done a DNA test, as her file noted she has German Shepherd, Labrador, Blue Heeler (cattle dog), and Dalmatian (!) in her. Her demeanor is sweet, affectionate, and treat-motivated. She’s soft, beautiful, and smart. Her biggest downfall is her anxiety and stress level in new situations, which worried us, but turns out to be a non-issue. She’s quite adventurous and likes exploring new places with her people.
Maya seems comfortable in many places, as long as we are around.
Her attachment to Mark is good and bad. The good: after three days (once she was officially ours), she walked off leash and listened. The bad: each time I take her for a walk, she stalls at some point (soon) and wants to return to Zesty (and/or Mark). She sure knows where home is! We will work on that issue and I will report back in the future. For now, I’ll end this post with more photos of our happy girl, who LOVES the water.
Have you ever adopted a dog? Did he/she have issues? How did you resolve them?
Curious about the ten-year chapter of our nomadic lives that includes eight years aboard a 35-foot sailboat in the tropics? Check out the travel/adventure/personal memoir I wrote:
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June 19, 2019 at 23:13
Now the fun begins 🙂 Good on you Liesbet and Mark I am sure you will iron out any issues regarding having a new family member. Have lots of fun with Martha.
June 20, 2019 at 15:20
Thanks, Suz. I do think we will have more fun now, with a dog. And, having fewer choices about what to do with and where to go in our lives, makes decisions easier as well. 🙂
June 20, 2019 at 00:06
She’s beautiful!
June 20, 2019 at 15:21
Thanks, Gail. We think so too. 🙂
June 20, 2019 at 01:15
I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist! Good luck with Maya. Your van is going to feel much smaller!
June 20, 2019 at 15:25
Good intuition, Leslie. And, yes, the van feels a tad smaller now. But, we are figuring things out. I have to remember Fran and Ed’s words about “dancing around” with Benton. 🙂 When the weather is nice, things are easier, as Maya is happy to lie by the door, in the shade outside. We have been putting our table away at night, to give her more room.
June 20, 2019 at 01:54
Congratulations with your new family member dear Liesbet and we’re so happy you’ve adopted Maya! ???????????? She looks like a sweet and loyal companion who will enjoy the mental stimulation and physical exercise on your adventures. Separation anxiety is very common among rescue dogs and what we’ve done in the past is to gradually build up the time they spend alone, using a simple hand-signal before we leave while saying ‘I’ll be right back’. We didn’t make a fuss before leaving and didn’t make a fuss on our return, acting like it’s the most natural thing in the world. We then increased the time after one week and then again after another week. We’ve also had a dog who was afraid of the dark and would stress-pant and hyper-ventilate when we were ready to go to bed. Again, the main thing is to not make a fuss and act as if the dark is a natural thing. I put a drop of lavender oil on some tissue on a high shelf in the bed room and after ten minutes of shaking and panting he calmed down, let out a sigh and went to sleep. I put a fresh drop of lavender oil out every night for the first week, every other night for the second week and continued to reduce it until it was no longer needed. All these things take a bit of time and it’s great that you’ll have the support of trainers too in case you need them. We wish you many happy years and adventures together and please give Maya a big pat from us all ???????????????? xxx
June 20, 2019 at 18:59
Dear Xenia,
Thank you so much for your tips and for sharing your experiences. Not making a big deal out of the dog’s anxieties is important. We’ve practiced that behavior from the start and still just walk inside the camper after an absence as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. It helps. We have been able to leave Maya for about one hour so far. We need to keep up all the new habits and training sessions, which can be hard on the road, especially when we face other challenges or stress. But things are going well.
Mark and I are both dog lovers, who try to involve our pets in anything we do, so, in general, they’re with us 24/7. So, we sometimes force ourselves to linger in a store or go for a walk without her to keep the habit up of leaving her alone once in a while.
Since she bonds so greatly with Mark (she loves me as well and is extremely sweet and cuddly and waggy around me, too, so we don’t understand the “stalling” issue with me), I feed her, train her, give her treats, and take her for potty walks. It seems like we are making some improvements!
Thanks for the big pat from all of you! It has been well-received. 🙂
June 20, 2019 at 02:15
Congratulations on your new family member. Definitely a commitment, hopefully for the next ten years or so. We had our dog for fifteen and a half years. Love dogs, but not suitable for our lifestyle right now. Quite happy to enjoy other people’s dogs. Have fun and enjoy!
June 20, 2019 at 19:04
Thank you! Because of our lifestyle, we never thought we’d get a dog again quite yet. But we’ve sailed and RV’d with them in the past, so we can do it again, slightly changing itineraries and future plans. Not sure about house and pet sitting anymore, though, but we had nothing else planned anyway.
One of the reasons we got an older dog is to not commit “too long” – our previous dogs, also large, mixed breeds, only lived to be ten – but you never know! 🙂
Enjoy your freedom and “borrowed” dogs! 🙂
June 20, 2019 at 02:16
So everyone’s suspicions were correct! Happy bonding to the three of you.
June 20, 2019 at 19:04
Thank you, Anabel. She has become a big part of our family already – now, we’re a team of three instead of two. 🙂
June 20, 2019 at 03:06
I love a happy ending, Liesbet! What a wonderful story…maybe a children’s book? Thank you for sharing this with us. Martha’s coat is beautiful!
June 20, 2019 at 19:07
I’m so glad you liked the ending of this particular chapter of our lives, Jill. It was a short chapter, the Best Friends one, with a much longer one to come. The dog might become the main character as well. 🙂 (You have no idea how much material I have that can be turned into books, from coffee table books, to poetry, to short stories, to memoirs, to how-to books, to children’s books…)
June 20, 2019 at 04:27
Congratulations! She’s a beautiful dog. Yes, it is a huge responsibility and it will limit what you do. But the love and joy will overwhelm it all.
June 20, 2019 at 19:08
Thanks, Alex! You phrased our sentiments perfectly.
June 20, 2019 at 07:01
Ah, the adventure continues. I am sure Martha/Maya understood your discussions and acted especially endearing before you made the decision. 🙂
Did we ever adopt a dog? Well, in a way. Our kids wanted a dog, so we looked in the Dollar Saver, a neighborhood newspaper, and found a dog described as “Likes kids” She DID like kids, but she bit the mailman and other dogs. Still, we kept her all her life. The kids lost interest during high school, and we ended up caring for her. She was like a member of the family!
June 20, 2019 at 19:16
Yes, Marian! The adventure continues and we figured we’d just add another dimension, since we wouldn’t want life to become boring, would we? 🙂 An extra challenge here or there makes every day interesting.
Good for you, keeping the dog despite its issues. It’s not easy to have a dog of the “biting” variety, unless you have a big enough yard and don’t go out with it a lot. Or, you plan hikes away from crowds. There are certainly ways to deal with it. I’m so glad she was a valid member of the family!
June 20, 2019 at 07:01
Yay!! I’ve been waiting fir this post. Congrats!! This is wonderful news for all three of you! Maya is gorgeous ~ love her coloring and her beautiful fur. Great photos of her in the water. What a lucky pooch.
It is extremely common, (more the norm), for adopted rescue dogs to show signs of stress for up to six months. Often they have a history of abuse or abandonment and it takes its toll emotionally of course. They need to learn to trust all over again.
When we adopted Dwayne from our local shelter in Chicago, he got so anxious in the car that he would promptly throw up every single time we went for a drive. I started to “recondition” him by just sitting in the car in the driveway at first, and giving him a treat. Then we progressed to a 2 minute drive, always a treat, then a bit further. The final test 4 months later was when we had a 6 hour drive to do to visit our son at summer camp. The vet suggested a motion sickness pill for the long drive. It worked, and Dwayne actually slept in the car and did not throw up and after that he was fine.
Another issue was he would totally freak out when left alone and destroyed the “spines” of my large hard covered art books one time. We got the message and did our best to not leave him alone for any length of time. It took about six months for him to really learn to relax!
Best of luck, patience and lots of new doggie adventures ahead. Life is so much better with a dog in tow. No doubt about that. I so miss our Aussie, Mango. (Dwayne now lives with a good friend of ours in Chicago.)
Peta
June 20, 2019 at 19:25
Thanks for sharing those dog stories, Peta. You sure have experience with rescue dogs (and strays) and I’m so glad your patience and good practice paid off. Dwayne did really well and having such an amount of love for your pet shows through and through.
When we first took Maya home for a sleepover, I had a feeling that she needed time. I also noticed she was smart and attached. The combination of those factors, made me think that she had a lot of potential. Every day we had her (even during the “try-outs”), I could see some improvement.
By now – two weeks in – she totally relaxes in the car (even on rougher roads, which the Midwest seems to have plenty off; cattle guards and rumble strips are still tricky), knows we are her family and the camper her home, and walks a bit better on leash with me. Time, patience, and consistency! 🙂
BTW, we will be in Chicago this weekend, visiting friends. Too bad we missed you!!
June 20, 2019 at 08:26
Welcome Maya! And congrats to Maya for finding the best dog lovers out there!
Hopefully with the addition of Maya you will be sent in another direction of great adventures.
June 20, 2019 at 19:33
Yep… No house and pet sitting internationally for us anymore. That plan’s off the table. But, we could still do the camping trip in South America or Europe next year. 🙂 Sometimes, life is easier with less choices. We’ve realized that with our other dogs. Once they passed away, our choices in life overwhelmed us.
June 20, 2019 at 08:29
Oh my gosh, you are so brave! And kind. Maya looks very sweet, and you are wonderful to take her in and give her a new life. Hope the adjustment goes smoothly for both her and you guys; it’ll be a big change! Congrats!
June 20, 2019 at 19:36
Thanks. Lexie. We are all working on it every day and Maya is doing fantastic. It was a bit of a leap of faith, but intuition or the belief that she just needs time (she has an amazing personality) convinced me to go for it. Getting an adult dog is always a risk, as they all have baggage (just like people :-)), but dealing with a puppy in the camper would be so much harder and time-consuming. A big change, but so far, few sacrifices have been made. 🙂
June 20, 2019 at 08:57
Hi Liesbet! Congratulations on the new addition to your family! Maya looks very sweet and loving–and I think you have both been longing for a new dog in your life. But as you say, it will be a big change for you both. As you know, we rescued Kloe years ago and can’t imagine life without her, but it is always an adjustment. Here’s to hoping all goes smooth and she is everything you wanted in a new family member. ~Kathy
June 20, 2019 at 19:40
Hi Kathy!
You know us! Yes, Mark and I have been ready for another dog for a little while, but figured we would wait another couple of years, as we changed gears next year. Well, some gears have been changed now and we will keep going with the flow, but with a new priority. 🙂
The first week was a little tough for me (mostly mentally), but we are already coming to the point where living without her wouldn’t be the same anymore. She is quite amazing!
June 20, 2019 at 10:00
Aaaah, tears of joy are streaming down my face as I read this, Liesbet! My dog-lovin heart is so full for you all. You made the right decision to give Maya her forever home and any sacrifices you eventually make will be nothing compared to the unconditional love you all share. That’s what powers the universe, the rest will go on as it should. She is a beautiful dog and well suited for your lifestyle. Our dogs love hanging out in our trailer and immediately understood the trailer is our vacation home. I’m so happy for you all and look forward to reading your continuing adventures.
June 20, 2019 at 20:44
Oh Terri. Such a sweet and emotional comment. Thank you. I truly feel connected with you over this shared happiness! I’m glad this post could bring a smile to your face as you’re dealing with your “foot issues” (and I hope you managed to get a funky cast to hobble around in!).
Yes, Maya will bring us a lot of joy (and has already). It’s been a fortunate and fortuitous coming together of sorts. 🙂
June 20, 2019 at 10:47
Congratulations, Liesbet, on the new addition to your family! Maya looks sweet and beautiful. I’m catching up on my blog reading and commenting after having been away in Malta and Germany.
June 20, 2019 at 20:46
Hi Natalie! Welcome back. I hope you had a fabulous time in Europe. Maya is a great addition to our camper and adventurous life, and I’m happy we can call ourselves a family again. 🙂
June 20, 2019 at 15:54
Why am I not surprised? Maya is a cutie and I can see why you decided to give her a forever home (albeit one on wheels 🙂 ). The two of you have the love and patience necessary to work any kinks out with her. She’s one lucky doggie!
June 20, 2019 at 20:51
You called it, Janis! 🙂 Haha, the home on wheels might not be the forever home, but Mark and I are her forever people.
He and I were just talking about that yesterday evening, how Maya hit the jackpot, as we were cuddling her on the couch after 24/7 being together days, lots of attention, some training, a few walks, and new adventures around every corner with many sniffs to detect and juicy grass to prance in. I guess you could call her lucky, indeed. 🙂
June 21, 2019 at 11:49
Very happy for all three of you!
June 21, 2019 at 13:10
Thanks, guys! Have a happy summer!!
June 22, 2019 at 13:36
Congratulations and happy new pet, Liesbet 🙂 🙂
June 24, 2019 at 16:38
Thank you, Jo!
June 22, 2019 at 14:52
Maya has hit the canine lottery in finding her forever home with you and Mark. I was on the edge of my seat as you worked through the decision. I can’t help but smile at the beginning of this new chapter for all three of you! Looking forward to hearing of the adventures ahead.
June 24, 2019 at 16:45
Hi Sue! What a nice comment and sentiment! It sure was unplanned to adopt a dog, let alone Martha/Maya. A new chapter has started, indeed, and so far – despite some worries and second-guessing – our pup is doing great. And, the adventures are more fun. 🙂
June 22, 2019 at 17:00
I’m most impressed by your willingness to let another woman into your life who adores your man as much as you do ;-). Really, you two are wonderful to open up your home and hearts to Maya. I’m glad to hear that her anxiety/stress issues have lessened over time. From her little water romp in the last gallery, I think she is at peace. A beautiful end to a chapter with a heartbreaking start. Looking forward to reading more about the Adventure of Maya.
June 24, 2019 at 16:49
You are funny, Lisa! I actually think that Maya adores Mark much more than I do. I don’t lick his face, wag my tail, and remain within two feet of him. 🙂 But, it is so nice to have a family again. Yes, she seems most happy in the water and loves running in the grass as well. She’s a happy and super sweet pup! It’s so nice you understand her story as well, as she has had a difficult life, before we scooped her up.
June 23, 2019 at 18:41
Hi Liesbet, I think all of us would like and need a second/third/fourth chance at some point in our lives. I was rooting for Martha/Maya all along. Thanks for your adoption story. A win/win ❤️
June 24, 2019 at 16:51
How nice to read that you were rooting for Maya all along, Erica! Your heroine won and has integrated really well into her new life of adventure, love, and attention. A win/win for sure. Thank you for the kind words!
June 23, 2019 at 21:46
Wow, you did it! Congratulations to you; and to Maya, who has undoubtedly won the lottery this time. Wishing you many happy tail-wagging years together! 🙂
June 24, 2019 at 16:53
Mark and I did it, indeed! And how that influences our lives… I guess 2019 might be an awful year weather-wise for our little family, but has been a good few months for lotteries of the non-money kind. 🙂 Thank you for the warm wishes, Diane!
June 24, 2019 at 18:06
Oh Liesbet, I loved your heartwarming story. It gave me goosebumps and a few happy tears. Look at you two now being doggie parents full time. Maya will definitely be rearranging your lives now with all you mentioned above. But look at that face! <3
June 25, 2019 at 07:33
Hi Debby! You are so sweet. It was a long time coming, probably, that we would have our own dog again. We just didn’t think it would happen now, as it reduces our lifestyle choices. But, sometimes that’s not a bad thing. 🙂 Let me know if you’d like to meet her. Dog or no dog, we are still on our way to Toronto. 🙂
June 25, 2019 at 09:00
Yay, so looking forward to meeting in person! And you know, timing with Maya is like finding out you’e pregnant with an unplanned pregnancy. It happens, and you work around it, lol. But, just think about how many pet friends you’ve made from all your sits. Maybe when you’re ready to take a trip on a plane or somewhere far, you will have pet sitters for yourselves who will be happy to look after Maya so she doesn’t have to be put in cargo on a plane. <3
June 25, 2019 at 09:45
Yep! The caregiver who praised Maya to us has offered his pet sitting services any time. But, we’d have to return to Utah for them. 🙂 I like your analogy with pregnancy. Haha.
Crossing the border into Canada today. Not sure when we will reach Toronto. We need a day off from the road (and to work on my memoir) and I haven’t seen the Falls yet. I’ll keep you posted and hope you’re around in a few days.
June 26, 2019 at 07:48
Wow, I didn’t know you were on your way! Beware, this coming weekend is our Canada day (July1) long weekend.. The city will be a bit crazy! Give me a buzz on FB messenger when you’re in town and we’ll see where we stand <3
June 27, 2019 at 12:28
OK! Got your email as well. Will reply from the moment we have “a plan”. 🙂
June 25, 2019 at 05:38
Hi Liesbet,
I was pretty sure after reading your first couple of posts about volunteering with the dogs that you would end up with a new companion. Maya is lucky – as Erica says, we all could use a 2nd, or 3rd, or even a 4th chance at times! You guys have enough experience and patience to give Maya what she needs to overcome her anxieties. Time, consistency, and lots of love.
Many good wishes on your new adventure.
June 25, 2019 at 07:36
Hi Nancy! You are a clairvoyant as well! Huh. How did everybody but us suspect we’d leave with a dog from Best Friends? We’d joked about it before, but never though we’d cave and be willing to “turn our lives around”. Not that a lot has changed. Yet. And we’ve traveled with dogs for many years before. Thanks for the wishes. Every day is a new adventure. 🙂
June 26, 2019 at 13:06
She is so beautiful and I am so happy you were both ready for another dog. Maya will be so loved, and her adventures with you will be epic. You’ve given her the best gift ever- a family to love. I have tears typing this.
June 27, 2019 at 12:31
Hi Ryan!
I’ve missed you. 🙂 Thank you for your sweet comment. After three days of “try out”, I couldn’t bring it over my heart to give her back. She’s doing great now! She is so happy. Loves rivers, grass, hiking. Discovered waves lapping on the shores of Lake Erie and the view from a gondola over the Colorado mountains. But, it’s a tad warm and humid now that we’ve reached the eastern part of the country. We’re still working on her being walked by me, but she is doing a bit better.
If you have time, and you haven’t already, check out my post about our two weeks of volunteering at Best Friends. There is one particular dog that had me thinking about you a lot. If you browse the photos you will spot her, Reykee… 🙂
June 27, 2019 at 15:28
I am cheering for you!! What great news for Maya. She’s had a tough life, losing her original people, then going from shelter to shelter. I’d be anxious too! I’m sure with time she’ll bond with both of you equally. I’ve heard that adopted dogs know and understand the kindness of their people, and are forever grateful.
June 30, 2019 at 11:51
You seem to really understand Maya, Pam! She thanks you for that, as it makes me be a bit more patient and less frustrated, remembering her past. And, if your theory about adopted dogs is right, we’re pretty much set! 🙂 She is doing better walking with me (everything else is going well), but she is a stubborn girl!
June 30, 2019 at 15:38
Stubborn shows Personality, with a P. Last weekend my guy and I were walking in the Boston Public Garden and we watched a gentleman in his 60s trying to walk his Welsh terrier. The Weshie had stopped short and wouldn’t let the two of them continue on their walk. Ten minutes later the dog and man were sitting on a park bench and we teased him, asking who was in control. He laughed, said the dog was, and added that since he and his wife got this dog, he has gained much wisdom about patience, slowing down, and allowing another being to “show him the way.” Very sweet.
July 6, 2019 at 09:44
I love that story and experience, Pam. That man is a wise man. The last few days I have been thinking about what you wrote here (I get the comments in my inbox and try to reply whenever I have a chunk of time and a chunk of internet), but I think some of this wisdom certainly comes with age, as I’m a tad more impatient. Our days are packed and we’re constantly on the move, in the heat. Slowing down only seems possible certain days of the month. But, I guess that’s better than nothing. 🙂
I think this is perfect material for another story of yours.
July 7, 2019 at 12:05
Interesting that you mention (dog) material for a story. I’m working on my third novel (slowly, oh so slowly) but after writing about 6 chapters realized that one of the main characters needed a dog. And he doesn’t like dogs. But his employer is making him take care of a dog (long story – which I hope you’ll read when it’s finally ready – maybe in a year?) Anyway, I love finding out how this male character learns how to learn from ‘his’ dog. It’s great fun, and a study in …. patience. 🙂
July 8, 2019 at 12:25
That’s awesome, Pam. Reading your comment about how you’re putting this character and the chapters together makes me wonder whether writing fiction isn’t much more fun than writing non-fiction. Great angle you got going there. I’d love to read the story when it’s finished.
December 9, 2019 at 13:17
Leisbet, I love happy endings, and beautiful new beginnings. What a happy story. Maya is gorgeous. Mixed breeds are always so unique. I am so happy for all of you and wish you the very best.
Yes, we adopted a troubled, 3 1/2 year old German Shepherd. We were her third family. She was unsocialized, didn’t know even basic commands, didn’t get along with other dogs, was afraid of people, and afraid of her own shadow. She had no confidence. A scared dog is a dangerous dog.
We took her into our home, with our two other dogs. We never left her unattended, or alone with our other dogs. It wasn’t easy in the beginning, but it was so worth it. We worked with three trainers for guidance. She also learned proper behavior from our two dogs.
In the end our sweet girl proved to be a precious, loved and valued part of our family. She grew to love our two other dogs and the three of them got along great. She learned quickly, and was eager to please. She has been gone for a while now but she was absolutely worth every minute we had with her.
December 9, 2019 at 18:20
Hi Lea!
Thank you so much for swinging by, leaving this thoughtful comment, and sharing this beautiful story about your German Shepherd rescue. How incredible that you adopted a troubled adult dog and managed to turn her around and have her adapted to your household of people and other pets. And, have her thrive as well. That is such a tough and committed task, and you guys did it. Amazing! It’s more proof that with a lot of patience and determination, much is possible. We saw that with our own eyes at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary as well. We just never thought we’d have to deal with some of it ourselves a bit afterwards…
Maya has come a long way as well and I hope to post another blog about her life and progress one of these months, but we are still struggling with a few things. We are her fourth home… How did you manage to never (have to) leave your Shepherd unattended during all those years?
I’m sorry your sweetheart has been gone, but your love for her shines through and your memories are priceless. I appreciate you sharing her story here!
December 13, 2019 at 13:40
Hi Liesbet, I am looking forward to hearing how Maya is doing. She is so pretty. It is always wonderful to see a rescue dog come into their own so to speak.
Please forgive me, I mis-spoke (or mis-wrote). It isn’t that we never left her unattended. What I meant to write is that we never left her and the other dogs unattended (alone with each other to avoid any fighting.) And we never left her alone with them if we went out. Our original two dogs were together in one part of the house, and our German Shepherd was alone in another part of the house when went out. We did that for almost two years. Really because it was habit, and then one day I realized it was safe for them to be together.
December 13, 2019 at 20:26
Hi Lea!
No worries! That’s what I thought you meant – keeping the dogs separated – as it is nearly impossible to NEVER leave your dog alone when doing something outside of the house. We actually succeeded in doing that for an entire year with one of our previous dogs (who developed a severe form of separation anxiety when his furry sibling passed away) when sailing in the Caribbean. It was a nightmare and such a restriction of our freedom; we couldn’t do anything together as a couple whenever we couldn’t take him with us to shore. We swore to never adopt a dog with separation anxiety! Haha…
December 13, 2019 at 21:29
Hi Liesbet, Ha! Ha! That is funny. But you must be good at helping dogs with separation anxiety. And whatever other help they need.
Sassy (the German Shepherd) had separation anxiety. It was so bad that anytime we went out for more than a few hours she would get a very upset tummy. Our vet helped with meds, and we always had chicken and rice on hand. But it was no way for her to live.
One of the trainers we worked with told me whenever we left to make “good by” quiet, simple, uneventful (compared to my hey babies, we’ll be back, I love you, etc., etc., etc.) He also said when we came home to be the same way, calm, quiet hello. It felt very strange to do. But it worked, almost immediately, and permanently.
December 15, 2019 at 12:48
Lea, we’ve met so many people recently who had/have dogs with separation anxiety. It happens more often than I ever imagined. And, dogs show that behavior differently as well. Some bark, some destroy things in the house, some become sick (like Sassy), and some chew themselves. In our two situations – our previous dog and our recent one – the chewing happens on the tail. It’s heart-breaking to see your beloved animal destroy itself physically, every time you leave. And, it’s tough to deal with as well.
Yes! Making leaving and coming back uneventful and as something that is normal is the best approach! We do that with Maya as well. And, I agree, it is weird – especially when coming home – to ignore the excited and happy-to-see-you dog for a little while!
December 10, 2019 at 10:22
What a lovely story, Liesbet. It’s so good to hear that your patience with Maya paid off and that she now has a new home full of love and happiness. Sometimes, I wish I could take all the dogs at the animal centres and give them all homes.
I find it so hard as to why anybody would be so cruel to a pet and make it homeless. Many of these stories have broken my heart.
I’m sure Maya has settled in with Mark and you and that you’re all enjoying your new lifestyles. I’m sure you’ve already found out just how loving and loyal pets can be. I’m sure you’re all enjoying your time with each other.
December 12, 2019 at 19:13
Thank you for reading and enjoying the story about Maya, Hugh. That makes me happy. As I mentioned before, I was thinking about you when I was creating and posting it. That was during your blogging break, however. 🙂
I hear you about taking home all the dogs at shelters and giving them a good home. There are a few documentaries of people/couples doing just that and they are incredibly inspiring. But, so much work!!! So much noise! So much cleaning! And, no time off or vacation time, ever… Because of our experience volunteering last May and because of our overflowing love and care for dogs, we are considering finding jobs at that animal sanctuary in Utah. Time will tell where we end up and what we do, but one thing is for sure: Maya is a big part of and a deciding factor for it all!
December 13, 2019 at 10:54
That’s great to hear on both accounts, Liesbet. Even if it’s taking one of the dogs for a walk once week, it all helps. I can’t help but pick up a few extra tins of dogs food when shopping and putting them in the donation box for the local animal shelter. Every little helps.
December 13, 2019 at 12:28
Yes, every little bit helps. We did exactly the same last week: buy three extra boxes of dog treats at the store and put them in the donation box for a local animal shelter here in our Kentucky campground. Happy holidays, Hugh!!