I saw his pic on a recuse site… There was just something about him that made me put in an application for him.
If I had used good judgement, I would have said to not bring him to the house when the foster called me today that she couldn’t get the harness on him without being bitten. He hasn’t even growled at me, yet. He is so very skittish, but also quite a cuddler when it’s on his terms. From the sound of it since he was taken off the streets as a stray, he’s been allowed to run feral with some other dogs on a large piece of property.
He was so scared when he arrived that he just sat in the kennel shaking. He came out of it for a few minutes and then went back in. Same thing when I brought the kennel into the house. He stopped shaking after a while but wouldn’t come out. I asked the foster to leave him with me. He was falling asleep while sitting in the crate. It was heartbreaking to watch him wake up in a panic. The foster commented on how quiet my place was compared to hers. After she left, he continued to sit in the crate for 2 more hours before coming out. She told me he goes into the crate, all the time. Since being at my place, he hasn’t gone back in, until I put more food in there for him, after finishing he’s out of there immediately. So, it really isn’t a place where he feels safe. He loves the bed that Sable decided she didn’t like.
On the third night he decided that he needed to sleep with Sable and I. He’s pretty quiet, I haven’t heard him bark yet, but he does make some quiet whiny noise. He’s busy checking everything around the house and yard all day. He does take naps on the couch or his bed. He doesn’t want me out of his sight, but he also doesn’t want me to touch him unless I’m sitting down. He is letting me pick him up and put him on the couch or bed, I’m just not sure if he’d panic if I tried to pick him up and give him a bath. Which he really needs. He’s dirty, has scabby ears, and need to be brushed. Sable isn’t too sure about him, yet. She wants to play with him, but like her, he isn’t sure how to play. He’s tried to play with me 2x, he is a bit mouthy when he plays, I’d bet that is why they said in the info on him that he can bite. I don’t have a hard time believing that he’d bite me, if I pushed his boundaries more than I have. I’ve been letting him decide what’s ok for now, until he trusts me more.
For the first two days at the house he’s explored and slept, a lot!. When ever I’m around he just sleeps. I couldn’t believe the first time he got on the couch next to me and just leaned into me and licked my hand.
He’s asked to be picked up a few times as well as just laying on the couch next to me.
Now, if I could just give him a bath…. Maybe get a collar on him.