Today was moving day for Moose. A kind person volunteered to foster him, in a home with a nice, big yard and a tall, secure fence. I knew Moose wouldn’t be happy about getting in the car again, even if it was to go to a better situation. We tried to see if he would be calm enough to allow us to put leashes on, but he was too anxious. Instead, I just brought in the 48 inch trap, and we gently blocked him into it. He went in without too much distress.
At the new place, Terri brought him out on a leash. He seemed to like the yard just fine, and he was walking with Terri, not pulling too hard or trying to escape. We let him get used to everything, and meet the dog who lives there. Terri was going to walk him around a bit more, and I was reclining near Moose, propped up on one elbow. I was near him but ignoring him, intentionally, to help him relax. Moose got up and came over behind me, and settled down with his head right behind my head, near me but ignoring me. This was the nicest gift Moose could have given me. It meant so much. I have been trying to communicate to Moose how much I love him and want to protect him, but all of my actions so far have ended up putting him in situations that made him uncomfortable. I have been communicating to him with body language and soft vocal tones that I am on his side, even though it may not seem like it sometimes. When he chose to settle in behind me, close, it showed that I was getting through, and that Moose understood, at some level, that I am on his side.
As a test, we let go of the leash to see if Moosie would try to exploit any weaknesses in the fence or try to jump it. He did go to the edges of the yard, but he ended up just finding a place in the trees and lying down in the ivy. We let him take a nap in the ivy, in the shade, and sat with him while he dozed. Later, he let me lead him by the leash right into the house without any struggle. It’s too early to say, but all signs indicate that the new foster home is going to work out very well for Moose. It doesn’t mean all of his problems are solved, but I have much less anxiety about him running off and coming to harm. I can see Moose becoming a really great dog. No, I already know that Moose is a great dog. But now I can envision a pathway to a great life for Moose where he can be the good dog that he is.
At the new place, Terri brought him out on a leash. He seemed to like the yard just fine, and he was walking with Terri, not pulling too hard or trying to escape. We let him get used to everything, and meet the dog who lives there. Terri was going to walk him around a bit more, and I was reclining near Moose, propped up on one elbow. I was near him but ignoring him, intentionally, to help him relax. Moose got up and came over behind me, and settled down with his head right behind my head, near me but ignoring me. This was the nicest gift Moose could have given me. It meant so much. I have been trying to communicate to Moose how much I love him and want to protect him, but all of my actions so far have ended up putting him in situations that made him uncomfortable. I have been communicating to him with body language and soft vocal tones that I am on his side, even though it may not seem like it sometimes. When he chose to settle in behind me, close, it showed that I was getting through, and that Moose understood, at some level, that I am on his side.
As a test, we let go of the leash to see if Moosie would try to exploit any weaknesses in the fence or try to jump it. He did go to the edges of the yard, but he ended up just finding a place in the trees and lying down in the ivy. We let him take a nap in the ivy, in the shade, and sat with him while he dozed. Later, he let me lead him by the leash right into the house without any struggle. It’s too early to say, but all signs indicate that the new foster home is going to work out very well for Moose. It doesn’t mean all of his problems are solved, but I have much less anxiety about him running off and coming to harm. I can see Moose becoming a really great dog. No, I already know that Moose is a great dog. But now I can envision a pathway to a great life for Moose where he can be the good dog that he is.