TAYU

 Friday, April 2, 2021

Hello! I am Tayu. Right, from the family 'T'. The last of the 'T-puppies' that stayed behind in Spain ...

I was picked up in Overijse on 23/12/2020. I was supposed to be going to to the Netherlands, to a temporary foster family to get used to a family and thus increase the chance of adoption. But that turned out to be no longer necessary! There was already golden basket waiting for me somewhere in Belgium! 

It was what you can call real dog weather that day. All the other dogs left one by one with their new owners on a leash. But I was the last crated straight into the car, because I was sooo scared! On the way I hardly dared to look at my new roommates. Every now and then I looked briefly, and then quickly averted my head. I kept silent during the ride. Reuniting with my brother Tété was exciting. Of course I didn't recognize him, even though we have many similarities. He arrived here exactly three years earlier; on 23/12/2017. There are no coincidences!!!

For the first two weeks I wailed every night and during the day I mainly lived safely under the kitchen table. Little by little I had to learn everything. I was potty trained very quickly, learned to walk on a leash, got to know cars, the radio, the garage gate. At first I eat very little food, I did not dare to get under the table. Sometimes someone would throw a treat and I would quickly eat it when everyone was gone. Now we go for a walk every day and we often go to the forest on weekends. I think that's great. I quickly jump into the car, but still find that car a bit scary.  I still have a hard time especially with things above my head; a ceiling or shadows, a low tree, a waving flag, a lamp. The TV is also a challenge and even the garden, if there is a lot of noise anyway. Noise from a bucket and water sprinkler is no problem at all; I remember that from the shelter.

Unlike my brother, I am a big hugger, a friend of people, so I make rapid progress. People I know well gain my trust and they sometimes convince me more quickly. Strange people have to give me time. In this day and age it is hard to get used to strangers. I have a white tip on the end of my tail and it wags all day long. I follow my roommates everywhere, but just up to the stairs, I still have to learn to walk on them. My brother has a bit of a hard time with me sometimes. Especially in the morning, when I am overjoyed to see my owners. He wants me to be calm, as he is himself, and then he puts me in my place. Then I quickly run into my crate. I never contradict him, so that we can get along well. When we go for a walk, he comes to me and gives me a short wag. I think I will be able to twist him around my little finger, that is my paws, in time.

I come from afar; literally and figuratively, but I have already come far after 3 months. I still have a lot to discover and learn, but fortunately the most difficult times are over.

I would like to give a very big hug to all my caretakers in Spain, especially for Ali Boga!

All the people and volunteers from Shin, Fabienne, Heidi, Nadia, the facebook groups and anyone who's name I forget ... And also many thanks to the people who virtually adopted me. Keep up your good work like this and I hope I make you happy by seeing my progress.

And I wish, after these annoying Corona times, to really cuddle you all, healthy and well on a Shin day!

Dear greetings and a very thick leg.