Monday 9 August 2021
At the end of 2020 I was looking for a new buddy on Marktplaats. My previous Stafford passed away a year ago. I came across a cute litter, but decide to look further. And there I see Gaby's head. I see her beautiful being through her eyes and feel that this is the match. A dog from the shelter that deserves a good life, that appears to be the intention.
I send an email and am rejected, because 2 or 3 more families have applied. Unfortunate! I still send an email, with my motivation and the good feeling. Pleasantly surprised I can still come to see her!
The following week I drive to Belgium with the children, for an introduction and walk in the woods with Gaby and her temporary foster parents. She sniffs around nicely, the children are doing so far so good and I walk around with her myself. She pulls on a leash, hasn't really learned anything and I'm curious about her background. Gaby is almost 2. She was left tied to a fence in Spain as a puppy, then she was with a woman in Belgium, where she was taken away again and now she is here. So we don't know exactly what happened.
After the walk we go home and I wait in suspense. The phone rings! I can have her. I'm so happy! Two weeks later (after New Year's Eve) she is brought to me in the Netherlands.
She has been with us for half a year now (me and my 2 children) and we have already been through a lot. It turns out that she has a limp with one leg, we visit the vet, a specialist and a physiotherapist. She has to rehabilitate and is not allowed to run loose. The prognosis is not good according to the doctor. He even talks about a 3000 euro operation. Pretty scary. I first opt for the physio method, with rest, walking slowly, not loose, not forcing, but continuing to use muscles. It is better to run 4 or 5 times short than long. This is what we do. Sniffing and searching games in the house work very well, so that she can still use up her energy.
We also wanted to do dog training. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, we just didn't make it. But we still train every day. She likes to learn. And I am proud, because she can already do a lot: sit, stand, stay, down, paw, at the foot, come before and search. We will do the course again in September.
Gaby is really a sniffer dog, while walking I regularly stop. A passerby recently said: "How patient you are with the dog." And that's also true, but I'm glad she likes sniffing so much, because she is not allowed to go out much and often.
And even though I thought this was pathetic, this gave us the chance to really get used to each other and then just train on a leash. Recenly, from a few weeks ago, I occasionally let her loose in the park. She is social with other dogs and also comes back when I call. Mostly😉 We keep on practicing, practicing, practicing. But her leg is also a lot better, she walks on 4 legs, but it must not overload, because then she will retract her leg again. Still, I suspect she's always a little limp, but we'll find our way around that.
At home I often have to laugh at Gaby. She is always looking for the craziest places to take a nap. Under the curtain, on the chair at the table. Once I found her under my son's bed because the door was open. She is also very loyal and sweet. But also stubborn, like a real Stafford! The unexpected vet costs sucked, but I have not regretted it for a second. She really is my buddy for life.
I am very satisfied with the contact with ACE. They are very involved and regularly ask for feedback. I am glad that we all treat animals well in this way. I can therefore only recommend a dog from the shelter. Be aware that it can take more effort and time with socializing and training. And that there may be unexpected costs. Or that it may be a dog, with a certain issue. It is just slightly different than with a puppy from a litter, but ACE also gave me information with tips. In short, work in progress, but we are all very happy and things are going really well!
ps. Gaby also has her own Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriela.staffdog/
Greetings Lori and Gaby
No comments:
Post a Comment