A 35-minute walk with the dog in the rain liquid sunshine got her more animated than she’s been the entire two days she’s been with us. I’m beginning to think she was at least verbally abused at her previous homes (not the foster one, but before that); she cowers when I reach to pet her and she just curls up on a blanket in a corner most of the day and night. I also think she’s never been outdoors except on a leash. She’s very antsy in our back yard and when I unclip the leash she follows me right back up to the door. If I leave her out she just sits outside the door and stares inside.
This is a project, not an immediate happy ending, I see.
I adopted a feral cat like that. 3 years later, she’s still that way. I haven’t forced the issue with her, I don’t try to pick her up and pet her. I’m pretty sure that would give her a heart attack or me cat scratch fever. So we carry on our conversations at a distance that she’s comfortable with. I think these days she’s fairly certain I won’t hit over the head with a club. This is progress but that’s probably the best I can hope for at this point. I will say this in her defense – she did raise her kittens well and took very good care of them.
If you were talking about incorrigible chewing or incessant cat chasing, I’d be worried.
Attentive & a bit clingy is not an insurmountable problem!
She’s cute!!!! And safer if she’s not inclined to go running off somewhere.
I agree with wmp-it could he worse. But it’s so nice to have a dog relax and be calm and happy in our presence. Hoping that comes for y’all.