We adopted a rescue from our local shelter almost 8 mos ago. She had been there for 5 mos, and we were the only family to look at her. Her previous owners had her 4 yrs and never socialized her. In fact, all she did was live outside and have tons of babies in those 4 yrs. Since, I've never had a rescue dog before, or one with as many challenges as Moxie has, I decided to do some research and look at books online and see what I could find. I took advantage of the "look inside" and decided to give this book a try, and I'm so glad that I did. It's written so that it makes sense and isn't over your head. The advice inside makes you think "that makes sense" when it comes to certain behaviors. I highly recommend this book and think that anyone who adopts a rescue dog should have this on their shelf and at their fingertips.
Moxie had never been inside a house, or ridden in a car. She hid in our house under a cabinet for a week, then would hide under our bed. To take her out, we had to take her on leash (and on a harness because she'd freak and pull out of her collar). We couldn't be in the same room with her while she ate, and she would run when she'd hear noises (microwave, tv) or see things she didn't know what were (ceiling fans, street signs, parked cars). She still likes to have her safe and quiet spot underneath the end table in her bed, but she has come so far. She has learned how to play with toys (she'd never had any), let us be in the room while she eats, and has learned that we are not going to hurt her so she comes and asks for attention (she was very uncomfortable at first with getting attention from us, so her asking to be petted and loved on...makes us very happy). She is still afraid of people she doesn't know, especially men, but we are working on that and she has gotten so much better. Just know that there are other people out there who don't have the perfectly socialized dog (I have very few friends who can relate)and that it can and does get better. She has become my 7 yr old daughters best friend, and I'm so glad we took the chance on adopting her and that we have this book to help us over the humps.
