Adoption Event

There was an adoption event at the DC Petmac where someone was interested in meeting Bertha. I decided to take both dogs to the event because I like Addison to be around the crowd to help her social behavior around people.

Other fosters would comment on Addison and how far she has come in two months. Most of them like to comment about how she and her sister used to want to hide in the bushes. She still had her tail between her legs at times but there were times when it was wagging away too.

The person that was there to see Bertha was petting Bertha and trying to pet Addison but Addison was backing away as usual when people reach down. I always do my best to encourage Addison and was hoping that she would follow Bertha's lead but it wasn't really happening. Then the potential adopter asked if she could walk Bertha and I told her that was fine. About 10 minutes later when Bertha returned Addison became a different dog like her long lost friend just came back. She was suddenly excited and not as shy. It was like yet another one of her barriers was lifted away. I was happy because this is the side of Addison that only a choice few of us, who have fostered her, have gotten to see.

A little more time passed and she was still doing well but still not letting people pet her. The good thing was that I knew she was opening up more because she was walking up to people to get their scent and would only back away when they reached to pet her. Any dog whisperer fan would do fine around Addison because she is the perfect case for "No touch, no talk, no eye contact." After she gets to know you on her terms she opens up more quickly. It's that reach down that she is not comfortable with.

What happened next was the best thing I have seen with Addison at an adoption event. There was a couple, Tony and Julie, who came to meet some of the hounds after losing their hound about a year ago. They were looking at Snoopy and Baxter but I don't think they knew about Addison. They actually took the time to gain Addison's confidence and it happened when Tony tricked Addison by petting her from behind like I did to her sometimes to try to give her confidence. Well, Addison didn't realize it wasn't me right away and she let him pet her. She did back away when she realized but by that point Tony had broken a boundary with her and she started going up to him randomly for more petting. Then she started to open up to his wife Julie also. I was so happy to see the two of her petting them and then at times she would put her paws up on me and get one of her big, long, stretches and a few times she showed her excitement and jumping ability. Tony and Julie left very happy with Addison and said they were going to discuss adoption that evening. I hope that Stephanie, Addison's adoption agent, hears from them soon.

Addison is the sweetest dog and doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body. My goal was always to help her through her shy and fearful ways and this was the first time I realized that after all we have been through together I will miss her when she is adopted. Maybe I'll let her sleep on my bed just one night. It was always hard to tell her "off" when she is all cuddled up on the bed staring at you with those eyes and ears.