Chapter 13: Back at it again with McGregor

At some point we adopted one of our fosters (Joey) and our apartment lease only said 2 dogs and 1 cat, so I couldn't foster any longer. It was quite a decision my husband and I made, but it was the best choice for Joey and we don't regret it one bit today.

When we got a house, I couldn't even wait the first month and asked my husband if I could pick up our first foster. He sensed my eagerness and couldn't deny my passion. As I contact the rescue, they said it was the perfect timing and they had the PERFECT dog for me.

The thing that makes me different than other dog owners is I am always drawn to the dog that backs away instead of all the happy go lucky ones that run up to me. And true to that nature, McGregor was the one way back in some corner while all the other doggies were jumping and barking for attention when I picked him up.

He wanted NOTHING to do with me, nothing. He was bigger than the past fosters I fostered, but I managed. He was frozen in fear.....so I picked him up and plopped him in my front seat and off we went to start out journey.

For the next two days we were reminded why shy dogs were so hard. We had not fostered for almost 5 years. The most touching thing was my husband coming home and asking where McGregor was so he could meet him. It was such a great moment to see him change into this loving soft tone and come up ever so slowly to him and say hi. It's a great reminder how greatly an entire family can affect the transition of one dog.

When McGregor was on the leash outside, he froze and sat down and didn't move. When we fed him, he didn't care, not even with soft food. He did not poop for 3 days and did not eat for the next 2 days. By the 3rd day I bought some hot dogs and sat by his crate and broke off bite size pieces to hand feed him. He gobbled it up and it was an amazing feeling.

After several days he went to the bathroom regularly and no accidents in the house. A little soft food to lure him to his bowl. Once he got more comfortable we would pick him up and hold him and lay on him to make him used to human companionship.

He was always more comfortable laying in his own bed and had an easier time around the other dogs, but he was coming around slowly. And before we knew it, he had a new family.

I tend to be more honest about each of my shy dog behaviors then be overly optimistic. I believe if you know the worst, you can tell me whether you want to deal with it or our rescue has plenty of "regular" low maintenance dogs. It takes the utmost patience and love to open these types of dogs. But as I always say, they are the most rewarding and have the most love to offer.