Danny: a fearful English Setter that came into our lives in January 2011.
This week's blog topic is BFFs. You know...best friends forever.
I have been absent from blogging through the entire month of May, not because I didn't have anything to write about, but because the planets that were all lined up so nicely, were swooped up by a giant clown and juggled and thrown back into position haphazardly. This caused the universe to decide that every one of our dogs was due to have a problem.
So between spending my time at the vet's office and nursing sick pups, I was spending what I knew would be my last days with our dog, Danny.
There was no mystery here. Danny was in the final stages of degenerative myelopathy (DM), an incurable disease that strikes the spinal cord and results in weakness and paralysis of the hind legs. He was quite brave throughout the illness, and was managing very well, until these last few weeks when he wasn't, and it became obvious he was very tired and didn't want to manage anymore.
But that's not what this blog is about really. It's more about how a pack of dogs helped Danny to overcome his extreme fears to live the last six years of his life in an 80% "normal dog" state.
Dogs Helping Dogs
Below is Danny's shelter photo. He was not from my area, nor did he first come to my husband and I. He went to a couple in New Jersey after being pulled by a rescue that specialized in English Setters. It was a rescue I had done home visits for and some volunteering in the past. When things didn't work out with the couple, and because we lived close, the rescue contacted me and asked if we could take him, maybe evaluate what he needed and they would find him another place to land.
I have been absent from blogging through the entire month of May, not because I didn't have anything to write about, but because the planets that were all lined up so nicely, were swooped up by a giant clown and juggled and thrown back into position haphazardly. This caused the universe to decide that every one of our dogs was due to have a problem.
So between spending my time at the vet's office and nursing sick pups, I was spending what I knew would be my last days with our dog, Danny.
There was no mystery here. Danny was in the final stages of degenerative myelopathy (DM), an incurable disease that strikes the spinal cord and results in weakness and paralysis of the hind legs. He was quite brave throughout the illness, and was managing very well, until these last few weeks when he wasn't, and it became obvious he was very tired and didn't want to manage anymore.
But that's not what this blog is about really. It's more about how a pack of dogs helped Danny to overcome his extreme fears to live the last six years of his life in an 80% "normal dog" state.
Dogs Helping Dogs
Below is Danny's shelter photo. He was not from my area, nor did he first come to my husband and I. He went to a couple in New Jersey after being pulled by a rescue that specialized in English Setters. It was a rescue I had done home visits for and some volunteering in the past. When things didn't work out with the couple, and because we lived close, the rescue contacted me and asked if we could take him, maybe evaluate what he needed and they would find him another place to land.
Danny's shelter photo.
When Danny arrived, it became very clear his fear quotient was stratospheric--and while not fear that spiraled into any type of aggressive behavior, Danny simple retreated from the world at large. He spent his first four days under my desk. I had to leash him to go outside and to come out to eat. Beyond that, we mostly let Danny be. We wanted every decision to be his, not ours.
That's when the pack of dogs took over.
That's when the pack of dogs took over.
Dogs Healing Dogs
There is no doubt in my mind that doggy best friends healed Danny to a point where he could live a nearly normal life. Our other more confident dogs taught him to sleep on the couch, play with toys, come when called (this was a REAL milestone), roll in the grass, beg at the table, bark incessantly at the UPS driver, and other key elements of dog existence.
We officially adopted Danny in September of 2011. We knew he would be happiest with his crew of cohorts, and we were unsure what another move might do to him.
Danny still had fears, and sometimes remembered them and regressed. But he always came back to his new life with gusto.
The one fear we could never get him past was his fear of cars and car rides. So we let that one alone. Our horse vet, who came to our property on a yearly basis to do horse check ups, would often examine Danny and give him his vaccinations when appropriate, Danny would shake the entire time. He was fearful of strangers, but eventually family members helped to get him over that as well.
Danny has had a Facebook page for many years. My Foster Dog Danny tells his story from day one. It also documents how all his doggy friends helped him through some of his most difficult moments. We felt it was important to share with others what living with a fearful dog was like, as well as try to show that fearful dogs could be rehabilitated.
Milestones
Every single one of Danny's milestones were celebrated throughout his life. From first bath to first time sleeping next to another dog, each sign of normalcy brought more confidence in Danny.
There is no doubt in my mind that doggy best friends healed Danny to a point where he could live a nearly normal life. Our other more confident dogs taught him to sleep on the couch, play with toys, come when called (this was a REAL milestone), roll in the grass, beg at the table, bark incessantly at the UPS driver, and other key elements of dog existence.
We officially adopted Danny in September of 2011. We knew he would be happiest with his crew of cohorts, and we were unsure what another move might do to him.
Danny still had fears, and sometimes remembered them and regressed. But he always came back to his new life with gusto.
The one fear we could never get him past was his fear of cars and car rides. So we let that one alone. Our horse vet, who came to our property on a yearly basis to do horse check ups, would often examine Danny and give him his vaccinations when appropriate, Danny would shake the entire time. He was fearful of strangers, but eventually family members helped to get him over that as well.
Danny has had a Facebook page for many years. My Foster Dog Danny tells his story from day one. It also documents how all his doggy friends helped him through some of his most difficult moments. We felt it was important to share with others what living with a fearful dog was like, as well as try to show that fearful dogs could be rehabilitated.
Milestones
Every single one of Danny's milestones were celebrated throughout his life. From first bath to first time sleeping next to another dog, each sign of normalcy brought more confidence in Danny.
I don't know what happened to Danny before he came to us. He was between 1.5 and 2 years old when he arrived. I often told him I wished he had been ours since he was a puppy, only because I would have loved to have erased all the bad things from his memory.
I do know that Danny was a wonderful companion to the other dogs, was gentle with our family members, became confident enough to patrol our fence lines and give warning barks to whomever he thought was an intruder, and was very loved by all of us.
Danny was euthanized at home laying in his favorite spot under our cherry tree. He did not even know the vet was there. He was fast asleep and slept right into the next world. Peaceful and fitting for a once fearful dog. He was 14 years old.
Between the years 2011 and 2017, Danny worked hard at becoming a real dog. Six years. Progress, regress, progress, regress, then finally a learned behavior.
He loved our dogs Daisy, Moe and Winston the best.
He loved treat time.
He loved pizza night.
He loved his safe spots in the yard and house.
He loved to lay in the shade of the cherry tree in the green grass.
He loved to tear apart hats.
Danny was and will remain one of our best friends forever.
I do know that Danny was a wonderful companion to the other dogs, was gentle with our family members, became confident enough to patrol our fence lines and give warning barks to whomever he thought was an intruder, and was very loved by all of us.
Danny was euthanized at home laying in his favorite spot under our cherry tree. He did not even know the vet was there. He was fast asleep and slept right into the next world. Peaceful and fitting for a once fearful dog. He was 14 years old.
Between the years 2011 and 2017, Danny worked hard at becoming a real dog. Six years. Progress, regress, progress, regress, then finally a learned behavior.
He loved our dogs Daisy, Moe and Winston the best.
He loved treat time.
He loved pizza night.
He loved his safe spots in the yard and house.
He loved to lay in the shade of the cherry tree in the green grass.
He loved to tear apart hats.
Danny was and will remain one of our best friends forever.
Click Into the Circle
I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic (BFFs), start here with Angela Schneider and Bella of Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, WA, with 7 reasons why women and dogs are the best adventure buddies.
Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer, until you find yourself back here.
Summer is finally here weatherwise. Have a great weekend! Enjoy!
I am part of a weekly blogging group of professional pet photographers located all over the planet. To see what others have blogged about in this week's topic (BFFs), start here with Angela Schneider and Bella of Big White Dog Photography in Spokane, WA, with 7 reasons why women and dogs are the best adventure buddies.
Then find the link at the end of each blog to click on to the next photographer, until you find yourself back here.
Summer is finally here weatherwise. Have a great weekend! Enjoy!
RSS Feed