Jingle traveled with us to upstate NY to visit family for the holidays. She did great in the car, and was well behaved the whole time we were there, but appeared to be nervous. She refused to eat, just like when she first came home with us.
We are her fifth home. She was a rescue at a shelter, then she went to 4 Paws, then a foster family took her for basic obedience, then she spent time in a women’s prison for advanced obedience, then back to 4 Paws, then to us. She is just a year old! No wonder she didn’t quite know what was going on. Riley didn’t need her too much while we were away. Basically at Grammy and Grampy’s house, everything goes her way! Nothing to get very stressed about. There were just a couple of tiny blips.
Jingle is so happy to be home. She gulped down her food first thing. She joyfully bounced around the yard when I took her out. I wonder how long and how many trips it will take for her to know she’s here for good.
Not many more. We took Monty to Chicago to the Dr., and he wouldn’t eat in the hotel. He didn’t eat at my Mom’s in November, but he ate there Christmas Eve. He is settling in, not really doing his job, but settling in. Love to you all.
Isn’t that the way for us, too? Most of us worry about being totally accepted, totally loved. Most of us worry that the people we love won’t love us back. Most of us worry about things changing in ways we don’t expect and won’t like.
Jingle. Jingle. Jingle. You’re so…normal.
It may be the newness of the place, and the multiple households she’s lived in, and it may just be her way.
Just like Riley, Jingle has experiences that affect her ability to integrate immediately into a unfamiliar situation.
I am working my fifth Seeing Eye Dog, and each one took around four to six months to really show me their true personality, and to feel like my home is their home.
Time, love and a sense of security are the best tonic for her anxiety.
Well we were Meg’s fourth home when we had her at 16 months and now she’s 7 and she still won’t eat if we go away anywhere. The only place she will eat is Grandma’s house and that’s because she gets that many treats she can’t resist!