At the shelter he was an over-grown mess of black fur that hid his face and helped conceal him from anyone who looked in his cage. But when we saw him, we instantly were drawn to him. It wasn’t because he was jumping around at the front of the cage, because for sure he wasn’t! Rather, he was withdrawn and scared and clearly he wasn’t getting out of the shelter alive if it wasn’t through a rescue. Well, then let it be our rescue.
There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with Luke. He didn’t have significant behavioral challenges, no medical issues, he got along with other dogs, he was young and small. However, he was shy. His new home would have to be willing to let him acclimate and be patient with him. We’re learning that finding the Bernie and Cindy’s of the world who will let a shy dog adjust, isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. They were the needle in the proverbial haystack. Cindy says she wishes she could go back and tell herself that he would come around and that time does really make a difference. They’d resigned themselves to having a dog who wasn’t Mr. Social and who didn’t jump all over them greeting them with kisses and affection. Heck, they’d resigned themselves to having a dog who they weren’t sure liked them. Ha!
But little did they know that with time he clearly did like them, wow, even loves them. His world revolves around his mom and dad and don’t try to tell them now that he’s not everything they wanted in a pooch. Perfect? Nope, doesn’t exist. Perfect for them? Yep. And you know what? Not having a dog that jumps on you is a bonus when it comes to the parents (Luke’s Grandparents that is!) who aren’t too sure about this dog stuff. They now compete to see who gets to watch Luke when he comes to town. So much for not being dog people. I guess not having a dog who acts like a Golden Retriever has its advantages.
Over a year later, Luke is our ambassador at adoptions and if you make it to the back table where we finish the paperwork, you’ll get to meet him. If you have food in your hands, pockets or anywhere he can sniff out, well, you’ll even get to see him sit on his hunches begging for food. He went from the dog who no one wanted, alone in a shelter to now there’s not a weekend that goes by that someone doesn’t inquire if he’s available.
Nope, he’s not available folks. He found his fur-ever home. And he found it with people who were willing to have the patience and love for him to break out of his shell. So when you’re reading about our dogs who are on the shy side, or you meet a dog at adoptions that doesn’t necessarily jump all over you, remember that sometimes they’re the ones who end up giving the most love. If you can handle a dog who doesn't appear to "bond" instantly, then you may find yourself falling in love with the unlikeliest of ambassadors of love, like Luke. Sometimes they’re the “most” perfect ones after all…
There wasn’t anything inherently wrong with Luke. He didn’t have significant behavioral challenges, no medical issues, he got along with other dogs, he was young and small. However, he was shy. His new home would have to be willing to let him acclimate and be patient with him. We’re learning that finding the Bernie and Cindy’s of the world who will let a shy dog adjust, isn’t quite as easy as it sounds. They were the needle in the proverbial haystack. Cindy says she wishes she could go back and tell herself that he would come around and that time does really make a difference. They’d resigned themselves to having a dog who wasn’t Mr. Social and who didn’t jump all over them greeting them with kisses and affection. Heck, they’d resigned themselves to having a dog who they weren’t sure liked them. Ha!
But little did they know that with time he clearly did like them, wow, even loves them. His world revolves around his mom and dad and don’t try to tell them now that he’s not everything they wanted in a pooch. Perfect? Nope, doesn’t exist. Perfect for them? Yep. And you know what? Not having a dog that jumps on you is a bonus when it comes to the parents (Luke’s Grandparents that is!) who aren’t too sure about this dog stuff. They now compete to see who gets to watch Luke when he comes to town. So much for not being dog people. I guess not having a dog who acts like a Golden Retriever has its advantages.
Over a year later, Luke is our ambassador at adoptions and if you make it to the back table where we finish the paperwork, you’ll get to meet him. If you have food in your hands, pockets or anywhere he can sniff out, well, you’ll even get to see him sit on his hunches begging for food. He went from the dog who no one wanted, alone in a shelter to now there’s not a weekend that goes by that someone doesn’t inquire if he’s available.
Nope, he’s not available folks. He found his fur-ever home. And he found it with people who were willing to have the patience and love for him to break out of his shell. So when you’re reading about our dogs who are on the shy side, or you meet a dog at adoptions that doesn’t necessarily jump all over you, remember that sometimes they’re the ones who end up giving the most love. If you can handle a dog who doesn't appear to "bond" instantly, then you may find yourself falling in love with the unlikeliest of ambassadors of love, like Luke. Sometimes they’re the “most” perfect ones after all…
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