4. The Big Mistake & The Power of Cheese

Week 11.   The Big Mistake

We had been ‘practicing’ popping a harness on Sadie; she was never happy about it but was accepting and rather than run away she would cuddle into me for reassurance and even fell asleep next to me on occasion. It was only on for very short times. So, one day I thought we need to move forward with this. I popped a light lead on; with cheese in my hand I got up and tried to encourage her to come with me; total panic, she shot away from me with me on the end of the lead, ended up on the kitchen floor, she flopped on the floor like a dead fish (freeze), me too, wet herself and me and shook from head to foot. I picked her up (not thinking about my back) and carried her in the lounge and just held her; she could have got down but didn’t; we cuddled like that till the shaking stopped which was quite a long time, then she went to hide under the bed.  I was very tearful and we were both shocked at the terrible fear she had shown and how she just completely closed down afterwards.  She was quiet the rest of the day, but by the next day she seemed her normal self (whatever that is).  So, we need to find a different harness (that one is too scary now), and I am not sure how or when we will proceed. Time will tell.

We worried she’d only have her safe retreat under the bed 🛌, so we brought her cage, her cosy cave, into the lounge (yippee I have my hall back). Sadie was thrilled with her new hideaway, happily going in and out and curling up inside to sleep. She truly became a regular happy bunny that morning. The biggest surprise came when my granddaughter visited with her dog, Bertie. Instead of hiding and growling, Sadie greeted them warmly (before running to me) Bertie visits often for the day, but this was the first time Sadie welcomed him and a human. Having said that she did run true to form next time he arrived and grumbled at him, I think it's jealousy but we all,including Bertie ignore it.

Week 12 The power of the Cheese 🧀

Sadie recently decided she no longer wanted to go into her pen one night. I tried coaxing her, even with cheese, but she simply refused. Instead of forcing her, I left her pen gate open and Sadie slept in the lounge, where she’s quite content to stay now when we’re out (although her little face watching us drive away makes me feel awful).  The next morning, she greeted me with pure delight—the lounge was untouched, and she couldn’t wait to dash outside for a wee into the garden, alone of course. I put the kettle on made tea 🫖 (necessary), fetched dog food from the fridge for their breakfast, and grabbed some cheese. Sadie was bursting with energy. She followed me into the garden wow, not just the yard but the garden,as I gaily threw cheese behind me, (sudden impulse) she crept up to each piece grabbed it and ran back to the house, then crept back for the next piece, etc. etc. this continued for a few mornings until one morning I just went and sat in the garden and called her, she came to me, albeit creeping the first few times, then running back into the house (with her cheese) but then she came back popping in and out of the house and ended up actually running to me. This is now our 6.30am routine, kettle, tea, cheese, sit in garden, thankfully the weather has been kind this week. Sometimes she creeps along the garden close to the edge, other-times she runs straight to me I have yet to find what the reasons are for the difference ( maybe change my deodorant). She always pops back inside for her ‘pooh on her pad routine’ in the lounge—her quirky habits do make me smile (toileting will come eventually when she’s ready((I hope)). Sadie has now refused to go into the pen for breakfast, (well all meals now) preferring to eat in the passage near the kitchen, closer to the other two dogs, but too nervous to eat in the kitchen, we still have to move away as she eats but stand in the kitchen and watch her (I think I am the official meal time guard).

Each small step marks real progress and fills me with hope. Watching Sadie’s journey unfold at her own pace is both heartwarming and humbling I treasure her funny routines, her love of cheese, and her growing trust. This is the long game, but every day brings us all closer together. 💕