By Anne:
When I get a phone call from another PDWRA volunteer that starts with “Helen told me to give you a call”…. I never know what’s coming next!
This time it was to see if I would take a 3 year old male pug with behavioural issues. He had bouts of aggression outside the home and his owners were struggling to deal with him. He had lived with other members of their family for much of his life, and discovering this change in him after he returned, had to think long and hard before deciding to surrender him to PDWRA as they knew an experienced and capable home would be found for him.
So, off I went, as I couldn’t resist a challenge! I arrived at the house to collect him and after standing outside for the best part of ten minutes out came a raging black pug with a full-face muzzle ready to attack the world! I got him in the back of my car and headed for home!
Now I’ve worked with dogs for over 30 years and have seen many things but never have I seen a dog as broken as Gazza. I got him out of the car and removed the muzzle, took him into the garden and let him go, five hours later he was still sitting at the furthest point away from the house barking at any person he could see moving, just wouldn’t come near anyone, or even look at anyone, eventually I got him into the house, he actually tip-toed around the edge of the room, he was so frightened he didn’t want anyone to notice him. For 2 days he refused all attempts to feed him, he was covered in fleas despite being told he’d been treated!
On the 3rd day he ate his tea and was brave enough to crawl across the floor to lie at my feet, though still wouldn’t have anything to do with his new Dad, just legged it out of the house to the top of the garden as soon as he walked into the room. It was almost 3 weeks before he could touch Gazza. During this time no pressure was put on him to do anything he didn’t want to do.
Finally, I decided it was time to take him out. He was petrified, even with my very confident pugs around him, he lunged at people, barking all the time. He was fine if dogs didn’t get too close but terrified if they did. I did question if it was worth taking him out as he was so stressed. But I felt he did get some benefit, so we continued. Luckily where I walk, I am well known and everyone was brilliant in trying to build his confidence,. He stopped his barking and just tried to rush past people, huffing under his breath which was actually quite funny!
Just over 2 months later he’s been on a caravan holiday, greets visitors both human and canine coming into the house, never ever wears a muzzle, runs free off the lead when it’s suitable, has just about stopped lunging at anyone or anything, doesn’t bark or huff! His stress levels are much less though still learning and is by no means a perfect pug, but who wants perfection anyway?! 😉
I know the owner tried other rescues who refused to take him because of his behaviour. Thank goodness for PDWRA, who knows what would have happened otherwise!? As I sit here writing this, he’s stretched out on a dog bed, fast asleep with his little pink pig under his chin, thank goodness for pug welfare, all the wonderful people who welcome the pugs into their homes to get them ready for a new life, everyone who donates towards that care and takes part in all the wonderful fundraising, the trustees for keeping the ship sailing, as without them all, PDWRA wouldn’t exist, neither would the phone calls that start with, Helen suggested I give you a call……” 💝🐾
