Building trust

The Halloween candy family (Twix, Reese, Goober, Turtle, Pixie, Kitkat, and Twizzler) are settling in nicely. Most have been pretty friendly from the beginning, but two of the boys, KitKat and Twizzler, were very shy, bordering on feral. I'm happy to report that even those two are now coming around and acting more normal. 

When I go out to Daneland to close them in the shed for the night most of them follow me inside and grab a bed, happy to see me and eager for some attention. The two shy boys hang back, waiting outside, reluctant to come inside near me. After a while one or the other of them will eventually sneak inside when they think I'm not looking. Twizzler has been sleeping underneath one of the raised beds, hiding as much as possible. Once six of the seven are inside, I close the door and then go outside, trying to herd the last pup towards the door. I usually have to open the door and let two or three back out and then the shy one will finally go in with them in a last ditch effort to stay away from me. 

Saturday night was the first time that all seven came in at the same time. The shy ones came in with everyone else, which is actually the best way to hide anyway since they all look more or less alike. But now I'm able to approach those two, touch them, and show them that I'm not a monster. Today my friend Gail came to visit and she came bearing treats. Della practically mugged her before she got back to Daneland, happy to have a visitor and especially a visitor who was also a treat dispenser. Once Gail made it past Della, the candy kids were very happy to see her as well. Even Twizzler and KitKat came up to see her along with all the others. 

It's still a work in progress, of course, but I'm happy to see them coming around. Sunday evening it was raining when I went out to put them to bed so everyone was already in the shed and happy to be in there, dry and warm. The best thing for all of them would be to move to separate foster homes where they could learn to live indoors, with people and non-related other dogs. But for now at least, they are safe, warm, and learning that at least some people can be good. 

Turtle and Twizzler on the bed, that's Goober on the ground. 

This is Pixie, above and below, the only female pup.

The one on the right is the super-shy Twizzler.

Here's the scene inside the shed. Everyone finds a spot to sleep.

Momma Reese usually grabs the dog house inside the shed, very cozy.

Here's everyone surrounding Gail today.

Twizzler