Saturday, August 3, 2013

A Not So Sunny Moment

Sunny, despite being a counter-surfer extraordinaire is a pretty easy dog to have around. Our dogs like him well enough and he gets along with everyone.  And I know I can say this about every new-comer we've had, but there really is something unique about Sunny--And it isn't that he doesn't like his picture taken--It's that I think he's very, very smart.  He always does as he's asked and listens really well too.  I've seen him do things like open a gate that in all the time we've lived here, no other dog has been able to figure out.
Unfortunately, on the flip-side Sunny doesn't like to be handled.  I knew before he came to us that there were problems at the vets office with this.  Sunny had to be muzzled when they cleaned out his ears, and he nipped one of the technicians when she grabbed his collar to get him out of the crate.  Knowing about this, Carl and I have been very careful with Sunny and for the most part we have had no problems.

The routine has been that when we have another addition I write a note letting our dog-walker Christy, know any quirks the new dog may have.  When Sunny arrived, that was what I did.  However, Christy and her children had not been feeling well, so a substitute dog-walker has been coming to our house since Sunny arrived.  On Wednesday Christy returned to work, and unfortunately she had not seen the note I'd written about Sunny and that she shouldn't grab his collar. So, when she got ready to leave our house, and put Todd back into his crate (with a stuffed Kong) Sunny went into the crate with him--And Christy did what anyone may have done in an instant, she grabbed his collar to get him out--Sunny whipped his head around and bit her.
Very, very thankfully the bite was not a serious one and didn't scratch or break the skin but it did leave a bruise.  Christy was (thankfully) not upset at all about it, but of course the rescue takes these things very, very seriously.  I'll spare you the rest of the details and just admit to still being a little bit unnerved by Sunny and I'm really, really worried about safely placing him into a new home when the time comes--This is the part of fostering that is the most difficult; finding and trusting someone to adopt a dog like Sunny that has a few wrinkles that aren't easy to iron out.  

46 comments:

  1. Oh gosh! I hope Sunny gets feeling comfortable soon. I am sure if anyone can help him you can Kim!!
    xo Catherine

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  2. Kim, do you think a harness might make a difference? I think I would give it a try. Someone has hurt him somehow with the dog collar and he probably just had enough of it.

    Cheers,
    Jo

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  3. poor baby. and poor you, too. it is a lot of responsibility.

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  4. Sweet Kim
    We know how upsetting this is to you.
    You always try to do the right thing, and now this is a stumbling block.
    love
    tweedles

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  5. Maybe he'll just have to become a permanent dog at your house.

    XXXOOO Daisy,Bella & Roxy

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  6. He has such a sweet face. Knowing he is reacting to previous abuse, doesnt make it easier to deal with him. We have a special needs dog that is sweet as can be, but needs patience and creative tactics that are kind. We are grateful that we have him, because others may not want to take the extra measures he requires. He has quirks that we know came from his mishandling in a previous home. Slowly he is learning to let his true golden nature emerge.
    Hopefully, all will work out with Sunny. I am sure it will with the care that you are able to give him.
    Gus' Mom

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  7. Hi there, Sunny is so beautiful and must have been wounded to be so untouchable. Glad that Christy wasn't hurt; hoping there is a person out there who will love him despite his issue. Just got home from our trip(can't sleep, I'm still on Alaskan time).
    Hugs, Noreen

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  8. I really wish our dogs could talk - then we would know why they do certain things and how we can help them.

    Is Sunny motivated by food? Even though he doesn't like his collar being handled do you think the thought of missing out on the kong might have made him react? I'm glad your dog walker is OK, and that Sunny is in your care.

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  9. Hi - sorry to hear about Sunny's issues. I had a rescue lurcher who used to be extremely aggressive around other dogs (almost killed a little one by shaking it like a rag). He used to break out of any garden or area no matter how careful we were. I understand how worrying this must be for you especially as the aggression is aimed at people as its hard to keep him away from those. Hope you can find a reason for his behaviour and then overcome it. He is such a beautiful looking little boy. Lily. xxx

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  10. Howdy Mates. Poor Sunny. Makes us wonder what someone did when they were holding his collar in his previous life. We're sorry too Christy, was bitten, and she must be a lovely person to accept it and not resent Sunny. We know somebody out there will accept Sunny, warts and all, especially with the knowledge about him you can pass on. Take care all. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory (and Carol)

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  11. Sunny is a beautiful dog! I feel bad that Sunny was mistreated and that Christy was bit. I am glad it was not bad and she understands Sunny. I can not imagine a golden even trying to bite someone, they are so gentile. I hope things work out for Sunny. Have a great day and a happy week ahead.

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  12. We never know what has happened in their past do we, what a story they would tell us if they could. Something must have unnerved Sunny way back to give this reaction...what a pity. On the upside he looks such a lovely Golden with an interesting expression, and at least is in an understanding home now :)

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  13. Morning Kim, feel bad about Sunny biting, but such a sweet boy......There is a reason he does this, happy that you have him still.....Blessings Francine.

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  14. Poor Sunny. Something so awful must have happened to him in the past. I defies belief how people could be cruel to such beautiful animals. You're a star Kim.

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  15. She's so beautiful - I wish I had some words of wisdom to help you out here.

    xo
    Lynn

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  16. I jumped to your site the day that Cissy arrived and have been following with tears and gratitude ever since. Having lost my Nova Scotia Farm collie Emma to a devastating cancerous ruptured spleen just two days prior, your website brought me great comfort. Thank you

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  17. Bless you and Carl for taking on these dogs who need love and guidance, and for doing what you can to prepare them for life in their forever homes. I'll bet there's a special place in Heaven for foster parents.

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  18. Bless you Kim!!! You are an angel!!
    Please come and read my last 2 posts. They are about what Tom does for a living!!

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  19. He must have had a tough life and been handled roughly. Unpacking that baggage is a long process for most dogs. Biting as a reaction for a Golden seems most unusual. We are rooting for Sunny to find the right person to give him a furever home and show him that nobody is ever going to hurt him again. He's a smart boy; he'll get it.

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  20. Sunny must have a good reason for being the way he is - thank goodness for your combination of smarts, experience and loving compassion!

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  21. That's too bad - both for Sunny and for you. Makes me feel sad for a guy that's so scared he feels the need to bite.......

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  22. Oh Sunny, we understand your fear and anxiety about stuff like that. Hang in there friend, your people will take good care of you :)

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  23. every comment makes sense and is heartwarming. for both you and sunny.
    perhaps sudden moves make him react. whether collar or otherwise.
    he has such sweetness in his face.
    perhaps if he cannot stay home with you... a home where there are no children and just one person?
    a gentle person who could understand.
    the only trouble I can see with fostering... just as they finally get used to and are enjoying and can finally trust what feels like "home" they are shuffled off somewhere else to get used to an all new environment and new people all over again.
    fearful and unknown yet again.
    SAD in the extreme.

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  24. Poor boy has had a bad experience in anther life. Do you think a harness might help? What does this do to his chances of adoption?

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  25. Aw darn it all...poor fella. And poor you ... and Christie..*sigh*
    I know how hard it is to have something like that happen. We had a foster dachshund that we had to be careful of. He went to a wonderful private rescue when we moved as it was in HIS best interest to not uproot him and travel with him and put him in them midst of our crazy life at that time. He did the same thing that Sunny did. He is living out his life there and will remain. I still feel SO badly that he can't have his walks and play ball (till he drops) like I had hoped for him, but this truly was best and he does have a good life. SO SO SO hard! Bless you for caring like you do. Praying the right place will come if your home is not his permanent one.

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  26. Obviously Sunny must have been mistreated at some point in his life.
    So sad.

    *hugs* ♥

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  27. That is a sign of a physically abused dog if Sunny wont let any one handle him , must of had a bad hand on him many times ! It will take a bit for him to realize that the hands that are touching him now are gentle and loving ! Wonderful photos , I do hope Sunny gets better with being handled for and by you ! Thanks for sharing ! Have a good day !

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  28. I really hope that the 'right person/people' can be found for Sonny, Kim. He has a very kind look about him and has probably something in his past that he is still dealing with. It may take time for the right person to rebuild some trust in him.

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  29. Poor golden . . . does not want to be pulled by the collar. It does make a concern for placing him. So handsome !

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  30. Oh, my, I sure hope Sunny gets more comfortable around people soon. He sure is a beautiful animal. I wish him the very best as he adjusts to people handling him.

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  31. Poor dog walker but bravo to her for not overreacting. But I suppose any of us in the dog world would probably be as forgiving too! But mostly poor Sunny who knows what Sunny's life as offered him to make him so collar shy. Is he loving otherwise, does he welcome your attention or is his whole social skills stunted. If anyone can work it out though it's you and your family! Please keep us posted. PS he is such a handsome boy!

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  32. Oh this makes me sad for Sunny. Biting is never an easy thing to break a dog of, especially since you don't know the reason behind his not liking his collar grabbed.

    Hope this can be cured.

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  33. Maybe, Sunny could wear a harness instead of a collar? Poor Sunny, someone must have hurt him with a collar in his earlier life..

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  34. Biting. There will be a home somewhere that understands.

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  35. You are the best place for Sunny to be at the moment. He will thrive in your care x

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  36. There are plenty of folks that won't be bothered by this. Me for one. Dogs are like people and have quirks and accidents happen. Good to hear that Sunny also has plenty of good qualities too.

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  37. Sunny is so gorgeous, please keep us posted

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  38. Oh I sure hope he calms downs and settles in soon

    Stop on by for a visit
    Kari
    http://dogisgodinreverse.com/

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  39. Oh dear, thankfully Christy was not hurt too badly! I'm sure someone will turn up that will be a perfect match for quirky Sunny!

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  40. Hope Sunny can find a good match that can manage his quirks.

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  41. Hi there Kim,
    I can certainly understand your angst...
    At the end of the day, there will always be an unpredictability element in any dog. Unfortunately, we don't know about all the experiences they may have had in our absence (past).
    On the positive side, knowledge of a dog's traits is power...and an advantage for Sunny. I am sure his path will be carefully selected in your capable hands.
    We love you!
    ((Hugs))
    c

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  42. Hi Y'all!

    Oh dear Sunny, you must learn not to bite the humans. Too late, you say? Maybe you can become a foster failure? Or maybe there is an experienced dog person out there who has no children or grandchildren and just needs company.

    Y'all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

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  43. I wonder if you could treat him with something? Maybe have someone feed him little pieces of steak and have someone else petting him? I don't know if that would make it worse or better?

    Sam

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Speak--I really enjoy your comments! Thanks for stopping by today!!