This is Gracie she is a rescue dog who was saved by the Doris Banham Sanctuary, like me.One of the volunteers got in touch with my mum because Gracie has problems. Gracie is terrified of other dogs.
Mum said she could come along to our Sunday morning social walks so her new mum brought her along a few weeks ago. As soon as Gracie saw me and my walking mates she reacted. She didn't bark, she didn't whine, she didn't yap...she screamed! Mum said she'd never heard anything like it. We set off walking with my Mum and Gracie's Mum and Gracie walking FAR away from the rest of us. Gracie screamed all the way round the common!
So...Mum said NO going our except to come to the social walks.
Gracie is toooooo stressed. When we get stressed hormones are released. It can take between 3-6 days for those hormones to come down to a normal level. If we have to keep facing the things that stress us, the levels aren't able to come down. We can get ill through stress just like humans.
Mum says, no going out for now while a 'stress reduction' programme is put in place. Gracie's new Mum is really working hard to help Gracie.
Last Sunday, when Gracie arrived at the common there was no screaming, we didn't realised she'd arrived until we saw her Mum waving to us all. She did react a bit but not half as much as she used to. Gracie's Mum says she's much calmer at home too, not reacting to every sound in the house or garden.
Bit by bit, step by step, with lots of patience and love Gracie will 'get there'.
Gracie walks far away from the rest of us at the momment but I'm looking forward to the day when she walks WITH us.....I think she's quite pretty!
