Annie, my girl! I am so happy with how far you have come. Right now, you are chewing on one of your favorite things in life, a rawhide chew with beef. You love them. But.. when I first gave you one, you would guard it until you were exhausted growling. For hours, you would growl. I wouldn't take it away because I didn't want you to think you had anything to fear. I look at you now and you are happily chewing away at it. Progress!
You still let me know that you have a way to go though, huh? Yesterday, when I put the kayak paddle together and you ran in fear.. made me sad. It made me wonder what terrible memory you have of something that the paddle reminded you of. I am sorry you had to endure those hardships, little pup. You are so dang cute, I have no idea why someone would even think to hurt you or be mean and cruel to you or any innocent animal. Whoever it was, they were thorough. They have left their mark on you. But believe this little cute dog, you have my commitment to ensure the rest of your life is without hardship and I will work my hardest to make you forget those very bad times.
You still wake up with nightmares, snarling and growling at some unknown trauma you are trying to fend off. I can always tell when you are feeling stress or getting nervous, you look at your little nub of a tail and growl or bark angrily. No idea what that is about either. Who did this to you?
So, here's the good news, little rescue dog of mine. When you first came here, your anger was so bad, I had to get a dog trainer in to deal with it. Guess what? You have come so far that I bet 90% of your day is happy and terror free. What do I love about you, Annie? I love the way you follow me around, I love the way you cuddle up to me and crawl under the covers when it's cold, I love the way you fight your way in between me and poor Tiger when tries to invade your space. I even love the way you watch TV. And dare I forget, I love your little shaggy furry coat. I never expected your fur to grow out like it has but you remind me of a little shetland pony. Most of all, Annie.. I love the way you greet me when I come home. You run up to me at the door, wait to be acknowledged and then run to the kitchen. Dang cute. And what about when you are super happy and run through the house at 90 miles an hour. I love that most of all because I know that you have totally let go of that awful past of yours and you are truly enjoying your life with me! I love you, little dog.
Never did I realize how much you would change my life, you really have and I am forever grateful to you for that. Here you are enjoying another treat, SNOW! I realized last winter with all the blizzard snow, that you never knew snow before. Well, this is your second winter in the northeast, you sure know what snow is now! And you even have a new Cable Knit Irish sweater to keep warm on our cold winter night walks! I know, it barely fits because I have such a hard time keeping you on a diet! We'll blame it on poor Tiger! Well, she likes treats too, doesn't she?
So, here's the last picture I'm going to put up on this post, I have to put it up. What did that lady say to us on that one walk at Piney Orchard? Didn't she say something about how cute your little butt was? Well little dog, she was right, I actually think it's more your bobtail but you sure do look cute from every angle, here's the proof! Love you, Annie!!
