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Duncan & Dharma update

Discussion in 'Rescue Stories' started by gsalem, Apr 11, 2011.

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  1. gsalem

    gsalem Forums Regular

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    Feb 2, 2010
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    I realized I hadn't checked in in a while and thought I'd give you all an update on Duncan and Dharma for those of you who aren't on FB.
    We adopted Duncan who's now 11 months old from rescue in Sept 10 and he's doing really well. He is a double merle deaf sheltie and he blew my misconceptions about deaf dogs right out of the water. He's incredibly outgoing, loving and smart. We started obedience classes with him to help socialize him and he did so well that we're taking our 3rd class now- Advanced obedience.
    We started fostering a bi-black puppy mill breeding sheltie named Dharma at the end of January. We soon realized that we were going to adopt her. She's extremely afraid of everyone and everything but she's slowly becoming brave- very slowly. She's a challenge but we love her. When she's outside she plays with Duncan like a "normal dog". She loves Duncan. We haven't been successful all the time about touching her. She'll come to me sometimes when I least expect it and want a little petting then she's back off to her bed in the safe corner. We're patient and we can wait her out.

    Duncan loves his big sister Gracie who's 9. She doesn't play much with him. She gets tired if they play too long and she's limpy sometimes but she tolerates him pretty well. It's funny. Duncan has to be touching Gracie when he lays down. Sometimes he lays almost on top of her and I can see her almost roll her eyes at her little brother. LOL

    Anyhow, I just wanted to update you all. I promise it won't be so long before I post again.
     
    gsalem, Apr 11, 2011
    gsalem, Apr 11, 2011
    #1
  2. danisgoat

    danisgoat Moderator

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    NJ
    Thank-you for your update and for taking in your two rescues. It sounds like you are doing an amazing job with them.
     
    danisgoat, Apr 11, 2011
    danisgoat, Apr 11, 2011
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  3. gsalem

    gsalem Forums Regular

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    Thank you Danisgoat

    I'm not so sure that I'm doing things right with these two. They're teaching me as I go :wink2:
    Can you explain the letters after your dogs names? I know CGC is Canine Good Citizen but I'm not sure about the others? I apologize for my ignorance.
     
    gsalem, Apr 11, 2011
    gsalem, Apr 11, 2011
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  4. danisgoat

    danisgoat Moderator

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    NJ
    In addition to the CGC, Vinca also has her Nov Preferred Jumpers With Weaves agility title :wink2:

    Vinca is our rescue girl and we got an ILP number for her from the AKC. This allows us to participate in performance events run by the AKC. It wasn't too hard to get the ILP number, and I am very happy that we did. Getting Vinca involved with agility was the best thing we ever did. It is giving her the confidence in life, and she has gained so much confidence over the years. She is a changed dog!
     
    danisgoat, Apr 11, 2011
    danisgoat, Apr 11, 2011
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  5. gsalem

    gsalem Forums Regular

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    That's awesome!

    Congrats to you and Vinca!!!
    I'll have to look up the ILP number thing. I'm not sure they'd give one to a deaf sheltie but I'd like to take Duncan further in obedience. This is his last class available at petsmart and I'm not so sure where to go from there. He seems to have obedience potential.

    Thank you for your help.
     
    gsalem, Apr 11, 2011
    gsalem, Apr 11, 2011
    #5
  6. corbinam

    corbinam Moderator

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    Greta, thanks for the update! It sounds like both rescues are progressing well.

    That is really neat that you were able to bring Dharma home, and I bet it's heart warming to see her play with Duncan. Hopefully she is learning that the world is a happy place, and she has a wonderful family now who loves her.
     
    corbinam, Apr 11, 2011
    corbinam, Apr 11, 2011
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  7. danisgoat

    danisgoat Moderator

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    Patience is the key for a rescue, and it sounds like you are giving Dharma a lot of patience and love. Over time, I have no doubt that she will come out of her shell.
     
    danisgoat, Apr 11, 2011
    danisgoat, Apr 11, 2011
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  8. mbfrench

    mbfrench Forums Celebrity

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    Hey Greta~
    All the great updates on Dharma are wonderful.And I keep reading all about her on FB as well.She has made trmendous improvement in your home.As I knew she would. And she is so very pretty.
    I love it that Duncan & her are such good buddies. Of course I love,love reading all about Mia's big brother.He is awesome to be where he is in the process of obediance.I am so proud of him,and all he has accomplished.
    It does not seem possible the two will be a year old soon.
     
    mbfrench, Apr 11, 2011
    mbfrench, Apr 11, 2011
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  9. Toffee's Mom

    Toffee's Mom Forums Sage

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    Sounds like great strides!
    Very glad Dharma also has you in her corner, so to speak!

    You can do agility with a deaf dog, my friend and Instructor runs a deaf Border Collie. She is a masters dog, you wouldn't know she is deaf, she works on visual queues only and my trainer says that dog taught her so much more and how to be a better agility handler, cuz she can't talk to the dog and therefore doesn't confuse her!! lol

    She is also the friendliest, nicest dog ever. She has drive issues, believe it or not, lol. My friend calls her a broken Border Collie, in jest. OMG she really is not only nice and amazing with other dogs, she is also the prettiest dog around :)
     
    Toffee's Mom, Apr 11, 2011
    Toffee's Mom, Apr 11, 2011
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  10. SheepOfBlue

    SheepOfBlue Premium Member

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    I bet he is using Gracie as a noise alarm. If she moves he needs to get up and look around to see why, pretty clever is that is the idea.

    I bet having a trusted buddie in Duncan will make the difference with Dharma :yes:
     
    SheepOfBlue, Apr 11, 2011
    SheepOfBlue, Apr 11, 2011
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