A GENTLE TEACHER
With one of my favourite friends
overseas at the moment, enjoying romance in Costa Rica, the job of
looking after her dog has fallen to me - a job I am more than happy to
have.
When I first met her dog, Missy, a few months ago, she had just come to my friend's house at the request of a local veterinarian. Missy had been very badly abused during her brief life and was showing extreme post-traumatic behaviour.
When we visited my friend and Missy, my friend had to gently pull her over on a lead to get her to come to us. Either that, or we waited about ten minutes while Missy ran back and forth, wanting to come but terrified to do so, each step coming closer, then running away, then coming another step closer.
Once she was within reach of our hands, she allowed affection and soaked it up completely. In fact, once we began, there was no getting rid of her. She could not get enough of it. Even so, she would be weak in her hind legs, scared to stand full height, still showing signs of where she had been beaten and traumatised, half expecting to be yelled at or beaten - the poor, beautiful thing.
When we stopped and went inside for lunch, the trust gained was almost forgotten by Missy. So the whole process was repeated all over again later - gaining her trust and confidence simply to pet her and give her some much needed love, and for her to satisfy her own desire to receive that love, yet being terrified to do so.
Obviously she came to the right home. My friend has given birth to six children of her own and emanates the loving mother energy without effort. This is just what Missy has needed. In the couple of months since I first met this lovely dog she has, step by step, evolved into a new dog, thanks to the love of my friend. Sadly, there are still signs of her trauma to be seen. She still does her dance of running away before coming forward with most people. But her levels of trust grow by the day.
I have also just discovered that Missy has some traumatic association to cameras or some kind of equipment. Each time I took my phone/camera out to take a photo of her, she ran away very frightened. So for the sake of her wellbeing over her vanity, I will settle for this first photo I took before she ran from the camera. It doesn't do her justice, as she is such a pretty dog with eyes that communicate so much more than in this photo. But it is not worth the stress on her, to try and get a better one.
Over the last two weeks, my bond with Missy has strengthened daily, with long walks, lots of affection, and the most communicative eye contact a dog could ever offer. She is a beautiful soul and what that dear dog must have gone through, I hate to imagine.
In quiet time together, Missy now trusts me enough to roll over completely, so I can rub her belly. When standing, she will jump up ever so gently to be closer to me, putting her paws on my thighs as she looks at me with those beautiful eyes. And for the first time since I've known her, I now see her tail wag regularly as she runs around the yard with me, or whenever I speak with her.
It is such a heart-warming transformation to watch and has truly shown me the power of trust and courage. Missy is the most courageous, trusting soul I have known for a long time. Despite the effects of the hurt she has suffered, she has dared to trust again, to allow love in, to realise that not everyone is like the people from her past.
The unconditional love that dogs give to their companions is a great lesson for us all at the best of times. But seeing Missy's courage in trying to trust again, I think she plays the role of a gentle teacher as well. When she dares to trust again, she does not know what lies ahead. Simply that she needs to try to trust again, in order to allow love in and for her own happiness.
If only all the people of the world who are carrying trauma and fear from past hurts had the courage of Missy to try again, to open their hearts, and to know that not everyone they are meeting or will meet are the same kinds of people as those from their past.
Seeing this delightful dog wagging her tail and smiling at me with her eyes is a joyous thing to witness.
And so is seeing people transform their own lives with courage and trust.
Wishing you bravery and happiness, friends.
When I first met her dog, Missy, a few months ago, she had just come to my friend's house at the request of a local veterinarian. Missy had been very badly abused during her brief life and was showing extreme post-traumatic behaviour.
When we visited my friend and Missy, my friend had to gently pull her over on a lead to get her to come to us. Either that, or we waited about ten minutes while Missy ran back and forth, wanting to come but terrified to do so, each step coming closer, then running away, then coming another step closer.
Once she was within reach of our hands, she allowed affection and soaked it up completely. In fact, once we began, there was no getting rid of her. She could not get enough of it. Even so, she would be weak in her hind legs, scared to stand full height, still showing signs of where she had been beaten and traumatised, half expecting to be yelled at or beaten - the poor, beautiful thing.
When we stopped and went inside for lunch, the trust gained was almost forgotten by Missy. So the whole process was repeated all over again later - gaining her trust and confidence simply to pet her and give her some much needed love, and for her to satisfy her own desire to receive that love, yet being terrified to do so.
Obviously she came to the right home. My friend has given birth to six children of her own and emanates the loving mother energy without effort. This is just what Missy has needed. In the couple of months since I first met this lovely dog she has, step by step, evolved into a new dog, thanks to the love of my friend. Sadly, there are still signs of her trauma to be seen. She still does her dance of running away before coming forward with most people. But her levels of trust grow by the day.
I have also just discovered that Missy has some traumatic association to cameras or some kind of equipment. Each time I took my phone/camera out to take a photo of her, she ran away very frightened. So for the sake of her wellbeing over her vanity, I will settle for this first photo I took before she ran from the camera. It doesn't do her justice, as she is such a pretty dog with eyes that communicate so much more than in this photo. But it is not worth the stress on her, to try and get a better one.
Over the last two weeks, my bond with Missy has strengthened daily, with long walks, lots of affection, and the most communicative eye contact a dog could ever offer. She is a beautiful soul and what that dear dog must have gone through, I hate to imagine.
In quiet time together, Missy now trusts me enough to roll over completely, so I can rub her belly. When standing, she will jump up ever so gently to be closer to me, putting her paws on my thighs as she looks at me with those beautiful eyes. And for the first time since I've known her, I now see her tail wag regularly as she runs around the yard with me, or whenever I speak with her.
It is such a heart-warming transformation to watch and has truly shown me the power of trust and courage. Missy is the most courageous, trusting soul I have known for a long time. Despite the effects of the hurt she has suffered, she has dared to trust again, to allow love in, to realise that not everyone is like the people from her past.
The unconditional love that dogs give to their companions is a great lesson for us all at the best of times. But seeing Missy's courage in trying to trust again, I think she plays the role of a gentle teacher as well. When she dares to trust again, she does not know what lies ahead. Simply that she needs to try to trust again, in order to allow love in and for her own happiness.
If only all the people of the world who are carrying trauma and fear from past hurts had the courage of Missy to try again, to open their hearts, and to know that not everyone they are meeting or will meet are the same kinds of people as those from their past.
Seeing this delightful dog wagging her tail and smiling at me with her eyes is a joyous thing to witness.
And so is seeing people transform their own lives with courage and trust.
Wishing you bravery and happiness, friends.
