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Here’s an update from her foster home (June 18th): Asta is about 9 months old, standing about 12” at the shoulder and weighing 15 pounds. She and her sister Bryn came to Turtle Gardens in late April as feral pups. Asta is a very sweet but very shy girl. It takes time and a lot of patience to gain her trust and she is very much a work in progress. At first she was quite anxious in the house, running around crying, but now is in a routine where she settles nicely with a bone or toy after a walk or a feeding. She is gaining confidence and starting to approach her foster mom for affection instead of just treats, though there are times when she would prefer to lie under the dining room table and be left alone. She is not distressed when her ears or paws are touched by someone she knows and she enjoys being brushed. She sleeps through the night but like most puppies is full of beans as soon as the sun is up. Asta is doing well with house training but is not 100% reliable just yet.
Asta gets on well with her foster brother, who is a large calm influence on her. She plays with the other dogs in daycare and would do well as a second dog in a household with the right energy mix. She has shown no interest in cats. Asta gets quite excited when the leashes come out and she will pull on her leash if something interests her. When she finishes growing she might turn out to be a good running buddy, because while she is on the small side of medium she is quite leggy and can get some speed up.
Asta has gone from fearful about other humans she encounters on walks to curious but she is NOT ready to accept pats from strangers, though they can stop and talk to her. If she meets new people with dogs she is usually comfortable with them speaking to her, crouching down to her level and possibly some pats. If she exhibits avoidance her foster mom either leads her away or picks her up if she freezes on the spot. Sometimes she is excited and wants to charge into meeting new dogs but if she is led away or picked up and carried away she can compose herself and accomplish a proper greeting. These methods were developed in consultation with a trainer to ensure Asta avoids what frightens her until she is desensitized to it and learns to trust her human to protect her. She does not care for children and will hide from them or from anyone else she does not know who pursues contact with her.
Unfortunately Asta suffers from motion sickness and barfs in the car. She is getting better on short trips but is not currently excited about the prospect of a car ride.
Asta is a lovely girl but any potential adopters will need to meet her and have her warm up to them on her terms. She will require consistency and patience in training methods to increase her confidence. For that reason she is best suited to a home that is experienced with feral or exceedingly shy dogs and is committed to following through with training methods appropriate to her needs to ensure she meets her full potential.
Pets can be flown to new homes. Application and homecheck required for all homes, the dog will go to the best home for the dog.
Donations are always welcome. Please use the link below to donate to this dog in particular or to all the animals. 100% of the money goes to animals care. The CanadaHelps.org site is a secure Canadian bank based service for registered charities.
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