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Some new faces

I’d been here in this new place for a couple of weeks and then 2 new hoomans – not the ones that I’d normally see here at the Centre – came to visit.  I was brought to meet them in one of the fenced areas of grass just outside the main Centre building.  They seemed ok, but I was nervous coz I’d never met them before and I didn’t know what was expected of me.  Also the area smelt of other dogs and I wasn’t sure if one might appear from behind the wooden building near the gate… 

There was something about them though…  The woman felt familiar somehow, and the man was fun and seemed to like playing with me.  Also, when I went a little closer to check them out they gave me some tasty treats, and they seemed to understand that I didn’t want to be touched yet, and still need my own space…

They came back again the next day.  I recognised them straight away and went to say Hi, then remembered that new things aren’t always to be trusted which made me feel anxious and I pulled back again…

But back in the enclosure they gave me more treats and we played ball again and it was ok, even though this time the staff left me on my own with the new hoomans for a while…

The following week the woman came back on her own and this time we went to a different enclosure and then went for a walk… and again it felt ok.

Then the next day they both visited again, and again we went for a walk.  This is all very new for me! I haven’t had visitors like this before, and there seems to be something different going on here, but I’m not quite sure what and I don’t know what to make of it all… 

Everything feels so strange here – so many people and dogs coming and going and everything feels so uncertain. Just when I’d begun to think that I might be getting a handle on the routines and the people, things have changed again and I don’t know what to do for the best. I want them to like me, but I’m nervous of connecting with anyone in case they don’t stay – or in case I get moved again…

I feel all of this nervous energy pulsing through the whole of my body and it pushes me to keep moving all the time. I want to make friends and so I invite play as a way of engaging, but then when they get close it makes me feel really anxious so sometimes I tell them to leave me alone, and sometimes I run away. I feel divided and I just can’t seem to help myself.

It would be lovely to meet someone who I could know would be gentle with me – who would understand this inner conflict, and give me the space and time I need to build the trust I long for.

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