You may remember Ms. Tilly from her memorable January appearance as a featured adoptable. In typical Corgi fashion, this girl has her own personality (thank you very much). Today her foster mother Gretchen A. catches us up with Tilly’s story, while she waits for a placement in her forever home.
“An interesting thing about receiving a foster
is that you don’t yet know the dog’s personality, so you don’t know when a
dog isn’t acting “normal”.
is that you don’t yet know the dog’s personality, so you don’t know when a
dog isn’t acting “normal”.
Such was the case with Ms. Matilda Peacock.
Shortly after joining our family, Tilly headed off to Kaw Valley Animal Clinic to get
her teeth cleaned, have a lumpectomy a few x-rays to make
sure she was in proper working order. She came home with
a Tramadol script (for pain) and recommendations to add fish oil and
Cosequin to her diet.
her teeth cleaned, have a lumpectomy a few x-rays to make
sure she was in proper working order. She came home with
a Tramadol script (for pain) and recommendations to add fish oil and
Cosequin to her diet.
We had accepted that Tilly was a little cranky and
under-socialized but we were disappointed that she was not warming up to
us more. We couldn’t start training her because her anxiety made her
difficult to work with. Once she started constantly scratching and
licking herself, however, it dawned on me that something else might be influencing
her behavior. Sure enough, Tramadol reactions include (but are not
limited to) itching and anxiety.
under-socialized but we were disappointed that she was not warming up to
us more. We couldn’t start training her because her anxiety made her
difficult to work with. Once she started constantly scratching and
licking herself, however, it dawned on me that something else might be influencing
her behavior. Sure enough, Tramadol reactions include (but are not
limited to) itching and anxiety.
Two weeks off the dope and her true personality is starting to shine through. Tilly has become energetic, friendly, and social. What
a nightmare if must have been for her! Here she moves to a new home,
full of loving attention, soft couches and good food, only to feel suddenly so terrible!
a nightmare if must have been for her! Here she moves to a new home,
full of loving attention, soft couches and good food, only to feel suddenly so terrible!
Now that she has convinced me to stop medicating her
(here we thought she was cranky because she was in pain!), the time has come for some training. First thing is for her to teach me to wait to
feed her; Tilly wants me to wait until she has situated herself properly
for her meal. Once she is seated and looking at me, that is my cue to
set down her bowl. I am still working on this. I get excited and put it
down at the wrong time. When that happens, she then corrects me by
knocking the bowl out of my hand and scattering the kibble about.
(here we thought she was cranky because she was in pain!), the time has come for some training. First thing is for her to teach me to wait to
feed her; Tilly wants me to wait until she has situated herself properly
for her meal. Once she is seated and looking at me, that is my cue to
set down her bowl. I am still working on this. I get excited and put it
down at the wrong time. When that happens, she then corrects me by
knocking the bowl out of my hand and scattering the kibble about.
The second lesson she is working on is teaching me
to feed her treats on command. When she sits and looks at me, I am to
reach into my treat bag and offer her a morsel. When I do it correctly,
she rewards me by gently accepting the treat from my fingers. If I
don’t do it just right, she’ll still accept the treat (she doesn’t want
me to get discouraged) but gives me a little light nip of
recrimination. She is trying to get me to stay; I am to hold the treat
in my hand for a certain amount of time before offering it to her. She
knows that I have problems with impulse control and this has been a very
hard lesson for me to master.
to feed her treats on command. When she sits and looks at me, I am to
reach into my treat bag and offer her a morsel. When I do it correctly,
she rewards me by gently accepting the treat from my fingers. If I
don’t do it just right, she’ll still accept the treat (she doesn’t want
me to get discouraged) but gives me a little light nip of
recrimination. She is trying to get me to stay; I am to hold the treat
in my hand for a certain amount of time before offering it to her. She
knows that I have problems with impulse control and this has been a very
hard lesson for me to master.
All in all, I am a slow learner but Ms. Tilly has been
patient. I have mastered the art of getting out to the yard so she can
show me where to potty. Despite repeating this lesson multiple times a
day, I remain stuck on pottying inside. (Don’t care much for cold weather).
patient. I have mastered the art of getting out to the yard so she can
show me where to potty. Despite repeating this lesson multiple times a
day, I remain stuck on pottying inside. (Don’t care much for cold weather).
I am so blessed to have a teacher as patient as Ms. Tilly.”
If
you are interested in learning more about Matilda Peacock, write Gretchen: ganders.mail@gmail.com.
you are interested in learning more about Matilda Peacock, write Gretchen: ganders.mail@gmail.com.
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I hope Miss Tilly finds a forever, but it sure sounds like her foster mom is doing an excellent job. I loved how Tilly's story was written. Well done.
Too bad Miss Tilly is in the Midwest as I am looking forward to finding an adoptable Corgi here in the South. She should have no trouble finding a great home.