madshutterbug (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
madshutterbug) wrote2011-05-10 08:00 pm
madshutterbug) wrote2011-05-10 08:00 pm
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Sandpit Dog
He arrived a couple months ago. We knew he arrived because he talked to us, but what he said, then, mostly was Stay Away From Me. Wouldn't come out of the brush if we walked back that way, and even moved further back into it. Yet he stayed pretty much in the specific area.
So we started taking out kibbles at dinnertime. He was hanging out near a sand pit, maybe a bit of a sinkhole probably not, old gopher tortoise burrow on one side. We took to calling him Sandpit when we walked out with the kibble.
He'd still back into the brush, but he'd come out after we'd walked back towards the house a distance. Over time, he retreated less, came out sooner, and over the past two weeks, started coming close to the bowl we use... close. As in 20'/6 metres or so. And his tail stayed tucked in tight.
In the past few days, now, he will come up to us, within 1 metre/3' or so, and his tail is up and wagging until he gets close. Then he tucks it. The tip, though... there's some waggle in the tip now.
You can see the collar there, and the bit of lead (probably a stake-out line) broken off.
Up until the past few days, as I say, he'd wait until we backed away from the food before starting to eat, and he'd always orient himself so he could see us, straight in front of him.
This changed two days ago. We need be only 4-5'/1.5 metres away or so, and he'll start chowing down. As you see, not facing straight on, though still able to see me...
Until today. Today, he let the lip of the bowl block his vision of me.
I stood up slowly after snapping this one, turning as I did away from him, telling he he's a good dog and one of us will be back tomorrow, at dinnertime.
I can hear him singing now, a repeat two-tone yip. 'Thank you!'
I'm not at all sure I want to meet the human he used to live with. It could be something as simple as he chewed off his lead, wandered away and got lost. Yah. Sure. Tucks his tail that tight, something happened to him at the hand of some human to teach him don't show your tail.
Not sure what we'll be doing long term. He isn't showing much desire to wander far from his spot back there. Too much livestock in the area though, ours, other folks. We may need to try re-homing him. That's in the future, though. First, we need to keep convincing him not all humans are unfriendly.
So we started taking out kibbles at dinnertime. He was hanging out near a sand pit, maybe a bit of a sinkhole probably not, old gopher tortoise burrow on one side. We took to calling him Sandpit when we walked out with the kibble.
He'd still back into the brush, but he'd come out after we'd walked back towards the house a distance. Over time, he retreated less, came out sooner, and over the past two weeks, started coming close to the bowl we use... close. As in 20'/6 metres or so. And his tail stayed tucked in tight.
In the past few days, now, he will come up to us, within 1 metre/3' or so, and his tail is up and wagging until he gets close. Then he tucks it. The tip, though... there's some waggle in the tip now.
You can see the collar there, and the bit of lead (probably a stake-out line) broken off.
Up until the past few days, as I say, he'd wait until we backed away from the food before starting to eat, and he'd always orient himself so he could see us, straight in front of him.
This changed two days ago. We need be only 4-5'/1.5 metres away or so, and he'll start chowing down. As you see, not facing straight on, though still able to see me...
Until today. Today, he let the lip of the bowl block his vision of me.
I stood up slowly after snapping this one, turning as I did away from him, telling he he's a good dog and one of us will be back tomorrow, at dinnertime.
I can hear him singing now, a repeat two-tone yip. 'Thank you!'
I'm not at all sure I want to meet the human he used to live with. It could be something as simple as he chewed off his lead, wandered away and got lost. Yah. Sure. Tucks his tail that tight, something happened to him at the hand of some human to teach him don't show your tail.
Not sure what we'll be doing long term. He isn't showing much desire to wander far from his spot back there. Too much livestock in the area though, ours, other folks. We may need to try re-homing him. That's in the future, though. First, we need to keep convincing him not all humans are unfriendly.
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...that's probably where I'd start. Hot-dog-lobbing. Possibly bits of hot dog interspersed with bits of cheap strong cheddar cheese, the kind that comes in blocks. I'd crouch down sideways to him and not look, just watch from the corner of my eye, and gently lob the bits to him, see what he does.
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Now, yes, I'm looking to spend some time sitting out there and tossing treats in his general direction while not looking right at him. We've been sending that body language message: I see you, not staring at you - from the beginning. Even after backing away from the kibble bowl, if staying to talk a while while he eats, sitting off-front.
It's paying off. He's making the choice to come closer, slowly, surely.
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powerful body. but oh, he needs love. glad he found you.
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And he is a handsome fellow!
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THe Mrs and you are good people to take this one in, you know.