She has chosen a few people outside our family who she thinks are very trustworthy. She showers them with affection when she sees them. They can't believe that she's not so outgoing with everyone.
But, she demonstrated to me multiple times today that she operates from a state of assuming that strangers are scary until they prove otherwise. I won't lie - it makes me sad to see it. I guess that whatever happens to a puppy when they're very young isn't easily overridden. We didn't know Shyla until she was almost an adult.
That's a happy dog.
Good for you for giving your love totally to your very best trustworthy friends, Shyla. Obviously, it takes patience and work to be included in your very special circle of friends♥
ReplyDeleteShyla is wise, loving, and trusts and welcomes those in her special circle. Maybe this is how she will always be. In her own way, I am sure she knows familiar faces and voices and smells, and takes a lot longer to accept others.
ReplyDeleteShe has a wonderful family and some really good friends. That is a wonderful place to be, for anyone!
ReplyDeleteBeing cautious isn't a bad thing. And she can relax with her friends.
ReplyDeleteIt makes her love of you all the more special. Sometimes a dog who is a bit shy of others is a good thing as they aren't always busy trying to socialize!
ReplyDeleteLuke is completely the same, only right now there are only three people in his life that he will accept! He is beyond loving with my hubby and me, and he gets so overjoyed when my one sister comes to visit. We're trying to expand his world but it's a slow process, and tough to do when you live in a rural area where people don't just stop by all the time.
ReplyDeleteThe toughest part for us is the fact that we've had him since he was a puppy, so his issues are purely genetic; he has no scary past that could have made him the way he is. :(
Janet - We live in a rural place too so we don't have people popping by all the time. It takes a big effort to go places where we'll meet new people. It does make gradually expanding a dog's world harder!
DeleteSuch a sweet, sensitive girl! I had an Aussie/Lab mix we adopted as an adult and he had a hard time trusting, too. It made me really appreciate the people he did trust. :) He was such an awesome boy!
ReplyDeleteKZK
Such a sweet girl. Abby Lab just loves everyone as she had been a "breeder" for a puppy mill we think and had little affection before we got her.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me Shyla is pretty happy with her lot in life. I don't think she would like to make you feel sad. She's just cautious. That's ok as long as she's happy and she is aye?? Sounds perfectly normal to me.
ReplyDeleteShe's so lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteShe is a wonderful dog
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Shyla still has come along way
ReplyDeleteLily & Edward
We are pretty much in exactly the same place with Rita. Got her at 7 months, and she was found on a beach in Mexico, so who knows what she went through?? She is SO sweet with me and the hubs, and she loves all my sisters, and luckily loves my sis and her hubby (they dog-sit her). She will randomly love certain folks (we had a couple over and she loved them, same w/ 2 female friends of the hubs), but then other people she just HATES. And even if she comes to accept them, if they stay overnight, we start all over again the next day. It's like she forgets they were there. It makes it stressful for me when folks come over because I don't know if she'll like them or not. Every time I think I have it figured out ("ok, it's tall men. She doesn't like tall men." "Okay, it's calm men. She likes calm men.") she'll then not like someone I thought she would be okay with. Anyway, she is *mostly* a happy girl and she's come a long way! Just like your sweet girl!
ReplyDeleteSome dogs always remain reserved but good on you for providing a safe and trusting environment for her to thrive in her own way.
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