Nisha and Talía (Negreta and Lulú).... a journey.
- Thread starter snowbunny
- Start date
Naya
Moderator
- Location
- Bristol, UK
So nice to see Talia accepting Squidge and being inquisitive. You are doing great @snowbunny
Cath
MLF Sales Coordinator
How are things going @snowbunny
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Thanks for asking, Cath. It's been a very hard couple of weeks for Talia and she has really been struggling to be honest, but in the last couple of days has started perking up again and getting back towards her happier self. We're trying to help as much as we can but also not overwhelm her. We know she appreciates our company because she howls when we leave her, but it's also a bit much for her with us being with her. I'm off work this week so will try to get some video of her. I've not wanted to recently, to be honest, because she's been so down and, as much as it might be interesting for people to see, it's hard for me to see her like that. But she's started spinning and twirling again this weekend, so I'm hoping we can start seeing her get back to her baseline soon.
Candy
Biscuit Tin Guardian
- Location
- West Yorkshire, UK
Poor sweet girl. She's been through so much. You are the best place for her to be though, I'm sure. 
Hoping a friendship with Ginny and maybe Squidge can grow, to ease her loneliness. Poor girl. But I am sure she will come through it - when Billy died I remember it took Bones a couple of weeks of grief before he chirped up again.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Glad that Talia is a little happier, I suppose that is the first time she has been without dog company all her life. Just making a little suggestion, don't faint in horror, but if she couldn't have enough courage to come into the house, would you consider getting her a friend?
PS I think she may well have enough courage eventually, hope so.
PS I think she may well have enough courage eventually, hope so.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
J has already raised this suggestion a couple of times. I can see the benefits for sure, but I’m not ready to take that step. I feel like we would be doing that other dog a disservice. I’m still hoping, maybe naively, that we have a breakthrough at some point.
Aside from anything else, it’s a massive tie having a dog that isn’t “portable”. We couldn’t just decide to go on a doggy walking holiday, for example, without having someone come and stay to care for her. I would even be hesitant to take day trips because I wouldn’t want to leave her alone all day. Not that we have any plans to do that any time soon, but it would be nice to think of it being a possibility one day!
- Location
- The Hague, The Netherlands
Are you still building up the relationship with Squidge on a frequent basis? Or is that still at the baby steps stage?
I think you are doing an incredible job with Talia and I have a feeling you are being way too hard on yourself
Maybe Squidge is going to be the catalyst to open her up to come into the house?
I think you are doing an incredible job with Talia and I have a feeling you are being way too hard on yourself
Maybe Squidge is going to be the catalyst to open her up to come into the house?
Cath
MLF Sales Coordinator
Do you think that Ginny can help her @snowbunny
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Are you still building up the relationship with Squidge on a frequent basis? Or is that still at the baby steps stage?
I think you are doing an incredible job with Talia and I have a feeling you are being way too hard on yourself
Maybe Squidge is going to be the catalyst to open her up to come into the house?
We’re doing this very slowly. Only one or two times a week, and I’m trying to work on joint ventures so that it’s more natural, less forced.
The problem is that Talia is either wanting to hide, or else she’s over enthusiastic with wanting to greet. So finding a happy middle of just doing scatters, or lickimats, or sausage trees or whatever together is my focus. Early days as she really doesn’t want to eat with another dog there (because of arousal issues) so I’m building value in eating as a behaviour.
I’ll come and stay and watch her!!
J has already raised this suggestion a couple of times. I can see the benefits for sure, but I’m not ready to take that step. I feel like we would be doing that other dog a disservice. I’m still hoping, maybe naively, that we have a breakthrough at some point.
Aside from anything else, it’s a massive tie having a dog that isn’t “portable”. We couldn’t just decide to go on a doggy walking holiday, for example, without having someone come and stay to care for her. I would even be hesitant to take day trips because I wouldn’t want to leave her alone all day. Not that we have any plans to do that any time soon, but it would be nice to think of it being a possibility one day!
Oh the peace and quiet
Candy
Biscuit Tin Guardian
- Location
- West Yorkshire, UK
I really think if anyone can do it, you can. Keeping 
Cath
MLF Sales Coordinator
How is Talia @snowbunny
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
She's actually doing really well the last few days. I'd stopped taking my camera in because it was all very same-old, same-old, but on Friday I decided to take Ginny in and take some mince, which is one of Talia's favourites, and see if I could get them snuffling it out on a mat together, rather than Talia being too excited to eat anything and it just getting all a bit frustrating for her.
It didn't quite work out like that, but it was even better! While Talia was still just watching us from her steps, I put a few sprinkles out for Ginny to keep her occupied, then started a pattern game I do with her a lot, where I walk between the mat where Ginny was and a raised bed, putting a bit of food on each. As soon as Talia saw me put the food on the raised bed, she came out, but was whining to interact with Ginny, which wasn't surprising, so I gave them a bit of space for greetings which were fine. Then I gave Ginny some more sprinkles and walked off towards the raised bed, hoping that the space would encourage Talia to start snuffling out with Ginny, but instead she turned and followed me to the raised bed in our regular pattern. Not only that, she was happier for me to stay closer than normal, with no weight shift back between bits of food. I did my normal few pieces on the bed, then turned and went back to the mat, which takes that pressure off, and she followed me a few steps, but then stopped and didn't come all the way over to the mat and Ginny. I went back to the bed and she followed me really close. Out of interest, I held the mince out to her in my hand and she took it without hesitation and, again, no stepping back or weight shift back. So I did a few reps of that and then I took Ginny out to keep it a short session.
Today I went back in to do the same, and she was just as chilled. Actually more so with Ginny than before. An excited greeting, but then onto the business of mince. She still wasn't interested in eating from the same mat as Ginny - maybe concerns over resource guarding, but that's a total guess and not really important - but she took loads from my hand very calmly. I was able to change my position around the raised bed and she didn't show any signs of discomfort. I even crouched down, which she seems to find threatening for some reason, and, feeding to the bed, she was totally cool. I also went and sat on a block away from them at one point to have a little decompression time. Ginny came over to me (because Ginny needs to be inside my skin at all times) and Talia followed her. I started feeding them alternately and, again, Talia was super relaxed about that.
So, all in all, it's been a great couple of days and I'm feeling a bit more positive about it than I have been lately. I will try to get some video of this sort of thing in the next day or so
It didn't quite work out like that, but it was even better! While Talia was still just watching us from her steps, I put a few sprinkles out for Ginny to keep her occupied, then started a pattern game I do with her a lot, where I walk between the mat where Ginny was and a raised bed, putting a bit of food on each. As soon as Talia saw me put the food on the raised bed, she came out, but was whining to interact with Ginny, which wasn't surprising, so I gave them a bit of space for greetings which were fine. Then I gave Ginny some more sprinkles and walked off towards the raised bed, hoping that the space would encourage Talia to start snuffling out with Ginny, but instead she turned and followed me to the raised bed in our regular pattern. Not only that, she was happier for me to stay closer than normal, with no weight shift back between bits of food. I did my normal few pieces on the bed, then turned and went back to the mat, which takes that pressure off, and she followed me a few steps, but then stopped and didn't come all the way over to the mat and Ginny. I went back to the bed and she followed me really close. Out of interest, I held the mince out to her in my hand and she took it without hesitation and, again, no stepping back or weight shift back. So I did a few reps of that and then I took Ginny out to keep it a short session.
Today I went back in to do the same, and she was just as chilled. Actually more so with Ginny than before. An excited greeting, but then onto the business of mince. She still wasn't interested in eating from the same mat as Ginny - maybe concerns over resource guarding, but that's a total guess and not really important - but she took loads from my hand very calmly. I was able to change my position around the raised bed and she didn't show any signs of discomfort. I even crouched down, which she seems to find threatening for some reason, and, feeding to the bed, she was totally cool. I also went and sat on a block away from them at one point to have a little decompression time. Ginny came over to me (because Ginny needs to be inside my skin at all times) and Talia followed her. I started feeding them alternately and, again, Talia was super relaxed about that.
So, all in all, it's been a great couple of days and I'm feeling a bit more positive about it than I have been lately. I will try to get some video of this sort of thing in the next day or so
Naya
Moderator
- Location
- Bristol, UK
That’s amazing Fiona. It’s great to hear that you e had 2 good days in a row. Hope it continues 
- Location
- Canberra, Australia
That’s brilliant!!!!
That sounds wonderful, well done you and Ginny, and brave girl Talia.