03/15/2026
This sweet girl used to lip curl and stalk towards me if I entered her personal space. And now we're here and my face is covered in slobber. That is all. 🥰🥰
But actually, that's so not all! We got to this point because:
1) I conducted a thorough meet and greet, getting the lowdown on her behavior and history while letting her start to get used to my presence.
2) I took our initial visits VERY slowly. If she showed me she was uncomfortable, we stopped, we gave it a break, then we went back to the last step she was comfy at. Our first walk was a couple visits in and initially only on a slip lead because touching her collar made her uncomfortable. We now quickly harness up between body slams and kisses.
3) Many, many treats were given and positive interactions always the top priority. Treats continue to be part of our visits, but now mostly just for fun games, not distractions!
4) Even as we get to know each other better, I continue to check in and make sure she is ok with how I'm interacting and sharing her space.
All animals are individuals and deserve to have their emotional needs acknowledged and met just as much as their physical. Maintaining an animal's sense of autonomy and focusing on building a solid foundation of trust is a cornerstone of my pet care philosophy.