Millies journey, so far .

Discussion in 'Labrador Rescue' started by kateincornwall, May 22, 2014.

  1. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    As we have been discussing the good and bad aspects of rescue dogs , I thought I might share my experience with Miss Millie :)
    Sam, my Lab, now almost three years old has never been an only dog , we had a resident dog when Sam arrived at 9 weeks old and they bonded fairly quickly . Sadly, my other dog , who had suffered from seizures for years, had to be euthanised when Sam was about six months old as she had a brain tumour . We adopted another dog three months later and were shattered when he began to suffer siezures , we had to say goodbye as they could not be controlled with even the most powerful of drugs .
    Sam was depressed , or maybe I should say, he looked depressed , not suited to being on his own after two wonderful but short lived companions and so , almost eleven months ago , I found Millie .
    Millie had been picked up as a stray by the dog warden and taken to the pound , she had been seen by many people pounding the lanes and villages until she was caught . Fortunately for her , a Cornish shelter had a place free , but not before the pound staff discovered that she had a microchip , the owners were contacted and at first, denied owning Millie, but eventually had to admit as the evidence was clear , but they didnt want her back . We took Sam to meet her at the shelter where they spent a happy hour or so playing and messing around together , then the home check, and then she was ours .
    Millie came with no background whatsoever , no history at all , we didnt even know if she was spayed as the scars can fade to nothing and we didnt know her age , the shelter said about 4-6, our own Vet thought more like 8-10 years old . From the off, Millie was a happy little thing , she loved everything we gave to her, her bed, her toys and best of all, her big black companion .
    However , as most of us know , the vast majority of rescue dogs carry some baggage and she was no exception ::) We introduced her to our younger grandchildren very carefully and under close supervision but any fears soon vanished as she appeared to take them under her wing and Mother them , she had a very srong maternal instinct indeed .
    Millie was initially terrified of men, my husband included, she would not go to him and was particularly afraid of his feet which spoke volumes to us .
    In the house she was angelic , never cried at night or chewed a thing , settled in her bed by 6.p.m. and no accidents . I kept her on a long training line for ten days and then dropped the end to see what would happen , nothing at all, so off lead she went and from that day on, she has just followed Sam, off lead and in the garden too .
    I insisted that my husband be the one to feed her , food means a lot to Millie and slowly but surely, she began to come round, what a wonderful day it was when she jumped onto his knee for a cuddle :)
    She no longer sees men as a threat , just down to gentle socialising .
    She did have a habit of running to other dogs , 95% of the time to politely say hello but if she felt threatened, she would growl, never ever bite . With the aid of a tennis ball , she will now recall away from any distraction and rarely runs to other dogs . Thankfully she has never shown any aggression around food , but would snatch and would jump up , again repetative positive training has stopped these habits and she no longer does them .
    Its really been a case of taking Millie back to basics, treating her like a puppy and starting from scratch, but I firmly believe that it can be done , terriers are not for the faint hearted but when it pays off, there is no nicer feeling in all the world and I feel blessed that we were the ones to take this little scruff pup into our home to live with us and Sam :)
     
  2. bbrown

    bbrown Moderator Forum Supporter

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    I love picturing her on your husbands knee :)

    Has she been due another season since she's been spayed? Just wondering if her phantom pregnancies are also happily consigned to the past.
     
  3. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    She would have been due a season in March Barbara , no problems at all since the spay thank goodness :)
     
  4. bbrown

    bbrown Moderator Forum Supporter

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Perfect Miss Millie :*
     
  5. heidrun

    heidrun Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    That's a lovely story, Kate! Lucky little Millie! :D :*
     
  6. lynnelogan

    lynnelogan Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    lovely story of lovely millie :)
     
  7. Naya

    Naya Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    What a fantastic story :)
     
  8. charlie

    charlie Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Lovely little Miss Millie melts your heart :* Well done Kate you've done a great job xx :)
     
  9. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Still a work in progress Helen, long way to go yet , mainly with socialising, but slowly slowly etc . :)
     
  10. Jane Martin

    Jane Martin Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Lovely story Katie. Thanks. How long ago did you get her?
     
  11. Kirriegirl

    Kirriegirl Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Aww how lovely for her to have a happy loving home with another furry friend :)
     
  12. Karen

    Karen Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Such a heart-warming story - for all of you. Well done, Kate xxx :*
     
  13. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Absolutely wonderful :)
     
  14. JulieT

    JulieT Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    [quote author=kateincornwall link=topic=6151.msg80347#msg80347 date=1400770517]

    Millie was initially terrified of men, my husband included, she would not go to him and was particularly afraid of his feet which spoke volumes to us

    ...

    what a wonderful day it was when she jumped onto his knee for a cuddle :)

    [/quote]


    :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
     
  15. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    [quote author=Jane Martin link=topic=6151.msg80441#msg80441 date=1400784374]
    Lovely story Katie. Thanks. How long ago did you get her?
    [/quote]

    We got her at the very beginning of July last year Jane , so its coming up for a year x
     
  16. Jane Martin

    Jane Martin Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Katie, I had a look back in the photos bit and found one of Millie. She looks a feisty thing ;D Is she a bit of a character? ;)
     
  17. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    She is very much a character Jane , has an air of one who has lived a full life ;) ;) I`ve had terrorists and gundog breeds all my life , terriers can be a handful , stubborn and willful but somehow, when living with a Lab , it seems to have a calming effect on them .She has an almost hero worship attitude to Sam , which is quite touching, he is her rock :)
     
  18. drjs@5

    drjs@5 Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Lovely Millie, with a lovely family :)
     
  19. Dexter

    Dexter Moderator Forum Supporter

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    [quote author=kateincornwall link=topic=6151.msg80618#msg80618 date=1400826454]
    [quote author=Jane Martin link=topic=6151.msg80441#msg80441 date=1400784374]
    Lovely story Katie. Thanks. How long ago did you get her?
    [/quote]

    We got her at the very beginning of July last year Jane , so its coming up for a year x
    [/quote]
    Ah it's lovely to hear how you settled her in Kate and I can't believe it's nearly a year x
     
  20. Mollly

    Mollly Registered Users

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    Re: Millies journey, so far .

    Lovely success story. All down to your hard work and dedication.
     

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