MAI (WAS SIANI)

Siani is a very nervous Golden Retriever ex-breeder who is about 6 years old. She is the most beautiful golden colour but is rather thin, currently in foster in Norfolk. Siani will be spayed approximately 3 months after her season.

FOSTERER’S FIRST REPORT – AUGUST 2011

Jackie writes “Siani has had her first walk on the common with Bridie on a harness and a slip lead, just to be doubly safe. Amazingly she was very good, staying close to us both. She did do a couple of pirouettes, but soon settled.

We met a muscular lab boy and Siani pulled towards him with a very waggy tail!!

My neighbour Rae offered her a biscuit but she refused, although Bridie took
it quickly enough! Siani did let Rae stroke her and Bridie was
enjoying the fuss too.

Siani was easy to control and didn’t attempt to pull. A van went past but she didn’t crouch down so I gave her a lot of praise.

 

Siani has now started to follow me about so is obviously becoming less
afraid, although she still cowers away sometimes but not nearly as much as
when she first arrived.”

 

SEPTEMBER 2011 - SIANI HAS NOW GONE TO HER FOREVER HOME

Siani (now Mai) has now gone to live with Judi in Essex

 

UPDATE FROM JUDI - SEPTEMBER 2011

Once in the house Ruby our other dog showed Mai round and we made a dark den with a bed and her toys in the living room. At bedtime she wouldn't be persuaded upstairs, however she surprised us later by appearing upstairs to greet my mother. We got her into the bedroom and made a second den which she was happy to inhabit.

She has been going out twice daily with increasing confidence - a forest walk early (happily meeting human and canine friends) and a pavement walk later. I've been building up walks gradually from quiet and non-threatening to more urban and busy. They both love the High Road as there are so many take-aways and everyone appears to drop their chips etc. - it was like walking a pair of Dysons!

I've given up on the "V" shaped harness temporarily (2 dogs on one lead) as it was like maypole dancing! I'm now using two separate leads in which they take great delight in tying me up!!!

Mai is now very much present in the house: she and Ruby appear inseparable as they are always around wherever the action is. I now need to start very basic training. There is only one problem, which is her barking and growling if there is any noise during the night which we are hoping to overcome soon, otherwise things appear to be going fairly well.

UPDATE FROM MAI's FOSTERER JACKIE - 1ST OCTOBER 2011

I recently met up with Mai and I am so happy with the progress Mai has made in just 2 months. Ruby her new canine sister has helped Mai to come out of her shell enormously alongside Judy's patience and understanding, giving Mai the space that she needed to start trusting humans.


UPDATE 7TH OCTOBER 2011

Just as Mai's socializing programme was nicely underway she came into season so was confined here for 3 weeks. Initially I saw this as a huge setback but in reality things were very different. Mai changed daily becoming more confident, happy and relaxed. We started some training which she enjoyed although having never interacted with people, the process is quite slow: she had to learn how to learn!

By the time she was able to go out things were very different. Mai stood very enthusiastically to have her lead put on too, no doubt hoping to discover the wonders of the “outside world” with Ruby. She walks beautifully on and off lead perfectly to heal, being a pleasure to walk. It was on this first post-season walk I felt confident enough to let her off lead well into Epping Forest, finding a large open space where I, heart in mouth, let her off. After her initial joy she was very happy to come back by my side - a pattern that has repeated itself ever since.

She responds well to other dogs, especially puppies, allowing herself to be stroked and fussed. I often go up to men asking them to cuddle her (Mai is slightly nervous around men and I want her to realise they are friendly): some have even offered to give me a hug too!

We visited Norfolk and I was able to let her off lead on the beach: she was wary of the water, although she loved the sands. There is a pine forest that runs alongside with sand dunes and high sand bars. Ruby loves to hunt in the woodland there and introduced Mai to the pleasures of chasing anything that moves! When we emerged from the woods I stopped for a moment discovering to my horror that Mai had disappeared. Then, in the far distance I spotted a “yella dawg”. I waved frantically and Mai did a fair impersonation of Omar Sharif in “Lawrence of Arabia” by coming toward me at full tilt full of joy in that she had found a ball!

We went to see Jackie's family and Mai was so delighted: there was no attempt to hide there as she had always done before. We had a great walk on the beach together and it was good to hear what Jackie thought of Mai’s progress. Jackie has been fantastically supportive during the time I've had Mai, and I’m always grateful for her input, help, advice, experience and knowledge.

Mai is a really happy dog now with a very waggy tail. She is far more accurate than an alarm clock by waking me up at 7am daily putting her front paws on the bed and her nose right in my face!

Mai's progress has been remarkable bearing in mind her initial extreme nervousness. I’d like to put this down to my talents as a dog owner, but it is almost entirely due to Ruby's calming confidence, having the most incredible “joie de vivre” in teaching Mai all about how to be a happy normal dog enjoying life so very much. IRR was so right in insisting Mai be placed with another friendly confident calm dog: I am sure that without Ruby’s influence, Mai would not have progressed this far.

It’s so great that IRR have people on hand like Jackie who are so very generous with their time, advice and help towards us 'Goldie Rescue Dog' carers!