Miracle dog

Nine years ago, we adopted a skinny, feral puppy from a high volume kill shelter. She was too frightened  to show much personality, but she was very sweet and cute. I thought she was worth the gamble.

For a while, everything was okay.

Then she started beating up Darcy. It wasn't all the time, but it was often enough. 

Also, while she was extremely loving with the human members of her family, she was still pathologically afraid of strangers.

We probably should have re-homed her, but of course, by that time, I was attached. I read everything I could find about I could find about dogs with her issues, I talked to my vet and worked with a trainer. We learned to manage - but not eliminate - the worst of her behaviors. It wasn't great, but it was good enough.

And that's kind of how life with Emma went for the next six or seven years. Not great, but good enough.

It might have stayed that way forever, but then the pandemic came along, and Seth and I yolo-ed ourselves into a third dog.

Because we knew Emma might be a problem, we were very careful introducing her to Piper.

Piper didn't share our concerns.

Things were fine for a while, and then Emma started showing increased signs of aggression.  

After a particularly frustrating day, I called my vet and asked if he would write her a prescription for Prozac. He listened to my story, reviewed her file and said that it seem warranted.

"It might help a little," he told me, "but don't expect a miracle."

Well, let me tell you: It has been a miracle.

Emma's aggressive behavior is a thing of the past. Although she occasionally gets the fixated look that used to precede an attack, it's now possible to redirect her. For the first time ever, Darcy is not afraid of her. Piper doesn't know that there was ever an issue.

But that's not all: Emma isn't just nicer, she's happier and significantly less fearful. I don't expect her to ever greet strangers enthusiastically, but if you come to my house now, you will almost certainly see her. If you're patient, you'll probably get to pet her.

When Lilie stayed with us this Spring, she told me that Emma was her favorite of our dogs. I almost cried. That's the first time anyone ever picked Emma for that honor.

A couple mornings ago, I decided to take Emma with me to the barn.

I took her a few times when I was leasing Rev, and she hated every minute of it. She was afraid of the horses, afraid of the people, pretty much afraid of everything.

Not anymore! 

I introduced her to Olive across the fence. She was fine.

Then I let them really meet each other for real.

Still fine.

We ate breakfast.

Olive gave Emma a back rub. 

Emma did get a little nervous when other people joined us, but she settled quickly and Karen got to pet her.

I had so much fun spending the morning with Emma.

I'll definitely do that again.

Good dog, Emma. 

I don't have a favorite dog, but if I did, this week it would be Emma, my beautiful, happy, miraculous girl.