Hattie

Hattie is a sweet, gentle and intelligent 2 year old unclaimed female stray from a local shelter. She weighs around 65 pounds, and has had a litter.

Hattie is a sensitive girl, initially timid around people, and appears to have been handled too roughly in the past. She is coming out of her shell nicely, a little bit more every day. Once she is comfortable, she is eager to have contact with and pats from her human, gives nice little kisses, follows closely, and will pester for attention. She is more comfortable with women than with men, but is learning that men too can be safe and kind. She is quickly getting over hand shyness, and is getting comfortable with the leash being put on her. It is best to move slowly with her. It is also very important to correct gently and calmly.

The everyday sights and sounds of the world seem all new to Hattie, but she is smart, and quickly learning that weird things like automatic doors, passing joggers or cars, sprinklers and such do not present a threat. With patient exposure to various settings, she continues to get more comfortable everywhere she goes. She has learned that riding in the car is safe, and that other dogs even enjoy it.

Hattie is motivated both by praise, and patting. She seems fully house-trained, and has had no accidents in her foster home. She is working on the basics of Heel, and Sit. She goes right into her crate at night with the command "let's go to bed", sometimes putting herself to bed before the rest of the pack, and is quiet until the humans are up. She settles nicely during evening hours or at work where she has been going with her foster.

Hattie is doing well with the three resident German Shepherds in her foster home, though she has little patience for the snarky one, and will give corrections which are warranted. She is not interested in fighting, rather, she simply wants her space respected. At this point she is not really interested in play, and appears to prefer human company to that of the dogs; this may change as she continues to gain confidence.

She is doing nicely learning to live with the two cats in her foster home. She is curious, but respects them, and fears the hiss. She exhibits significant prey drive toward squirrels at the park, but seems to understand the difference between game, and fellow pets. With continued training, she should live well with cats. She will follow a rolling ball with curiosity, but still perceives anything being thrown as a potential threat.

Hattie is a very dear girl who will be a loving and wonderful pet for a person who can provide, in a calm and loving way, the gentle structure, patient training, and exposure that she needs.

This is a Level 2 Dog

Added June 2014