RESERVED Twinkle- Ex Breeding Bichon 5/6 years old

[emmajayne1]

If you are interested in adopting Twinkle please read about our rehoming process and complete a Pre-Adoption form (link below) and one of our adoption coordinators will contact you for a chat

docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGNOTEFnUl9GbXc1eC1PRGtqT3d1V1E6MQ#gid=0

Name: Twinkle
Age: 5-6 years
Breed: Bichon Frise
Can I live with Children:Older, sensible ones
Can I live with cats: Yes
Can I live with other dogs: Yes, a must
Fostered In: Worcestershire


People – Twinkle is becoming braver and will allow her foster mum to stroke her gently and check her ears. She will lie close to her in the evening if she keeps still but when she moves she runs. She hasn’t met any children but older sensible ones only please. Twinkle does wag her tail at her foster mum now when she gets up in the morning and also when she’s trying to get her in from the garden! There is a lovely little character inside her just waiting to come out.

Dogs – Twinkle shares her foster home with 4 other dogs of varying sizes. She’s not yet playing but will lie on the sofa and bed with them. She will also let them wash her face and ears.

Cats – Twinkle either ignores the cats in her foster home or runs away from them.

In the home – Twinkle is improving but is still apprehensive in a home environment. She has been left for up to 4 hours with the other dogs for company and been fine. She has been crated in the past but isn’t now and doesn’t chew anything. She is not yet playing with toys but watches the other dogs so this should come in time. When eating she will run away from her bowl if a person or dog approaches it but will come back to eat. She is afraid of sudden noises- even the other dogs barking will spook her. Housetraining is a work in progress.

Out and about – Twinkle is too nervous at the moment to walk on a lead. She travels in a carrier in the car for safety and is fine. She will need patience and time from calm dedicated owners to become braver and more confident in this new world that’s just opened up to her.

Type of home – Twinkle needs a quiet home with at least one other dog to reassure her and help her become more confident. A couple or a person on their own who can give her the time and patience she needs to improve would be ideal. She is a very sweet little girl who has had a sheltered life so far and needs help to overcome her fears.

Twinkle is neutered, chipped, vaccinated and up to date with her flea and worming treatment. Potential adopters will be expected to travel to meet her in her foster home in Worcestershire.



imageshack.com/a/img922/771/XAxYLq.jpg

imageshack.com/a/img924/3233/A1PUO9.jpg

[2magpies]

Well Twinkle came to me a few weeks ago. The change was quite a shock to her and her progress was not only delayed she actually went backwards. This is quite common with ex puppy farm dogs, but with Twinkle it was particularly difficult. Anyone looking to adopt this lovely girl will have to be prepared for this and have a lot of patience with.
We went back to square one with her, letting her find her feet in her own time. My own dog, Linney, is there to help her. Twinkle would not be able to cope without a kind resident dog to give her confidence and show her what to do.
Twinkle's progress was given a set back when I noticed blood in her urine. A visit to the vet and an ultra sound revealed thickened bladder wall and a lump. Our lovely vet considered the most likely problem to be a blood clot caused by chronic untreated cystitis - it doesn't bear thinking about. 2 weeks antibiotics and another ultrasound showed the blood clot had gone and the vets diagnosis correct. We are continuing the anti biotics for a few weeks and giving Twinkle a Cystopro sprinkle tablet every day. The Cystopro helps the bladder and will continue for life - the good news is this is NOT a prescription medication, can be bought online and is not overly expensive.
Twinkle is getting over the trips to the vet and is beginning to trust me just a little (only a little!).
We are on the long road to teaching Twinkle to trust. The fear and mistrust in puppy farm breeding bitches has to be seen to be believed. We are beginning to progress very very slowly and I will update more frequently now.

[2magpies]

Twinkle loves the garden, preferably when it's NOT raining. Part of the house training process involves ensuring she is outside at times when she is due to pee or poo - for example in the morning as soon as we get up we go up the garden and Twink has to stay outside until she has had a pee. We then go back in and the dogs have breakfast. As soon as Twink has eaten she wants to poo so we have to make sure she goes out immediately - failure to get her out may result in a little 'accident' in the house. Twinks original fosterer had done a fine job in the housetraining process. We just had to set our own routine and stick to it.
Things are going well with housetraining, although we still have the occasional mishap. Considering her years in a puppy farm, peeing and pooing where she lived, Twink is doing really well. Any mishaps are normally down to my timing or attention, but occasionally we have an unexplained mishap - I blame the puppy farmers 100% for these.
We always, always follow the rule "praise the good and ignore the bad".

[2magpies]

Twinkle loves her time in the garden. She runs just for fun now, so wonderful to see - a bouncing Bichon. The difference between a frightened dog running round the garden looking for a way out and one who is learning to enjoy life is a joy to behold. Twink is enjoying the garden most of the time, but it doesn't take much to make her run for shelter - an unexpected noise or one of my neighbours coming in to view. Twink gets a lot of confidence from Linney, but will go out on her own. What is surprising - she's not afraid of the electric lawn mower!

[2magpies]

I think we need to watch Twinkle's weight, she so enjoys her food, I'm sure she is looking a little larger round the tum! Will be cutting her food down slightly - let's hope she doesn't notice!

[2magpies]

Another little step forwards, Twinkle let me stroke her this morning whilst she was still in her bed. She would normally run if I get too close, but today she stayed still. She was very tense and not sure, but gradually she will learn that touch is good - at the moment she has too many memories from life on the puppy farm outweighing the kindness she is learning to accept. She is slowly relaxing more and accepting me moving round normally (I have spent much of the last few weeks walking backwards and side-wards as she was frightened by anyone walking directly at her). She's asleep in the armchair and I know I can now walk past her without frightening her, although anything sudden or out of norm will cause her to panic.

[angharadev]

Twinkle with her foster brother and sister

imageshack.com/a/img922/2584/j7dVXT.jpg

imageshack.com/a/img923/8917/xVfUAV.jpg

[emmajayne1]

imageshack.com/a/img923/7301/ZnrB64.jpg
Twinkle gaining confidence

[emmajayne1]

imageshack.com/a/img922/1283/5BTzrv.jpg

Twinkle sleeping xx

[2magpies]

Just for clarity: The pictures added 28th June of Twinkle with her foster brother (Harley big brown bear) and sister (Jessy, black long coated dog) were taken a few months ago when she was with her previous fosterer. Twinkle is now living with just one foster sister, Linney a flatcoated retriever.
Regardless of any confusion it is safe to say that Twinkle has integrated with a variety of different dogs (all shapes, sizes etc) without problem.

[2magpies]

In the mornings, when we get up and go downstairs for breakfast, both Twinkle and Linney get quite excited (thought of breakfast, probably). Twinkle has started to come up to sniff my hand, occasionally she licks my fingers. Another step forwards.

[emmajayne1]

imageshack.com/a/img924/5739/wPUHgU.jpg

Twinkle sleeping xx

[2magpies]

The 'Twinkle sleeping' picture above is particularly significant because I am sat on the same settee and Linney is not there to protect her. The fact her trust has improved to a point where I can go to the settee and sit at the other end without her running away is a massive step for her. We are slowly moving forwards with little Twinkle.

[2magpies]

Twinkle has started to collect treasures, and I think she is taking some out into the garden to hide them. Yesterday Twink was digging in some bark chips. She couldn't get far because there is weed matting underneath. When I went to look I found a small dog comb under a small mound of bark chip. I wonder what else I'll find when gardening! I also found 2 tennis balls in her bed, she doesn't understanding playing yet but obviously realises tennis balls are treasures because Linney loves them. All small, but positive signs from little Twink.

[2magpies]

Twinkle has gone to a lovely home where she will have the company of other small dogs and a family of very kind gentle people with lots of experience with rescue/traumatised dogs. I have had several updates and Twink is settling and progressing really well. I am so pleased and thankful there are so many lovely people out there happy to help us rescue these damaged souls and teach them what love is.