I would like to share with you a really touching story which has been sent in by one of our Students:

06/11/2007

Our touching story of Laska

We met under really sad and strained circumstances 4 months ago. Our story is one of hope and healing and one that we hope encourages other dog lovers to have faith in your animals and persevere with love and tenderness. It all started one afternoon at Gold fields show ground, when a couple arrived and couldn't take their eyes off our 6 month old Swiss Shepherd puppy Ikkyo. They asked if we knew if there were any other pups like him available and for sale. We immediately introduced them to Stephanie the breeder of our puppy Ikkyo. A short while later we enquired as to if or when they would get a puppy. Stephanie told us that they were going to take a pup from another litter that was born 10 days after the litter Ikkyo our puppy came from. The puppies name was Laska and she was already 6 months old, she was the last of that litter to be sold.

Sadly, as it sometimes happens Laska's new owners were unhappy with her, they complained that she wouldn't walk on tiles and refused to go up and down stairs. Two weeks after they had collected Laska from Stephanie's farm they wanted to return her. On that very day, we were at another show with Stephanie. Just before we were about to pack up to go home the couple arrived with Laska, wanting to give her back they simply said she was useless. I was horrified! I couldn't believe that any dog can be useless. I left the negotiations up to Stephanie and rushed to Laska's side. She was skittish and nervous and terribly frightened.

From the onset we realized that she was a very unhappy little girl with huge fears particularly with people. The couple left with their refund and little Laska was left behind. Stephanie was terribly worried as she mentioned that she couldn't possibly take care of another dog as she has 23 of her own (breeding stock) and it was a costly exercise. My husband Quintin was standing next to Stephanie as I volunteered to foster her. I saw the worried look cross Quintin's face but then he finally smiled and agreed with the fostering idea, he told Stephanie that Laska would be great company for Ikkyo, our own puppy.

After a huge struggle to get her into the car, we took her to her new foster home in a terrible state of angst. Laska was trembling all over she even managed to wet herself with fear as Quintin tried to lift her from the car. She produced an adrenalin fear smell which was pungent and terribly unpleasant. Her eyes were as big as saucers and her legs trembled continuously. We finally got her indoors where she made a beeline for a corner and remained there shaking for the next few days. We couldn't get her to eat a thing. The next morning was no different and we had to be patient and keep talking to her.

The previous owners were quite right; she couldn't do stairs or a tiled floor. Now this posed a problem as only we have two exits within our home, a flight of stairs outside the kitchen and a tiled patio area outside the front door. It was a very trying time, she was also quite terrified of skirts, and she started shaking in her corner the morning I emerged wearing a skirt. I was so worried that we wouldn't get her right, although I kept getting the feeling that we should not give up on her. Ikkyo was a great help as he nurtured Laska and constantly encouraged her with his lively barks and talking noises. I called our vet Colin in desperation and his advice was simple; love, patience and training, he said. He also mentioned that it could take anything from 6 months to a year to get her to forget any trauma she may have experienced. I searched the internet and found too that animals such as Laska need time, patience and loads of training. I called our obedience instructor Andrea and was given similar advice. Andrea suggested that Laska and I should spend some time at training just sitting on the side in the shade and watch what was going on.

It wasn't easy as we had to leave half an hour before training just to get her settled and comfortable in the car. When we arrived we had to lift her out and coax her to the training ground where she sat shivering next to me for a full hour 'till we went home. No one could get close to her without her pulling away and cowering. Well, eventually after three weeks of this she attempted her first lesson but couldn't take her eyes off Ikkyo, our now fully self assured and bold puppy. Nothing frightened our Ikkyo as he would treat frightening things as challenges and see how far he could take things before he ever decided to back off. Here we had the two extremes of the dog world, the Alpha pup, who only understood bold confidence, and the shy meek and frightened pup who constantly believed she was in trouble for doing something wrong.

Training was not easy with Laska, she wouldn't take any form of treat during training and wouldn't let anyone other than Quintin or I touch her. As time went by Laska grew in confidence and is now, four months later, such a giving and loving Puppy. When (which isn't often) she is allowed to get onto our bed in the mornings she snuggles and pushes under your armpit making cooing sounds as if this is pure bliss and the best thing humans could ever allow her to do. Laska gives back more than we could ever ask for, we sometimes we call her the "cuddle bunny". Visitors however are still alien, and she still treats them with fear and suspicion. Some can't believe she could ever be so affectionate. It took some time for Laska to tackle the staircase and the front tiles, she would master them one day then forget and get all scared the next. But through some tender words of encouragement and little treats she would face her fears again. Today she has forgotten the fear of those dreaded scary stairs and mean, nasty tiles.

Last week we had a wonderful breakthrough one of those that almost brought tears to our eyes. I think she now feels that the training ground and her classmates are all truly familiar and her fear has been put aside almost replaced by shear enjoyment and excitement. At the training Andrea did an off leash exercise with us where the dogs had to sit and wait, while we the owners had to walk a couple of steps away. I was a good two meters away from Laska when Andrea our instructor reached out and touched Laska all over her head and she remained seated and looked quite happy and content with Andrea's touch, where as before no one could touch her without a fearful reaction. I couldn't believe how far Laska has come she is growing in human faith by the day and becoming such an obedient and loving puppy. I believe she is 95% there and in such a short time. She actually smiles with joy and wiggles when we come home from a shopping trip. We are so grateful that her fear didn't develop into aggression as what happens to so many dogs. We believe socialisation and training are the answer to any puppy problems. Quintin and I have discussed her future with us and she will no longer be our foster dog but our family member for ever.

Dee, Quintin Ikkyo and Laska

Here follows a photo of Ikkyo: Bloemfontein Challenge Best in Breed