Minnie Joins Our Pack

This is Minnie, a five year old Miniature Pinscher who joined our pack from the Halifax area night before last.

Minnie had belonged to a couple who also owned another dog of a different breed. That dog wasn't so lucky. The couple had problems of the kind that often end up with perfectly healthy dogs being euthanized. Minnie was rescued but her pack mate was not.






A few days ago, Minnie's plight became known to one of our clients who brought the situation to Diana. Diana in turn got in contact with the foster home Minnie was temporarily in. Arrangements were made and Diana and I picked her up Tuesday evening.


Before going further, we would like to highlight a couple of things. First of all, as humans we focus too much on the past and any tragic aspects that may have prevailed. Dogs have much to teach us in that regard. Minnie's past life will sadden and even outrage anyone with a shred of decency, but that doesn't define who or what she is. Dogs live in the moment and move on from there. For people in their lives to behave as though they personally have to attone for the sins of the past is to enshrine and carry forward weakness, uncertainty, and instability instead of what a dog really needs: calm and assertive leadership that cultivates the natural state of being that living as part of a stable dog pack is all about.

Secondly, but no less importantly, Minnie was rescued because a network of people didn't fail her. The people who rescue dogs aren't simply well meaning. Dogs need people, and these are the kind of people that will get bitten to save a life. Rescue dogs can come from backgrounds that may be shrouded in secrecy out of grim necessity, both for the safety of the dogs involved, and as a safeguard from the people they had to be rescued from in the first place. Minnie will thrive because of people who went the distance, and everyone involved in getting her from her former situation and into our pack is due our utmost gratitude.



So now, back to Minnie. As you can see from the picture above, she's a bit of a porker. Something Min Pins are prone to where overfeeding and lack of exercise combine in the same dog resulting in what we refer to here as a "Rolling Pin". While she has been spayed, neglect of her grooming needs clearly goes way back. On the right you can see the state of her toe nails after they were cut to about half of their original length. Left to grow, the quick lengthens requiring a gradual shortening process to get them where they should be.



The first thing we did after picking her up was take her for a walk. The psychological effects of a "pack walk" can never be understated in its effects on dogs that come from an unstable background, and when used properly have particular power when bringing dogs together who have no prior knowledge of each other. Minnie was quick to follow our lead and walked through the entire exercise without complaint.


Minnie is the smallest dog in the house, at least physically, and it will require a few more days of pack immersion before she feels comfortable enough to let her "inner Minnie" show. In the mean time, she is learning the normal pace of life as she finds herself absorbing a new stable order.

We brought Minnie home rather late Tuesday night so the first full day of socialization brought her to her first evening with the pack as Diana and I settled back to watch a movie. She was quick to mirror the energy in the room but you can see that Gunner, Milo, and Dusty are providing her with a rather generous comfort zone.



As the evening progessed though, Gunner spread out to fill the gap. As of this morning, and as the day has progressed, she is moment by moment both behaving, and being accepted, as a pack member. This is taking over as her new reality.












As her rehabilitation progresses, she will be seen with us a lot, both in one on one work and with other members of our pack. The only way to acclimatize a dog to the world is to expose her to it, and accomplishing that goal will put Minnie in situations where she must learn what is expected from following calm, clear, and assertive leadership. Diana and I welcome interaction with Minnie's supporters as we work to make her ready for adoption, but ask only a few things of you all if you wish to intereact with us on the street when we are working with any dog:

1. Please approach and behave in a calm fashion, and speak only to us until given the go-ahead to communicate with the dog(s). This means no looking at, gesturing toward, touching, or talking to the dog(s) until told how and when to do so.


2. If at any time one of us tells you to wait, or stop whatever you are doing, please do so immediately, and understand that we are not trying to insult you or treat you like an idiot. We ask that you maintain your air of calm composure at all times, as any good Pack Leader would.

Minnie will be with us as long as it takes for her to become the balanced dog she needs to be. Losing her excess weight in a healthy manner will take many months of exercise and proper nutrition. Her first vetrinary visit is scheduled for Friday, and her first pack hike into our back woods will be on this coming weekend. More pictures from that adventure will be posted, as will updates on Minnie's progress.