Molly update

Our black lab Molly who is a...um...house guest/foster/boarder...not sure what to category she falls in!  For now, we'll just consider her a foster.  

Molly came to us about three weeks ago and has calmed down considerably. Thank goodness for that! She was beyond hyper when she arrived and didn't respond to anything, not even her name.  There is still a lot of work to be done but the potential is there. 

For the first couple of weeks, Molly wasn't expected to do much except settle in and observe. She was initially hand shy, in a manner that made me think that she had been pushed away frequently. As she observed the pack receiving many pats, cuddles and hugs, her habit of shying away disappeared.  Molly will now do what the rest of the pack does and rest her head on a lap and lean in for some attention.

Molly now easily goes into her crate and will sit quietly while meals are being served, she has figured out the "sit" command to get a half of an unsalted soda cracker with peanut butter and is learning "drop it".  The appeal of items of clothing is very strong.  So far only one casualty - a sock with a hole chewed in it. She is fast!

The chuck-it ball is still a favourite but is now being left more often for a Kong or a Nylabone. She loves to chew both and is more settled and therefore chewing more and not running around almost continuously. 

Molly and Chuck

The wild and rambunctious wrestling sessions with Trail continue and often times, Brook will try and join in. Brook gets knocked around a bit since she is so much smaller and blind and partly deaf but she stays with it true to her tough Australian Cattle Dog breed.

We are seeing more of these relaxed times.

Bill, Molly and Trail

I've only had contact with Molly's former owner once she moved into our home.  I doubt that I will see him again and the plan continues to be for Molly to be re-homed, likely in the spring.  She is a wonderful dog and as I said before, it isn't that we don't want her, she isn't what we want. If we are to add another dog to the pack, it will be a special needs. For now, we are very happy to have Molly with us.