Baltic Winters Rescue Event

[aray17]

#1 Welcome home COMPLETE
#2 Bonding COMPLETE
#3 Gaining Confidence COMPLETE
#4 Training COMPLETE
#5 Your choice COMPLETE

[aray17]

I got a call from the shelter where I had gotten Zada and they
said that they had another little girl and if I was interested. I
said sure and hopped in my car with Zada. We drove down to
the shelter and the staff greeted healthy Zada and I.
Zadadidn't like revisiting the shelter but stayed strong. They
led us to the girl's kennel and I read through her paperwork.
She was extremely scared of humans and only likes to be
around dogs. Well luckily I have Zada so hopefully she will
calm down this girl. The staff opened up the girl's
kennel and Zada started to wag her tail at the dog that
would hopefully soon be her new companion. The girl
backed up to the back wall and cowered down at the
sight of the workers and I. So, we stood at a distance
so the two could meet and to see if they were compatible.
Slowly, the dog started to inch closer towards Zada and
soon their tails were wagging. I decided that with baby
steps and a good friend like Zada, hopefully this girl
would be a good fit for my ranch. I filled out the rest
of her paperwork and then leashed up Zada. I pulled
out a treat out of my pocket and bribed my new girl
with it but she growled and backed away from me.
I slid one on the ground towards her. She gobbled the
treat up and I slid another one closer to me. She scooted
forward slowly and slid a collar and leash onto her when
she got close enough. She yelled and struggled but I held
strong and tried to calm her. Two employees lifted her
up into the back of my car. She yelped and tried to run
and dig her way out of the car. Zada hopped in the front
seat and we headed home. Getting Jila out of the car
was very difficult. Jila backed into the corner and
growled at me. I had one of my ranch hands distract
her while I grabbed her from under. I brought her to
the barn and all of my tolters popped their heads out
so they could see her. I laid her down in my empty
stall and she tried to bolt out but I closed the stall
door in time. She ran around the stall, yelling and
howling. She even tried to dig herself out of the stall
but her efforts were futile. She howled for the next
day and then finally gave up. She ran in circles and
refused to eat anything. After three days, she started
to settle down. She started to eat.

[aray17]

Bonding with Lajila is difficult since she's scared of people. She mainly likes to be at a distance from me or close to Zada. But, Zada is always near me so Jila is alone a lot. When Zada and I go to Chick fil a, Jila won't come along. She instead sticks around in the barn, waiting for Zada to come back. At dinner time, Zada eats with me but Jila eats her food in the barn. She has been aloof for a couple of weeks but she's slowly making some progress. When it's dinner time, she will eat in the house far away from me. Zada sometimes eats with her. I led Jilanext to me with a long trail of treats and dog food. She reluctantly approached Zada and I at the dinner table. That was the first time she ate near us. After that, she ate by our sides every night. The ranch hands are mostly men and Jila isn't too friendly around them. They try to feed her their leftovers, but she cowers down and runs off. It's been a little over a month now and she will walk beside me and be around me but she still won't go near the men. When we go to Chick fil a for our chicken sandwiches, Zada will greet all of the workers while Jila hides in the back of the car. Jila will sometimes peek her head out of the window to see some of the action. I can now feed her by hand without her swallowing her food while and then running off. When Zada and I are laying around on the couch, Jila hops up next to Zada. She snuggles up in our blankets and falls asleep fast. On trail rides, Chancellor pulls Zada in her wagon while I ride one of my other tolters. Jila walks by Zada's side. Sometimes when Jila gets really lazy, she will hope in Zada's wagon with her and have Chancellor pull them along. Zada enjoys having Jila as her cuddle buddy. The two hang out in the pasture with their tolter friends here and there as well. When Zada is with Elvire, Jila plays with my younger ranch hand, Olly. Olly comes in for dinner sometimes and when he does, Jila sits next to him and he gives her bites of food occasionally. On movie nights, Zada sits next to me and Jila sits next to her. They snuggle up together and fall asleep very fast.

[aray17]

Weeks have past now and now I can walk Jila on a leash. Jila spends most of her days with Renegade, my adventurous mare. They run through the pasture and chase the birds. Ren and Jila run for hours and never seem to tire. I don't have to exercise Ren as much since she is doing it with Jila, instead of alone in a machine. The other tolters love to run with Jila as well. Brye, my other high energy girl, has Jila run by her side during her time running around the corral. Jila loves the tolters so much. Jila has also branched out and now she will go near my ranch hands who are male. She eats out of their hands and occasionally plays with them. Jila and Zada hang out every morning and night. They eat together, sleep together, and play together. During movie nights, Jila snuggles with me and eats some of my snacks. Jila loves to eat my popcorn even though I tell her no and scold her. She begs for popcorn and my other unhealthy treats that I eat. Jila sneaks my food when I'm not looking. But, I catch her every time. I try to ignore her puppy eyes stare when she is begging. During dinner time, Jila sits at my feet and nudges my leg until I pet her. She likes knowing that she is safe and that I am not going to leave her. She does not like being alone at all. At night, if Zada wants to be alone, she will jump in my bed with me. She is my baby girl and snuggle baby.

[aray17]

For training, I had my ranch hands build me a small sled that Jila could pull that I could put stuff in the back. I first started her off with a sack of potatoes and she ran easily with it. Then, I slowly increased the weight over the span of a couple of weeks. She does not seem to mind it. She runs for hours upon hours with her best friend, Ren. They never tire out. I mainly work on strength with Lajila since she does endurance with Ren on her own. After a few weeks, I had Jila pull Zada in the sled. Zada weighs more than Jila since she does not get as much exercise. Zada enjoys riding in the sled and loves being with Jila. Jila does not mind pulling her "sister" in the sled. I ride alongside them on one of my equines or horses to get them some exercise too and to supervise. I have not had her pull me since I weigh a lot and she probably would not get far. I do not know when Jila will race because currently I only have one other dog, but she cannot race due to her severe injury. Som Jila will just have to wait and see. I do not want to just put Jila on a random team just to get her racing because teams are packs and forcing a dog into a pack can offset the chemistry. On trail rides, I have Jila pull Zada instead of bringing another horse to pull Zada or leaving Zada behind.

[aray17]

-lots of energy
-doesn't trust easily
-introverted
-loyal
-adventurous

-running
-swimming
-being with Zada
-being with my horses
-playing in the snow
-my horse Renegade
-being alone sometimes

-men

-being hot
-loud music/noises
-cats
-chickens
-laying around