Week 1: Getting Comfortable

 We made it through the first week or I should say Rita made it through the first week. She was scared of us, walking inside the house (every time she went out) and Abbey. By the end of the week she will come through the back door without hesitation most of the time. She comes up to us and wants a pet but still ducks her head each time we pet her. She is starting to play with Abbey a small bit when outside. 

We also took her on her first walk on the leash. She did quite well. She wanted to smell everything we passed. She was afraid of cars and concerned about other dogs  but in the end she made it without issue. She also has found a good place to sleep in our bedroom. We leave the small kennel door open and she crawls in there eventually to sleep at night. 

I heard her bark one time this week to say hello to our neighbor! It was a sweet high pitched bark and I haven’t heard it again. She is starting to feel at home as she relaxes enough to find things to chew on. It is so nice to see her start to relax. She still doesn’t really wag her tail much but every now and then we see it go up (especially outside).  She eats laying down which was something new for me. She brings us joy already and the kids have been so good with her. It is hard sometimes to not expect her to want to cuddle with us. However, I have been told she is doing amazing for a dog coming out of the horrible conditions she was living in for so long. We all sleep a little better now that a few days have passed.