EDDIE UPDATE! Reported by foster mom Ellie... We have been fostering Eddie for eight weeks now. For those of you who dont know Eddie, he was rescued by Kindness Ranch in Wyoming in August from a laboratory on the east coast where he was used for food studies. Because he was so shy around people, we decided our home and Lovable Pets would be the perfect places to show him a new world that is full of love and wonderful experiences. And that is what we have been doing! Eddie is a super smart dog, and I saw early on that he gains self confidence from using his brain and learning new things. Eddie participated in his first Barn Hunt this past weekend! In this activity a dog has to find a rat which is safely tucked away in a plastic tube among a stack of straw bales. There are other rules as well, but Eddie participated in a beginner course which focused on him getting interested in finding the rat. He got really interested and found it, and even went through a tunnel of hay bales! I also have been taking Eddie to Nose Work Training with Jen, our trainer at Lovable Pets. It has been so fun to see his confidence grow. At first, he was fixated on being afraid of people walking around outside the window, and he just sat there and shivered. Now, he no longer fixates on the windows, or the people, but focuses on his job...to find the hidden treats around the room. I asked Jen to describe why Nose Work has been so important for Eddies rehabilitation. Here is what she had to say (P.S. Jen, you ROCK!! Thanks for all your help!) JEN: Eddie’s trust in humans and the world in general has been enhanced by his introduction to nose work training and barn hunt. These activities engage his instincts and natural abilities, helping him to overcome any trepidation he feels about the new environment and the people in it. These activities also help to build a positive association with humans…humans are the source of good things! Also, as Eddie succeeds at the “hunt”, his self confidence grows. In turn, his comfort level is elevated by the feeling that he can overcome challenges and solve problems. Thanks for reading! And, thank you Jill for the great photos! Eddie and Ellie
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 20:01:22 +0000
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