Thanks to volunteers who help us socialize the dogs

A big thank you to our wonderful volunteers (especially Geoff) who come all weathers to take our dogs out for walks and help to socialize them.  Zeta, shown above and who is a permanent sanctuary resident, looks forward to her walks and watches out for Geoff every day.  She would be bereft if he didn’t come!

Sophia and Misty escpecially need to meet new people, especially men.  They have to learn that humans are their friends and that they can trust us.  These two collie x young ladies can still only go for short walks, they have poor muscle tone and while their feet are hardening well they are still not hundred per cent.  The main thing, so far as we are concerned, is that they now enjoy their walks, look forward to the lead being put on (inst ead of screaming with fright) and have happy faces when they meet someone new.   Still a bit apprehensive sometimes though.

Socializing a young dog is one of the kindest things you can do.   We all have to live alongside one another, if a dog is afraid of people that is difficult.   A well adjusted, friendly, calm young dog is a pleasure – one that is terrified of strangers is a problem dog and often quite dangerous.  If a dog bites you because she’s afraid, it still hurts!