9 years ago today - on February 19th 2015, I (reluctantly!) went to meet a 21 month old border collie, who was very, very rapidly running out of time & chances, thanks to his unbelievably difficult behaviour. I was not looking for a 2nd dog, let alone one with major problems that needed working through but somehow, I found myself being persuaded to just "go see what you think of him".
I met Flynn, though that wasn't his name then - along with my dad (who'd been the one doing the persuading) & Flynn's then owners - we went out for a walk together, on cold, rainy, mirky afternoon. From what I'd heard beforehand, I was expecting to find some poor, sad, skulking, defensive creature, who didn't like anyone... Flynn was not that. I looked at him, as he joyfully ran circles in the gathering dusk... carefully making sure he offered the ball to each person he was out with - including us strangers... & I felt there was hope for him. Or, at least that it'd be a shame to let this young life get cut short, without at least attempting to see if he could improve & overcome his fears.
The early years were hard for us both. I am in no way a dog behaviourist, or trainer & I was in over my head with Flynn! Even at our worst moments though, Flynn was always clearly desperately keen to keep *trying* to work with me, trying to not be scared of things which clearly terrified him, trying to trust we were on the same side - & that kept me trying too. I'm so thankful we both stuck at it! 9 years ago, I met Flynn & suspected there was a terribly clever, affectionate, funny little dog, hidden under the distrust & fear & stress... I was right. More & more as time goes by, Flynn's true nature has shone through & he's come further than I ever thought possible. He is a wonderful companion & brings me so much joy every day - haha & even when he's a grumpy old man, we can laugh about it. Good Boy, Flynn... I'm glad I went to meet you on that nasty day in February, all those years ago.
Hansel Tigerloaf will have been with us for eight years tomorrow.
When he arrived, he was scared of everything (especially evil doorways), but now his latest favourite thing to do is grumble and moan when someone is existing in the vicinity and not paying an adequate amount of attention to him. If he's close enough, he'll also hit them. He's an absolute goblin.
He'll be twelve (allegedly) in May. I'll buy him a dog stroller...not because he can't walk, but he refuses to because he simply doesn't like the inconvenience and would rather be in his bed, eating snacks.
He will only have accidents on soft surfaces and will fly towards the rug to throw up because he doesn't like being sick on cold floors.
He bit (unsuccessfully, he's dentally challenged) Mickey one time for existing too closely to him, but to be fair, Mickey had sat on him earlier that day.
He can grip like a monkey, therefore he is able to climb things like wire fences, cupboards and trees. He doesn't do this now though because he can't be bothered, but he knows we know that he can.
His dearest wish is to steal the stuffed toy that is often left in the child next door's pram.
Hey collie friends, if you’re in the Midwest (or willing to drive there) this rescue is dealing with almost 200 collies rescued from a hoarding situation and are in desperate need of help transporting and fostering the dogs!
This was Flynn's first "big walk", after having his painful abscessed kidney removed a month before. (We believe from what his 1st owners said that the poor guy had likely been suffering with it from the age of 5 months... to when we finally got him to a specialist vets, & got the surgery done at 2yrs 8 months old).
These pics fill me with joy: the start of the rest of Flynn's life.