Venturing out of my comfort zone and welcome an addition to the family

For years the girls especially Monika

has been working hard on me.

Every chance she gets

she begs for a dog.

She has a great connection to dogs,

long after her sisters lost interest in the dog

that was around.

She even wrote a paper

on why we should have a dog for school.

 For me,

I never been much of a dog liker.

One week shy of my 8th birthday, my family

and I were camping where we have camped for years 

and with friends of ours that had a black lab.

I ended getting attacked by this lab

and sustained some major bites especially on my cheek.

Multiple surgeries later and "wishbone"shape scar on my cheek,

I have become hesitant around dogs, especially

any dog that was a jumper.

My sisters dog has helped me 

"tolerate" dogs and even with Nell (my sister's dog), 

like dogs again.

I also have a friend that 

been fostering dogs for a couple of years

and has worked hard on me to join the fostering.

I also don't want the responsibility

of a dog. 

 

(Our first picture with her)

On May 4 I leaped out of  comfort zone,

prayed to God to give me the strength I needed,

to have a dog in our house.

We decided on a beagle/German Sheppard mix girl name Darla. 

She had arrived at the shelter 15 minutes before we arrived.

She came all the way from KY.

Naturally she was very nervous around us,

but you could see she likes affection.

Within an hour she was on the couch with me

trying to sleep

Found her on Katie's bed after taking my bath

and this was our first clue that she might have been 

mishandled by the original owner or someone

she got very nervous.  Right after taking the picture

I went to her and petted her and told her she was ok.

She followed me out of the room.

I tried putting her in the kennel before going to bed

she started to shake a lot and didn't want to put in there.

I didn't have the heart to force her in there,

instead this is where she slept all night next to me.

and the black head of hair you see that is Monika.

The next day we took Darla for a ride to pick up her sisters

from school and bring the to gymnastics.

We were told to introduce her to other people and animals if possible

to help her get used to them which would be a good thing for 

who adopts.

Erin playing with my phone and Darla

The first day home alone,

she carried all of our shoes to a spot.

She didn't chew any of them.

She did this the first two days and then was done

We also have discovered that she is terrified of males.

Dave has been working on her,

she will walk near him now and sometimes

will let herself be pet by him, there are a couple

other males she will warm up to.

She is also shy around new people

If I am holding her, she will let people pet her.

Running free in a dog park

Break time

Katie and Darla

I have become very comfortable with her,

I let her give me some kisses on the face.

I will let her cuddle up by my face.

Such a sweet face

The girls are doing really good with being responsible with her

She is coming out of her shell now and has a great personality.

We just got to work on the bathroom situation as

she likes to hold her pee for 

15 hours at a time.