Lucy

Whatever happened in the past to Lucy has shattered her confidence and destroyed her trust with the result she is very timid and extremely nervous. Probably in self preservation she has shut down her emotions and often tries to be as inconspicuous as she can. So this means a little girl who spends a lot of the time with a deadpan or a worried, wary expression and her tail between her legs. Initially she was so scared that when you tried to walk with her she’d try and hide between your calves. However she now walks like a champion and in fact does little skips and jumps in anticipation at the start of a walk.

I’ve had Lucy for six weeks and in that time I’m starting to see a happy face sometimes, and now and then a tail wagging and her bouncing up in excitement when she sees me in the morning. She still has a long long way to go as she freaks at any sudden sound or movement, and becomes very anxious if someone is behind her or when she feels you're standing over her. But she now recognizes prams, bikes, scooters and runners as non threatening and is calm when they pass. She is quite relaxed with other dogs as they pass though very uncertain if they try to make contact. However given time she relaxes and will happily spend a crazy ten minutes racing round the yard and playing with another dog if she’s had time to get to know them. She isn’t motivated by food or toys – she’s only just beginning to show interest in them but she does love to snuggle up close to you if you’re on her level.

I’ve yet to hear her bark though she sometimes cries in the early morning. After her walk she’ll happily spend her time laying on her mat watching the world go by. She’s probably one of the lowest maintenance dogs I’ve ever had.

I believe given lots of time, love and massive amounts of patience, you will be rewarded with a very loving little girl who will be a wonderful companion. But it will be a long term project and you need to be prepared for a dog who doesn’t show any of the standard reactions or emotions you’d expect though I feel sure that will change with enough time and love. She wouldn’t cope with the hustle and bustle of a family but a couple possibly retired or a single person with some time and lots of patience would be perfect for her. Another dog – if they clicked – could be a great help in Lucy’s rehab and help boost her confidence. This is a very beautiful little girl with I think lots of promise, who deserves a break and if my circumstances were different I’d be keeping her.