Tobi was a shelter dog that was terrified of everything. No one knew where he grew up, but they suspected that he never had a family, and had to fight hard to survive.
When he was brought to a shelter, he tried to make himself as small as possible, he didn’t like the attention. He was inherently afraid of humans and tried to avoid making contact.
Whenever they take him out for exercise, they realized that he likely never had a leash on before. Leading him out of a kennel and into the yard was a traumatizing experience for him. He would always look for corners and walls where he can cower.
And when he is outside, he would usually lie face down on the ground, unwilling to move. Any pressure on his leash would cause him to be agitated. He would panic and flail and would even let out a squealing noise.
The journey to happiness
The shelter staff got concerned with his behavior. If he didn’t change, it would be difficult to get him adopted. They thought that maybe getting him to play with other dogs might change him. So they brought Tobi to their playgroup where they have a group of very sociable dogs.
When they brought the dog to the group, Tobi did what he usually does. Find a corner and observe from afar. But after a while, he suddenly stood up and ran towards the dogs near him. He came back shortly, but at least it showed some progress.
They did this every day until the scared dog finally got comfortable to start playing with them. The good news is actually that they found a foster that could take him. This would be good for Tobi as he would get more attention and training. And this also led to his adoption.
By the time Bonita Rogazinsky welcomed Tobi to her home, he has already changed somewhat. But it was her stay with the adventurous and loving woman that completely brought him out of his shell. The former shelter dog completely trusted his new owner and his new dog sibling.
Together, they would go on hikes, mountain biking, and runs. They would play in the park where the dog would say hi to everyone. He is enjoying life so much and Tobi now knows how joyous it can be.
Source: The Dodo via Youtube
