Muffin is my first dog as a grown up and a former dogstrust resident.She was estimated to be 3 when we brought her home. It has certainly been a journey. She was a stray so had a completely unknown history. She was very nervous of lots of things and we still have some fear issues around other dogs, mostly when she is on a short lead.
We use counter condition techniques to help manage her fears and try to keep things as predictable as possible for her. She is a small terrier mix, Cairnish in appearance and she is a massive personality. She is full of fun and attitude. We love her dearly and would not change anything about her.
The decision to adopt was one of the best ones we made but I will be honest and say there were a few tearful moments in the early days. I had so much support from forums like the Cairn forum who also kind of adopted her despite her questionable parentage!. They helped me through all my first time owner worries.
For anyone thinking about re homing, I would say, do your homework and be prepared but try not to be put off by any potential problems. We have gained so much and most problems can easily be managed when you understand them.
