Fable

Fable is a 6-year-old Yorkshire Terrier who weighs just about 10lbs. She has a soft multi colored coat and the biggest brown eyes. Her haircut is a little uneven but it just adds to her charm – just like her snaggle tooth smile! Fable is still getting used to her new life but the future holds nothing but love and joy for this tender girl.

Now I know some of you are already filling out your application for Fable but please read this bio first as we are looking for a very special family for Fable. This gentle girl was discarded from a large-scale breeding organization after 6 years and she has been slow to adapt to the world outside that facility. 6 years without love or socialization have put some hurdles up for Fable but luck found her when Pound Dog Rescue agreed to take her in and help her find her new life. Now she needs one more dose of good luck to help her find the family who can support her through the rest of her life. If you cannot handle a dog that is afraid of you to start and does not want to be touched then Fable will not be a good match for you. I know when we find her family that they will get to see her transform over the next few years but please be honest about what you can handle and what you are looking for. Fable is safe and loved in her foster home and we will take as long as we need to find the right forever home for her.

Fable has taken many huge steps during her time in foster care but she still has a journey ahead of her. She is looking for a family with experience dealing with timid dogs, shut down dogs and/or dogs retired from large scale breeding operations. She needs a home that is quiet and patient where she can be given the time and space she needs to get comfortable. Fable’s family needs to have experience balancing this space with encouragement forward. We don’t want her to become stagnant so she needs to be shown the way forward on a daily basis. It is easy to want to coddle and protect her but this will not help her adapt or evolve.

Outside of these needs, Fable is an easy dog to have around. In the home she is crate trained and she feels safe in there but she would much rather spend her free time up on the couch. A home with couch space for our girl is a must! During the day when I am at work she is calm in her crate. She lives with several other dogs right now and gets along with everyone, having a special affinity for her tiny Chihuahua foster sister. She finds comfort in the presence of the other dogs so another appropriate dog in the home would be helpful although not mandatory. I think she would also be fine with cats.

Fable has learned the routine of our home and she seems to find comfort in the schedule. She will come to the kitchen with the other dogs to see about dinner, and enjoys patrolling the yard with some company. She is learning to go into her kennel with a treat and finding confidence to investigate the house a bit. She likes to gather with the other dogs and will sometimes accept some gentle affection from me in the form of pets on her back and legs. All of this progress makes me hopeful that she comes to love all forms of attention given time and space to heal. Fable is house broken and will do all of her business in the yard or on our walks.

She is starting to enjoy walks and I think she will be a great walking companion once she gets over some of her fear of other people. When it’s just the two of us out and about she trots along beside me, looking up for approval. When it’s time to go for a walk she will stand calmly as I get her leash on and then follow me to the door. She may need a bit of encouragement to get out of the yard but then we are off. Loud noises are still very startling to her which just means extra caution needs to be paid to keep her safe. She walks with a martingale collar and a safe grip on the leash and her new family must be ready to adhere to the same rules. If we encounter other people when we are walking she tries to run and hide from them so a nice quiet walking routine would be beneficial at least to start. She can walk along the busy street without much bother from the passing cars.

Fable is just getting used to more than a few stairs but with a bit more time and practice this will not be an issue for her. She would be fine in any home type as she has proven to be very quiet except for some occasional whining if she feels she is missing out on something important or tasty. A yard is not mandatory as long as there is an appropriate place for her to do her business.

She loves to get treats for her good behavior and I can pet her a bit as long as she sees it coming. She is quite nervous about any movement over her head but stroking her back is becoming almost common place. Fable is not yet a dog who seeks out affection and if I touch her without her seeing me coming she will flinch and often run. When it comes to other things in life, Fable handles them as we would expect from a terrified dog. She is moderately cooperative at the vet and the groomer because she is scared and shuts down so she needs a family who will understand this and advocate for her in these areas. She has a coat that requires regular grooming so her new family must be ready to commit to an appropriate grooming schedule. She is starting to get used to the car but still finds it scary so she needs to be secured in either a seat with a leash or a crate for everyone’s safety.

Fable has an overactive sense of ‘stranger danger’ so care must be taken when unknown people are around to give her a chance to adapt. Again, we don’t want to keep her away from everything new but we do want to be respectful of her fear so she can learn to handle new experiences with confidence. And that’s really what it comes down to – confidence. Fable needs a family committed to helping her find hers. Fable will do best in an adult only home as the action and noise of children will be too much for this sensitive girl.

Fable is up to date on all of her vaccines and testing and she has been microchipped. She had an extensive dental when she came into rescue and has 11 healthy teeth remaining. She has healed from her spay and there are no health concerns at this time.

The growth I have seen in Fable in the time she has been with me makes me incredibly proud and I can’t wait to see how far she goes. The right family for Fable has experience dealing with frightened dogs and understands the need to support her while encouraging her through the scary things. They have a quiet, adult only home that is full of love and patience for this sweet girl. Her family needs to be committed to investing in her future even if it takes time to see the results. She is a sweet, sensitive girl with a mischievous side who deserves this next chapter of her life to be full of patience, love and support. If you think you could give our beautiful little girl what she needs to be successful and confident then please fill out an application and I’d love to talk to you about her.