ADOPTED
I would like to introduce you to Kaliyah, a 7 year old, 29 pound Cockapoo. Kali came to me as an extremely shut down mill mama. In order to fully appreciate this very gentle sweet dog you need to understand the amazing progress she’s made in less than 3 months. Kali needed to undergo a major grooming / shaving /cleaning to get rid of her filthy matted coat. Once she had been spayed her journey to leading a normal life began.
Kali was basically immobile in the beginning. She needed to be carried outdoors and was very fearful of going through a doorway. She needed gentle prodding to even take a few steps. Because Kali refused to eat and only drank sparingly for the first few days she needed to be toilet trained since she would hold for over 24 hours. I soon realized that Kali was an intelligent but fearful dog that needed a lot of reinforcement of new behaviours or skills before she embraced them and called them her own. When Kali first peed outside in the backyard she never again had an accident indoors. She finally got it!
After weeks of gentle prodding to get her to go from the back door to the end of the front driveway Kali just decided to head out down the road and went 7 houses away before stopping and looking a bit dazed at what she’d accomplished. Within 2 days after that she was walking half a km from home. Within a week she was happy walking 2 km at a time for a daily total of at least 5 km. We have gone on a few excursions to local conservation areas for walks to extend her comfort zone. She travels well, tethered in my vehicle, but needs assistance to enter and exit.
When walking, Kali tends to go behind me and to the right side since she’s still a bit fearful. Recently though Kali has started to walk in front of me for short periods but goes behind me when encountering new people. She has successfully met with friendly dogs in my community, gaining greater confidence all the time. She shies away from people and has allowed only a few to touch her outdoors.
You need to watch Kali’s body language when walking to know when she’s had enough of a situation and take her
away. She will begin to shake, become restless and try and hide behind me. Improvement in this area is slow and steady. Kali is being fostered in a small rural community. When walking she isn’t bothered by cars going by. She is aware of, but pays little attention the bunnies and squirrels that cross her path. At times Kali will pause when she hears or sees something unfamiliar, lift her front paw to figure it out and then willingly continues on her walk. Loud noises and sudden movements still startle her and a city with loud noises and a lot of traffic would not be a good choice for her.
In the beginning Kali was afraid to go outdoors. She now willingly goes out the door and looks forward to her 4 walks a day. For the first time last week Kali did a few bunny hops and some short running bursts; her tail was wagging and for the first time I saw some animation in her body language and I’m sure she was giving me a smug smile. Lately Kali has been making steady breakthroughs to overcome her fears.
Last week I took Kali to my neighbour’s home to check her reaction to cats. Kali went right up to Tucker and sniffed his butt and Tucker rubbed up against Kali. She would be fine in a home with a cat. We have recently become baby sitters to another rescue cockapoo when her foster mom had to be out of town. This dog is much younger and very active. So far there is little interaction between the two and Kali merely observes her roommates antics. Kali would be okay in a home with a gentle low activity dog. She would also be happy being the only animal in the house.
When I have company over Kali does not greet them. I usually place her on the couch and she’s fine with people sitting beside and petting her. She’s content to remain there the entire visit. Kali needs time and patience in order to be fully comfortable with new people. Kali now loves cuddling in my lap in the evening as I watch tv. She curls up and falls asleep. As with all mill dogs, Kali is at risk to run and needs to be secured outdoors and when opening outside doors. Everyone in the home needs to be very responsible and ensure doors and gates are closed at all times and not left open, and to ensure that Kali doesn’t dart out a door.
When I’m working around the house Kali rests in her favourite bed in the den. She rarely leaves the den to visit me, content with her own company.
Kali is a very delicate eater. When she came to me she needed to drop a few pounds and has already shed 2 and is close to her ideal weight. She does not always fully eat her breakfast and dinner and I take her bowl away if she hasn’t finished in 20 minutes. Kali now no longer eats in her kennel but on her bed in the den. If you place her bowl on the floor outside the bed she won’t touch it. She is asserting her choice to have it placed in her bed. Kali only eats seated or lying down. She has her own unique style. She almost always returns to her water bowl in her kennel and only rarely has used the ones in the den and kitchen. Her kennel door is always left open so she has access to water. Kali gets limited treats which she enjoys but as yet has only accepted one from my hand a few times, preferring+ instead to having it put on the floor in front of her. Because of this Kali cannot be trained with treats as a reward, but through praise, encouragement and pets.
The ideal home for Kali would have a fenced in yard where she could independently sniff and explore or a yard where she could be put on a long line while supervised. When the weather has been favourable Kali has enjoyed being on a long line in my backyard. Kali will need a home with only adults or with quiet natured teens. When she encountered a few noisy youngsters she immediately pulled back and hid behind me. She would not enjoy a home where young children visit often, and for occasional visiting children Kali would need to be in her crate, away from the activity.
Kali’s new family will have to be patient with her and allow her time to adjust and become comfortable. She is so worth the effort. The progress she has made so far has been incredible but she still has a ways to go. Kali would fit in well in a home where her human worked from home. Anyone wishing quiet companion who enjoys being a lap dog indoors and an enthusiastic outdoor walking companion should consider Kali as their forever choice.