Community Chat

[tendercolors]

I had a Sheltie, they are so smart and wonderful little guys. I also had an incredible Pomeranian named Kody so this story is very special to me. Kody was so loving a kind he "worked" in a convalescent hospital bringing love and smiles to all he met. Even a blind gentleman in a wheel chair would hear Kody's little feet on the hall floor and would smile from ear to ear and hold out his arms saying "There is my guy! Come on and visit with me!" and Kody would run up his shin to his lap and smother him with kisses and sit in his lap to "spend some time with his friend". Kody was a toy size and always happy. He had a freak reaction to a surgery on his neck and passed. The whole hospital had a service in his honor and sent bags full of sympathy cards.

Dogs live in the minute and day they are in. Your little Kody sounds like a strong and smart little guy with a great survival instinct. Someone either lost him or abandoned him and he has adapted to living wild. His trust, I'm sure, has gone as it was a danger for him to do so. I am sure he is hungry, thirsty and needing a safe place to hide and rest.

You could start putting some food out where you see him and see if he comes to eat. Make sure to touch the food so he associates your scent with something good. If you see him, don't try to approach him, but toss some chunks of hot dogs or some meat near him but NOT at him. Be patient and keep it up, tossing the food slowly closer and closer to where you are. If he feels no threat from you he will keep coming. Don't try to trap him or make any sudden moves or loud shouts or noises. Eventually he will come around and if you leave a gate open or garage door he may start coming in. Just be sure to stay calm and let him come to you and don't frighten him or break the trust once you have him close. Don't put a time limit on it, he will come to see you as the one that good things happen with. You can even eventually put a box or crate with a blanket or old towel with your scent on it and some food in or just outside it and have it hidden in some brush or somewhere he likes to lay. He may eventually come around and let you touch him.

I used to do rescue and my family has always had pets, and been close to nature. My father used to eat peanuts on the porch of our mountain cabin and a hungry squirrel would come and watch him from a distance everyday. My dad would toss peanuts to him bringing him slowly closer. By the end of the summer the squirrel was eating from his hand and even wandered in the front door to the kitchen when he smelled food one time. My dad and the squirrel spent everyday sitting on the porch enjoying the day. He even would take some of the peanuts to his storage place for winter. Hopefully Kody will sit on the porch soon too, .