Two years ago I agreed to foster an 11 year old Pomeranian that was a puppy mill surrender. His health was okay but he had severe muscle cramping and only two tiny lower teeth left. He was described as a 'tired old man' and my vet tech said that if they couldn't get him socialized they'd have to put him down.
He arrived with a big crate that he never left. He had a harness and leash attached because that was the only way to get him out of his crate to go outside. He spent so much time in it I started calling it his condo and threatened to landscape it.
He was terrified of people, my other Pomeranians, any noise no matter how minor, doorways, the telephone etc. He had clearly been abused and he was always 'on alert' and ready to cower in the back corner of his condo. For six months he never left the condo except to go outside but he watched me interact with my other dogs like a hawk and I made sure to give them lots of pets and playtime within eyeshot of his condo or outside.
Finally, out in the yard, he saw me petting the other dogs and approached me for pets as well. He was shaking like a leaf but he was finally going to get one of these pets! It was very brave of him. I petted him for a long time and after that he'd approach for pets, still shaking but loving every second of it.
The next breakthrough came about a month later. My Pomeranian Guido has a favorite toy - it's a little yellow stuffed duck - and I always take it into the yard and we throw it around a little. Late one night I heard an odd squeaking sound so I got out of bed and Teddy had the little yellow duck in his condo, and was delighting in making it squeak. After that Teddy played with all the toys and participated in playtime in the yard.
He grew so attached to the other Pomeranians that he became their Papa - licking their faces clean after their supper and curling up next to them while they slept. He grew so attached to them that I decided that his senior years were going to be happy, dammit - and I adopted him. Now he breaks in my new fosters and is very protective of them. He helps to housetrain and his new inner calm seems to help them adjust.
Last week I threw out the condo because he never goes in it anymore. And today I'm celebrating the birthday of a happy little dog whose spirit refused to die.
I made a video of Teddy for his birthday, and his happy expression is the best gift in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoNQ9Zq-W6w
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