Dexter is about 6.5 years old. We adopted him from the Humane Society in Ohio when he was about a year and a half old. We had �stopped by� our local Humane Society to visit the animals (is that possible to do without going home with one?) and Dexter caught Jeremiah�s eye. He was curled up way back in his kennel against the wall. Jeremiah went in to pet him. Dexter trembled when he touched him. We tried to get him out to take him for a walk, but he would not come. We put the leash on him, then Jeremiah simply picked him up and carried him to the walk area. He walked with us ok out in the yard. The volunteer that processed our paperwork at the Humane Society told us that Dexter had a very rough start in life. He was one of about 70 dogs and 60 cats that were rescued from a breeder/collector in West Virginia. Many of the animals were in very poor shape health-wise and had to be put down. The others were sent to Humane Societies and shelters in the tri-state area that had the space. Dexter had a quarter sized bloody lesion on his forehead, but otherwise seemed healthy and adoptable.
Dexter is the most timid dog we have ever met. Our veterinarian commented to us how rare it is to find a scared dog that is not also an aggressive dog. Rather than aggressive, Dexter is pathologically submissive. When we brought him to our house, he did not want to be out with us. If it was up to him, he would stay upstairs alone in our room in his crate all day. Our veterinarian stressed how important it was to get him out and socialized. She was concerned that at some point his fear could express itself as aggression. It was obvious he had never been socialized to people or that his previous interactions with people had been very negative. He was, however, great with the cats and the bunny. There were times we caught little 3.5 lb Alvin � a rabbit � going after his food and Dexter would submit to him. He never barked at all. We attached his leash to our belts which forced him to stay out and walk around the house with us as we did our daily tasks or just sat around. We were able to house-train him rather quickly, but we could not take him for walks outside at all � he was very over-stimulated by the outdoors and would visibly tremble and leave sweaty footprints if we tried to walk him more than a few feet from our door. He also defecated out of fear regularly both inside and outside the house. If someone was talking loudly as they walked by the house Dexter would panic and bolt up the stairs to his crate, pooping the whole way there. He reacted the same way if someone rang the doorbell or came over to visit. He was a very, very nervous dog.
We enrolled him in a special training class for dogs with behavior problems. It was clicker training, but Dexter was afraid of the clicker so we had to use a key word instead. We did see some slight improvement from that, at least with the doorbell and his noise-response. Dexter also formed an attachment to us over time, and demonstrated that he preferred to be with us than to be alone, although he always wanted to be undercover. We bought a second crate which we kept in the living room and he went in there when we were in that room. If we were in the study, he was under the desk. If we were in the kitchen he was under the table. He still never barked (not even once), but would whine and wag his tail when we came home. It wasn�t perfect, but it was progress. He continued to run and hide upstairs whenever guests came over.
About two years later we made a discovery � Dexter was scared to death of people but he loved other animals, especially other dogs. A friend brought over a dog he was petsitting and Dexter came out of his shell like never before. He was even playing some chase games in the yard! That was when we decided to adopt Buddy.
Dexter has improved steadily since then. He adores Helen and she precipitated his second big leap forward, I think. His self claimed �spot� in the family room is behind the couch, but after she came home he was out all the time. He runs around the living room, tries to steal her toys, and looks out for her too. Now, when guests come over, he is just as likely to run for the door and see who it is as he is to run for his crate. He will often lay around behind the couch but he will also lay out on the couches � even when people are over. We have even heard him bark on two occasions! He is a great dog. I was recently looking through Dexter�s file and I found the information sheet that was outside his kennel at the Humane Society. A volunteer had written:
�He needs a little extra love and attention but he would be a wonderful pet for the person who can devote enough time to reassure him that 'life can be good' for a lost little dog.�
Five years later, I do think our Dexter has figured that out :)
