# Hope for Hachi :) Clearly, this dog has been quite a challenge for my hub and myself. She broke our spirit for a while there. She made me doubt myself and made my hub feel like an evil monster! But things are looking up. I think that for the two weeks we administered the rescue remedy, it may have taken that edge of… ## Thread In Shiba Inu · started by tsukitsune · 24 replies - **Category:** [Shiba Inu](https://nihonken.org/community/c/shiba-inu) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-10-10T12:44:53.000Z Clearly, this dog has been quite a challenge for my hub and myself. She broke our spirit for a while there. She made me doubt myself and made my hub feel like an evil monster! But things are looking up. I think that for the two weeks we administered the rescue remedy, it may have taken that edge off for her to at least be open to spending time observing without extreme fear. She hid under the living room chair when we took her hiding spot (under our bed) away for a solid two weeks. But she would creep out briefly now and then if the other two would bark or if we called her name. We've been playing calming classical music while the hub is home and walking around. I think this really helped too, I can't prove it, but I think it did. Then the time factor, it's close to 6 months that she's been here. And her hormones are probably settling now. Then the end of last week - something miraculous happened - she started mimicking the other two pups. She started to play with them, engage in the shiba snarkies and the shiba 500's and the stair sprinting.. She started begging for food when we ate, like the other two do... she initiated play with a toy in her mouth with me.. see: From The Pack 2.0 then she chased it when John threw it and brought it back.. Then this past weekend we had company and she barked quite a bit like Kitsune did, then she settled under the chair - even though the bedroom was open for her to go under the bed - to observe my bff and her baby while they were here.. She hasn't had an accident in about a week.. Then on Tuesday she sat on my lap (don't mind the crazy teal jogging pants!), see!!: From The Pack 2.0 And this morning, when I got out of bed to walk them, SHE WAGGED HER TAIL! I cried, I'll admit it, I teared up. It was just amazing. amazing. She's still skittish around John, and her tail isn't always up, but she certainly is choosing to be around us downstairs instead of retreating upstairs, even though we have the bedroom door open 24/7 now and I've not given her rescue remedy in 9 days. Things are really starting to look up, and for the first time, I feel like we're a family instead of people fighting a losing battle with a little dog. There is a lot of love here, and I'm glad she's starting to be open to it. ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` IN even more awesome news - Pennsylvania House Bill 2525 (PuppyMillBill) was passed by the Senate yesterday. While its not the strongest bill, its certainly a step in the right direction. ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2008-10-10T12:51:14.000Z What wonderful news for Hachi & you guys. I'm glad things are getting better. ## tobyshiba · 2008-10-10T12:51:16.000Z Aww, seems like Hachi is turning into a real sweetheart! :) Still going to the meetup tomorrow? I don't think I can go, but you're more than welcome to stop by. xD As for the bill, i'm very glad that it was passed through Senate. PA needs something to protect all those innocent dogs, and this should do the trick, or at least help. :) ## Nekopan · 2008-10-10T12:53:17.000Z That's awesome news Jen. I hope Hachi continues to improve. :) ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-10-10T12:53:57.000Z Thanks - I forgot to add that my hubby's theory is "Its getting colder, she knows she's going to need to cuddle for warmth with one of us.. she's an opportunist" But I'm gonna stick with the family-trust-love theory :)) Steph - I'm not going to the meetup, I thought it was Sunday, not tomorrow, and I'm already committed to another day at the farm tomorrow. Oh well! I'll get to Philly sometime, I promise! ## tobyshiba · 2008-10-10T12:55:23.000Z haha. Gotta get down her sometime! :) I should just make a meetup. I still fear Philly in general. Suburbs = nice, friendly. Not scary to me. xD ## sunyata · 2008-10-10T14:03:26.000Z Congrats to you and John! And of course Hachi and the others! I am so glad to hear that you have good news. Everytime Nola takes a dive under the bed it makes me think of Hachi and how she is doing. Although Nola dives under to hide her toys from Bella. It is very heartwarming to hear that she is starting to trust you and John. Before long, she will be a normal little Shiba loving life the way it is meant to be loved! ## Leonberger (admin) · 2008-10-10T15:04:11.000Z That's so great! It seems like everything is paying off :-) I hope everything keeps getting better for you guys and your pack now. ## WhiteGC8 · 2008-10-10T15:43:06.000Z That's awesome! I'm happy for you guys. Lots of TLC and patience never fail. ## brandon_w (admin) · 2008-10-10T15:50:20.000Z It's always nice to hear about Hachi's progress. I can imagine that the tail wag was huge. ## _dlroberts · 2008-10-10T16:24:51.000Z *hugs* to Hachi! ## sujewel · 2008-10-10T16:31:06.000Z That is truly fantastic news! Congratulations. ## Sangmort (moderator) · 2008-10-10T17:06:55.000Z YAY!!! :D ~ ## LoveMyMylie · 2008-10-10T17:12:41.000Z Hooray for Hachi!!! ## kojichan · 2008-10-10T19:16:00.000Z That's great! So happy to hear that things are starting to turn for the better. I know it's tough when you give and give, and yet it seems like it's all for naught. ## MommyofNiko · 2008-10-10T21:00:36.000Z That is so awesome! Sounds just like the life of a rescue. That is exactly how it went with Sasha. It took her about 8 months to trust Chad and now she pounces at him all the time and EVEN did it yesterday right after he got home instead of taking time to adjust (he is gone 8 days at a time which didnt help the bonding). YAY Hachi! Im with your theory also, she is learning that it is safe, you arent going to hurt her and you are the provider of food and comfort! ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-10-10T22:58:11.000Z "I know it's tough when you give and give, and yet it seems like it's all for naught. " Thats exactly how it felt, and I know it was awful of me to feel that way, she didn't know better, but it got frustrating after a while! Right now Hachi and Tsuki are tug-o-war'ing over a loofa dog, happily loving life right now. Bliss. This rescue was very different from all the others, but I'm happy to have the experience. Like Sasha, Hachi is just learning to become a dog. Its beautiful! ## MommyofNiko · 2008-10-10T23:51:55.000Z I keep telling Chad that we are watching Sasha getting younger and younger and it is amazing! Welcome to that joy! ## Sachi · 2008-10-11T00:34:35.000Z I have a funny feeling that Hachi will become closer to you than you are with the 2 other ones. (I think I watch too much TV shows) ## brada1878 (admin) · 2008-10-11T13:31:20.000Z Really great news about Hachi! You guys are great for sticking it out and giving her everything you can. I'm proud of you guys. :o) Keep up the good work Hachi [and family]! ---- ## StaticNfuzz · 2008-10-11T20:35:40.000Z That's awesome Jen, I was hoping she would not hold out you guys too long (LOL). Here's a picture of Hootie he is a bit like Hachi. Who knows they might be related.... It took him a long time. He still is a bit neurotic....he sucks on the rug when stressed. : ( So we have a ton of toys....so far we have had no problems with anything being destroyed it all goes into the toys! Patrice ## tsukitsune (moderator) · 2008-10-12T21:08:06.000Z hootie is a cutie! lol, that rhymes. Hachi is still getting better. right now she's chasing the other two up and down the stairs. I think her mimicking them is really helping her become a 'normal' dog. She is still skittish and unsure about a lot of things, and her eyes still run when she's not sure of something, but she is getting better. It took a while for her to show us any indication of the progress, and that was the most disheartening part, that it took a very long time to see any signs of improvement. We also have a plethora of toys around - its like where toys come to die here. Its pitiful! But it helps her, so I'm good with it. ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2008-10-12T21:15:17.000Z I understand about the mimicing - that's my hope when Jazz is around Niko and Sasha. I think it does a world of good for these reactive ones like ours. ## MommyofNiko · 2008-10-12T21:45:25.000Z We just hope that Jazz gets a LITTLE bit of Niko...we dont need another Niko...LOL ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2008-10-12T22:24:59.000Z I'm hoping for miniscule, to be honest. --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)