Bridget has a new nickname. We now call her the "hoarder". She removes methodically every rope toy and one single chew antler to her special corner in the bedroom. She is not aggressive about it in any way nor does she guard them from the other dogs. Maybe she is a clean house freak or just believes that is where they belong. In fact when the dogs are together they are all on the same bed chewing the items without issue :)).

Bridget readily seeks attention in the morning or anytime I am on the bed (caught the bug and have been really laid low the past two weeks) but if I approach she will go the other way. A couple of weeks ago I awoke to someone smacking my arm really hard. Here was Bridget with her front feet on the bed rail raising her leg up and over into the bed to hit my arm with her paw. Guess it was time to get up right now and she wanted me to know it. She still loves to dance and prance away as if it is just a game. She does not come into the house unless I walk out to the patio and then she runs right in. She rarely needs coaxing but sometimes she is in such a playful mood she dances all over the yard teasing me. I just tell her to "knock it off " it is time to come in and she does.
We have not had any snow except the blizzard the week before Christmas and that was rain, sleet, and very wet snow. So the yard has been frozen tundra and now mostly solid ice where the dogs travel. No fun there and certainly we have not had issues with iced toes/coats. Just got all the ice chipped off the patio just in time for the next one expected sometime this week. OH BOY!
So overall Bridget continues to develop her trust in humans though some of the puppy mill behavior (crouching, ducking, avoiding touch) will last a long time but it will eventually become less noticeable. She is very hard to get a good face profile as she moves away when the camera is out. I have added two new ones. Enjoy.
Thank you always to her sponsors and token givers. The gift of love is so appreciated for these special pups that make their way into our care and home. Bridget hopes someone will think she would make a great companion with a little more work and patience. No commitment just come meet this cutie and see what you think.

 Bridget has had a great week. We have started in earnest working on getting in and out of the yard gate. In the past she has avoided at all costs leaving the yard for walks. I know that she feels safe in my yard with its privacy fence but it is now important to expose her regularly to the activities outside her comfort zone. Bridget walks amazingly well with her flat collar (slip/martingale collar). Although, you would think someone had used a glue stick to put her shoulder next to my leg. She no longer walks two steps behind but right along side me. Bridget's routine in the past was to play the "I sit" and will not move game so as not to move toward the gate. No amount of coaxing would get her to get up and move forward (even with a resident dog) but but she would move if I continued to walk around the yard with her on a lead as long as we stayed in the yard. The minute I moved toward the gate the butt would plunk right down . Check and checkmate.

As we walk the neighborhood she is in constant surveillance of her surroundings and her head constantly moves side to side watching everything. She does startle with loud delivery trucks and cars plus being very nervous with anyone she sees close by. As we progressed through the week it only took 4 days to leave the yard with no sit down games so I also added the newest challenge of just getting in the car (just sitting in the back with her) as car riding really makes her uncomfortable and she trembles all the time. Bridget is not treat motivated so this makes it more challenging to move forward but anticipating the end result of seeing her progress and just being happy is really the what puts a smile on your face.
Now, for the not so great issues. Bridget's potty training is still a work in progress. She knows the patio door routine but does not cue me on when she wants to go out. If I am not there to see her want to go out (she will go to the door)she will potty in the house(not often but it does happen). Free roam privileges only when I am home to see her or let her with the others out at minimum every 4 hours is the rule. On the plus side Bridget goes from 10pm to 7am without accidents. Bridget will not eat unless you set it down and walk away. This is not an issue as I don't wait to see them finish their food anyway. Bridget is testing/tasting her way through her environment (normal puppy behavior she did not experience)so the stuffed dog pad will soon be gone as I finish make a new one out of an old mattress cover (the old one was a old bed comforter/spread). Bridget does not get excited to go for walks so she is hesitate to be leashed but will allow me to do this. Once leashed it is no big deal and she readily follows along. I hope once she sees (consistently) she is not hurt, that the leash and walks are exciting to look forward to, she will be excited as any dog to go outside and see the world.
As you see Bridget has been with me several months and she still has a ways to go. All of the girls from this particular rescue have had a variety of issues to overcome. Their debut into our world will be ongoing for a long time. If you think and compare the exposure/handling we typically give new puppies this group missed so much in those formative years of development. But, we move forward (some days a little backward) because the past is where it should be, and only those of us who rescue and foster them know the best is yet to come.
My first token from Betty 12-101. My sister mate from the rescue "THANK YOU" you make me smile inside and out.

Bridget had her first bath on a very warm day this week.  I can't say she was having a great time but did as well as I expected given her dislike for the garden hose.  Bridget really has not made any real milestones recently in her puppy mill behavior.  I don't find this unusual as it takes months and sometimes years for them to relax and just be a dog.  I did discover she has some storm anxiety.  With the drought here in SE IA we did not have the usual summer (loud) storms until recently.  They came during the night and Bridget would pace, pant, and did pee on the floor.  My pack could care less about storms so hopefully she will take cues from them.  I bought a thundershirt and fosterhelp suggested melatonin when the next big storm rolls in. 

Bridget will also have her last appointment for her leg next week and hopefull with their release become available for adoption.  Please remember this criteria:  no children under 10 years, must have a physical fence, needs an adult dog in the home.  Bridget loves to engage in play so fostermom is looking for an adult dog that loves to romp, play, and engage in doggie fun. 

Bridget returned at the beginning of the month to review her progress with the leg. The films continue to show healing but the bridging of the fracture had not occurred yet. We will continue the antibiotic for another month as well as the heart med. Her heart rhythm strip showed not abnormal beats. Next month we will do it all over again but hope this time to taper off the heart medication. Her activity has been liberated but only a smidgeon. I am probable more liberal than they want but very protective in the amount I do allow. Bridget bears 100% weight on her leg except if she is caught loping and then I slow her down. She has been without the trailing leash for some time but needs a leader to show her it is ok to come back into the house. Most of the time I just have to walk back outside and say "come on" time to go in. She will come to the door and look at me (some times I turn my back) and if I peek she is looking at me as if to say "is it ok for me to come in?). Both of the PM girls do no eat unless I leave the room which is typical. Unlike my three who obviously need little encouragement to dig in.

Bridget has shown remarkable improvement in the past couple of weeks. She is happy. Her mouth is open and she has the golden smile. It is hard to explain how you know they are changing but it is no different than a human who exhibits depression, fear, anxiety, or abusive neglect in some way or another. You see them become less fearful, more trusting, engaging other dogs/people/environment, and especially seeking to be out of their comfort zone/corner to learn about everything around them. That is what I have seem in Bridget. She has discovered chew items and balls but not to the extent of my gang but it is emerging. She PLAYS. Finnegan my mini-goldendoodle who just turned 1 year interacts with her and brings out the puppy play. And she can play just like a puppy. He may only weigh 18 lbs but he plays with the big dogs like he is one of them. It is great to just sit on the sofa and watch the interaction take place but to also see Bridget initiate the interaction. Finney never says no to play time with the girls. He is such a flirt they have a hard time resisting when he is ready to romp.

The biggest and best part of her becoming comfortable is we sleep from 10 pm to at least 0630 am now. No more getting up in the middle of the night when I hear her collar jingling. Bridget also has not had an accident in more than a week. I was surprised one morning sipping my coffee checking e-mails to hear her bark. They had all been out, down their duty, and eaten breakfast so why was she barking? I thought I would just continue but this little voice said "check it out" "she might want to go outside again". So out we went again so she could poop. Now some would say "what's the big deal" but for Bridget that was the little light bulb above her head signaling she was learning that outside is where we do our business. Spending years in a cage where you eat, sleep, and do your business makes potty training PM dogs a slow process and lots of forgiving patience. So Foster mom is very, very, happy to hear Bridget bark for potty breaks. Foster mom smiles a lot these days as I see my pretty girl emerging from her former shell of a golden. So move over world because Bridget's cocoon is cracking and a beautiful butterfly is ready to show the world what a survivor she is becoming.

Enjoy the pictures of my beautiful butterfly. Thank you sponsors and token senders for you make all our lives so much better and our goldens a chance to heal with your generosity.

Bridget how has her dressing off and bearing 80% of her weight.  We have had some concerns for occasional temp elevations but so far she remains fever free at home.  Her elevations have always been at the clinic visits and we really suspect it is her anxiety getting to and while at the visits that may be the cause.  None the less we are very diligent about daily monitoring.  Her incisions are healing well and I never see her bothering them though at night when I am asleep anything is possible.  She does all her daily duties and eats well.  We will be maintaining her weight at a mid 40 lb range and her last weight was 45 lbs.  Though she could use about 5-8 lbs that will come later when her leg has healed adequately.  
 
Bridget's personality remains timid but she is very comfortable with the pack and maintains her activity restrictions without trying to jump or play.  She allows rubs and pets but is not reciprocal in giving love back yet.  In the morning when we are up to eat and do bathroom breaks she is up with the rest and I actually saw a tail wag this morning.  She tries to come close like the rest of the pack for morning affection but is just not feeling secure enough at this point.  Bridget does not like the kennel I set up in the bedroom but my senior Katie is making use of it.  At this point I don't feel it is necessary for kennel/crate training until she feels more secure plus after spending her life in a cage that is not my priority and obviously not hers.  Hopefully seeing the other pack members use it with freedom she will see it is not the old life repeating itself.
 
Potty training is definitely an issue but having the medical issues she has had so early we will just continue to work on it.  I will enjoy watching her when she is less restricted become and develop that Golden personality feeling happy and free to be who she is meant to be.  As silly as it sounds I know many of the RAGOM foster parents feel that same way that it is hard to put into words when you see them become loved, secure, happy dogs.  Finding that perfect family is really icing on the cake.  Not missing a step is having sponsors supporting us all the way and volunteers who do anything and everything reminding us even on bad days our vision is strong.  
 
Enjoy the pics.  It is very hard to get Bridget to always look at the camera but not untypical of this shy girl.