Peanut (Kristin 07-261)

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Sponsored by: Greg and Stephanie Zurek

 

 

Meet Peanut, a petite Missouri transplant that came to Minnesota in search of a safe, secure, loving home; however, it has not been an easy transition for her.  Peanut is not yet comfortable around people, probably because this is her first real contact with people.  When she arrived at our house, she found a safe spot behind an easy chair and that is where she stayed for weeks, except at night when we could hear her walking around.  The past week, however, she has finally started to venture away from that spot when we are home and explore the rest of the house.  She is beginning to eat when we are near her; a positive sign that she is becoming more comfortable with our presence.  She will not let us too near her unless we approach on the floor moving slowly and quietly to her.  We can get close, but there is typically a point where she withdraws back into the corner.  Peanut needs time to build on the trust that this is a safe place and nobody is going to hurt her.  She also needs to learn so much that sometimes I think she is overwhelmed by the prospects.  Yet, she is a plunky, adorable little Golden and I am certain that one day this summer she will be able to take a walk to the lake and go swimming with Zoom.

Thank you so much to Peanut's generous sponsors, Greg and Stephanie Zurek!!  Stay tuned for more next week.

At a Glance #07-261

Golden Retriever Born: April 2006
Female Weight not specified

Status: Adopted

Profile

Sponsored by: Greg and Stephanie Zurek

 

 

Meet Peanut, a petite Missouri transplant that came to Minnesota in search of a safe, secure, loving home; however, it has not been an easy transition for her.  Peanut is not yet comfortable around people, probably because this is her first real contact with people.  When she arrived at our house, she found a safe spot behind an easy chair and that is where she stayed for weeks, except at night when we could hear her walking around.  The past week, however, she has finally started to venture away from that spot when we are home and explore the rest of the house.  She is beginning to eat when we are near her; a positive sign that she is becoming more comfortable with our presence.  She will not let us too near her unless we approach on the floor moving slowly and quietly to her.  We can get close, but there is typically a point where she withdraws back into the corner.  Peanut needs time to build on the trust that this is a safe place and nobody is going to hurt her.  She also needs to learn so much that sometimes I think she is overwhelmed by the prospects.  Yet, she is a plunky, adorable little Golden and I am certain that one day this summer she will be able to take a walk to the lake and go swimming with Zoom.

Thank you so much to Peanut's generous sponsors, Greg and Stephanie Zurek!!  Stay tuned for more next week.

Updates

Sunday, August 31, 2008

It is the stories and pictures from our adopters that encourage us to continue to help more and more dogs. Kristin/Peanut was a unique and very challenging girl. She was so scared in her first foster home that if they approached, she'd fear snap at them. They tried everything, but were not able to attach a leash or get her outside for 12 weeks. We finally had to have Wildlife Rehab come over and tranquilize her so we could get a chain link leash on her (that she couldn't chew through) and move her to my house (where she was leashed for months). The absolutely perfect couple adopted her and it's been a year since she was rescued from the puppy mill. And look at her now, such a happy girl having so much fun.

From Peanut's forever family:

One year ago today, we adopted Peanut. Progress has been slow and steady.

The goal for this summer was for her to swim in the river and love it and she has done that. Last year and early this spring and summer she was so afraid of the water. One day she forgot herself and chased Romeo into the water. She ended up over her head and started swimming. Now it is difficult to get her out of the water.

She is one happy little girl and while new situations still scare her and she remains a bit "skitterish" she smiles all the time, loves playing with kids and dogs and loves to snuggle up and loves to be brushed and told she is beautiful!

THANK YOU AGAIN RAGOM.

God Bless, Jan and Pete

 This is Peanut's front yard and she finally loves it.
She has taken Sunni's place as number one stick retriever but I don't think Sunni minds as long as she can get in the cool water.


Peanut barking "Please throw" 

 
Peanut retrieving, Sunni patiently watching

 
Haven't given up on the long leash yet, hopefully someday

 
Peanut retrieving

 
Peanut swimming for it

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Peanut is making extraordinarily quick progress.  She got to go outside today on a 30 foot material lead (with chain-link leash and martingale attached -- I'm still not willing to take a chance of her getting loose), but she was able to run around free (so to speak).  She loves being around my dogs.  As long as there is another dog near her, she's happy.  Her tail was even up and out from between her legs, as you can see from the photo below.  At one point she laid down and relaxed in the shade of the tree so I could snap a picture of her.  And, she followed my dogs back into the house.  She's really starting to get the routine here.  I am letting her out of her kennel in the house with the leash on so she can walk around and explore.  So far, she has found a Nylabone to chew on and some stuffed toys to play with.  I hand fed her this morning and will continue to do so for the next few weeks.  I want her to learn that when I'm around, it's a good thing for her.
It's too early to talk about her meeting prospective adoptive homes.  But when she does, she will absolutely have to have at least one other dog (and two or three would make her even happier) in her home.  She must also have a physical fence.  She is totally submissive to all of my dogs.  Spirit got irritated with her this morning and grabbed her nose to tell her to back off (like a mom dog does to puppies), and Peanut didn't argue at all.  She is just sweet, sweet, sweet and we are enjoying having her visiting with us.  She's going to be one of those success stories that make you grin from ear to ear as you see her come out of her shell and learn to live the Golden life.

 

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Peanut (aka Kristin) is making slow progress in becoming comfortable with people, and she accomplished some “firsts” this week.  She came into the living when Zoom was there and laid down near her.  This was a first because Gail was in the same room only a few feet away.  Peanut even closed her eyes and appeared to take a nap for a few minutes.  We were delighted!  We also learned that she will follow Zoom wherever Zoom goes.  If Zoom decides to hang out under the bed, Peanut will follow her into the bedroom.  She won’t stay long, just long enough to see where Zoom is and what she is doing.  Although she walks freely from room to room, she is always on guard and is vigilant about our whereabouts.  She looks around as if to determine the quickest escape route, and we have learned to provide that for her.  We also noticed that Peanut is starting to sleep in her kennel.  There is a soft blanket for her in there, and we think she has decided that the floor is just a bit too hard.  The only thing that hasn’t changed is that we are not at the point where we can get a lead on her and give her some badly needed outdoor time.

Peanut is such an adorable looking little one that we feel badly that she can’t muster enough courage to interact with us and Zoom and enjoy the outdoors.  That will come in time, and time is on her side.   But, progress is progress and we are thankful for any improvement.

We (Steve, Gail, and Zoom) wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to Greg and Stephanie Zurek for their generosity and support for little Peanut.  We hope that someday Peanut will be able to walk over to you without any hesitation and give you two a big lick to show her appreciation.