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Hurray – we have a dog!
The day has finally come – we packed the car with a blanket, harness and a leash and we went to collect Ludi. Foundation employees implanted her chip (which needs to be registered), gave us her health book and informed about her vaccinations (she was already complete). In addition to a large portion of good advice and warnings (that she must not be let out on the road because she can run away; that she cannot walk on a leash, that she can have a completely different character at home, etc.), we also received some feed for the first few days and ensuring that we can contact the foundation at any time should any problems arise. The Foundation also undertook to help in the event of a pooch’s disease or an expensive sterilization procedure (they have a friendly vet who offers discounts to adopters). Besides, we had to promise that we would send Luda’s photos in the future. And that’s it. From now on, we were her guardians.
When Ludi came to us, her name was slightly modified. First it was supposed to be Luda – a beautiful Russian name whose owners are said to be exceptionally outgoing, sympathetic and friendly. We love old Russian movies, so it has been known for a long time that our future doggie will be named after one of the movie heroes. Luda seemed the most beautiful to us. And you can create thousands of diminutives – Ludeczka, Ludunia, Ludka. From this diminutive, when the bitch was with us, Ludi finally came out and everyone liked this version the most.
Dog from the shelter – what are we signing up for?
The first days with Ludi were not the easiest ones. The little one had to learn how to clean (fortunately, she only pissed on hygienic pads), and above all, to be sure that no one would take her anywhere from this house. Due to the fact that the foundation is located literally in the middle of nowhere and the dogs have no contact with anything or anyone other than their guardians and possible adopters, Ludi was terribly afraid of everything related to the city – dogs from the shelter can behave in similar way. Children, cyclists, cars, trams, completely different sounds – all this terrified the little pooch. That is why we had to limit our first walks to the vicinity of our block, and anyway, each exit was associated with persuading Ludi to take the next step. The only thing she liked from the beginning was the elevator with a large mirror. Ludi loves to look at herself in every mirror.
In the beginning, everything was scary – not only for her, but also for us. For the first two days, Ludi did little peeing, so we panicked that she must be sick. She didn’t really want to eat either. And she got up at least a few times during the night (fortunately, she immediately liked her new lair). We were also troubled by the fear that the little girl showed every time she left the house (we even thought about asking the behaviorist for help, but fortunately the problem was gone). Ludi had to get used to us, and we had to get used to a completely new rhythm of the day. And also the fact that we do not always have to know everything and we do not have to do everything perfectly. It was then that for the first and last time thoughts appeared in our heads: “Mother, what have we done ?! We took the dog and now what ?! ”. You cannot prepare for everything. Ubiquitous online guides for young animal keepers will not inform you about everything. Besides, it is different to know something theoretically, and completely different to check it in practice. That is why we loyally warn you – the first days will be difficult. Maybe you won’t fall in love with your pet right away. Maybe you’ll get fed up with sleepless nights and constantly flooded floors. But relax, you will love this pooch for sure. And cleanliness, walking on a leash and sleeping all night long, your friend will learn faster than you think. In these times of crisis, it is worth contacting someone who has already gone through such a process – he will probably gladly console you that he, too, was fed up with everything and that these negative emotions right after adoption are also something normal.
Time-needed-changes
Indeed, after a few days of hourly walks, getting up at night and worrying about whether her health is okay, Ludi calmed down, emptied the entire bowl of food quickly and learned to be clean. With time, she also liked her new neighborhood – today she walks around the estate with a raised tail, and she eagerly accosts children, adults and other dogs herself, demanding tenderness or flavors. She also met her new friends, including a little bitch from the same foundation – they love to spend hours chasing around the lawn.
Since Ludi lives with us, our daily rhythm has changed – dogs require regularity, so walks and meals as well as play have become permanent elements of our lives. But Ludi’s presence does not limit us as we thought at the beginning. The little girl likes to come with us to the restaurant (she sits politely on her favorite pillow, which we always take with us) and loves to drive (and sits or lies politely strapped in the back). We also took her on one of our numerous trips – on the trails in the Stołowe Mountains she did better than we did, and she loved the owners and other guests of the guesthouse in Radków. Suddenly it turned out that in Poland there are many places where dogs are welcome.
The power of four paws changes our world!
We also did not think that Ludi would become a member of our family so soon. And one that we cannot imagine this family without. Her joyful dance, which she always shows us when we come home from work, is rewarding for everything. Even another torn newspaper or another unfolded and chewed roll of pouches. Only she knows when to approach and get petted, ensuring a salutary break when we work in front of the computer for another hour. In fact, it was only the first few days’ trip of one of us and a great longing for Ludi that made us feel this unique bond that connects us with her. Sometimes we also wonder how she would react to her brother or sister. Maybe we’ll check it in the future.
We realize more and more often that Ludi is a really good doggy and adopting from the foundation was a very good decision. Although the adoption process itself was a bit complicated, and driving a few hundred kilometers a few times, the choice of a good foundation turned out to be a bull’s eye. The vet we visited with Ludi admitted that she is well-groomed, has very good quality vaccinations, and the advice on sterilization that we were given proves the great responsibility of the bitch’s caretakers. The doggy has no behavior problems, he quickly acclimatized to his new place and although the process of early socialization was already behind him (Ludi was 5 months old when she came to us), she is eager to learn new things. Based on our own example, we can therefore safely say that choosing a good shelter or foundation is also of great importance for your future relationship with the pooch.
