Life Lessons from Lola the Boston Terrier

Lola was an unexpected gift.  Our family had been considering adding a new dog to our home for several months but hadn’t been actively looking for anything in particular.  While out walking my pug Quest one afternoon, a neighbor mentioned that there was a small dog at the animal shelter we might want to consider.  I called immediately to get more information.

Lola was almost two, a black and white Boston Terrier with three black feet and one white one.  She was very alert, active and healthy. The previous owners had turned her in because they were expecting a baby and didn’t want a dog (sounds crazy, I know!)  After taking my kids to the shelter to meet her and making sure she got along with Quest, we made the decision to adopt Lola.

Adopting a new pet is always a gamble.  You never know what to expect, especially from an adult dog who may or may not have had good training or been socialized well.  Often times these dogs need a period of adjustment to recover from anxiety and other problems associated with being uprooted from their previous situation.  Lola was no exception.

Everyone Needs Time and Understanding

All adopted dogs must be neutered or spayed before they can be released from the animal shelter, so Lola had to undergo the procedure the following day.  When I picked Lola up from the vet’s office the next afternoon, she was very sleepy and nervous which was to be expected.  We arrived at home and spent the entire afternoon and evening resting on the couch along with Quest. It was a rough day for her.

When she finally started to perk up, Lola was very frightened by new people – especially men.  She would have nothing to do with my husband and would hide under furniture whenever new people entered the house.  She also refused to eat.  She spent a lot of time on my lap shaking nervously and watching everything very closely.  If I got up to go anywhere, she followed.  She was never more than two feet away.  But that was ok.  We knew it would take some time for her to understand that this was her new home and that we were her new family.

Embrace Change

Lola overcame her fears a little at a time.  She started by exploring her surroundings with me in the room.  Then one day she ventured into another room by herself until eventually she was not afraid to go to her food bowl and enjoy a snack on her own.  With each new experience, Lola gained confidence and trust in us and in herself until the nervous little dog we brought home blossomed into part of the family.  It reminded me of how we often react to new circumstances.  We can either shy away and miss out on some great new adventures, or we can embrace the change and grow.  Lola chose to embrace the change.

Make Lots of Friends

When Lola recovered from her surgical procedure, I began taking her on my one mile walks every morning.  The first few days she stayed right by side and nearly jumped out of her skin when other dogs would bark at her.  I noticed as each day passed that Lola would start to get a little closer to the other dogs until eventually she would be nose to nose with them through the fence.  As she did this, her entire hind end would wag with happiness at making a new friend.  Now when we walk, she looks excitedly for her friends and relishes the chance to interact with them as we pass by.  If they are not outside, she always looks a bit disappointed and often glances back two or three times in case we just missed them on the first pass.  Kind of reminds me of checking Facebook 10 times a day to make sure I don’t miss anything.   :D

Once Lola started to break out of her shell, I set up a play date for her and Quest with our neighbor’s pug Chauncey.  Quest and Chauncey are buddies and I was certain Lola would get along with Chauncey as well.  She was already communicating with him through the fence and I knew she was interested in having a rough-and-tumble time with another dog her age.  At nearly 15 years old, Quest has no interest in chasing or playing so Chauncey would be a good match for her.  Lola was so excited to have another dog to play with that she ran around in crazy circles for several minutes with Chauncey joining in the chase behind her.

Lola’s interest in making friends reminds me so much of our own need for friends and play dates.  We schedule everything else in our lives, why not schedule some fun?

Ignore the Bully

There is one dog on our morning walk, however, that Lola has yet to befriend.  It’s a small Jack Russell terrier that barks obsessively at us when we pass by. From day one, Lola has very cautiously walked past this dog, never once taking her eyes off of him as he barked and snarled at her.  Lately, Lola has been a little braver and started ignoring the dog whenever he starts into his barking routine.

Today, however, Lola stood her ground.  We rounded the fence just as the Jack Russell came bounding down the porch steps and up to the fence to tell us off.  Lola took about two steps toward him and barked very softly (only the third time I’ve ever heard her bark in the 3 weeks since she arrived home).  The Jack Russell stopped barking, cocked his head to the side as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard and stared at us as we continued on our way.  I don’t speak dog, so I have no idea what Lola said to him but I’m guessing she finally spoke up and told him she’s not afraid of the neighborhood bully.  I got the message.  Don’t mess with Lola.

Love Often, Love Lots

If there’s one thing Lola knows best, it’s how to love.  She is never at a loss for affection.  We don’t even have to ask for it or call her over to sit with us. She is always ready to give it to us whether we are expecting it or not.  Regardless of her previous circumstance and how she ended up in our home, she has quickly adapted to her new life and loves to express her happiness.  She will even pause in the middle of a game of fetch to sneak in a nose nuzzle or a little kiss on the knee as if to say “thanks for playing with me”.  At night she likes to snuggle on the couch with us or curl up on our feet as we sleep.  She’s made herself at home now.

We people have so much to learn.