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Vinnie came to live with me in March 2002. We aren’t real sure of his back round, but we know that PMR rescued him in an auction and his age was guessed at around 5 – 7 years.
When they rescued him, he had mats as big as golf balls (I was told) and an ear that had been cleanly cut off.
His rescuer named him Vinnie after Van Gogh.
He was so afraid of people that me must have snapped at someone, because he was also labeled a fear biter. I’m sure he was badly abused because I couldn’t pick up a broom to sweep the floor with him in the house for a long time. By the time I adopted him, he was shaved (no way of salvaging that coat) and cleaned up. He was the most timid little dog I ever saw. For the first week, he hid behind my couch only coming out when everyone was in bed to take a few bites of food. After a week or so, he took a keen interest in Sebastian (my yorkie) and just stared at him and took everything he did in. Slowly, he started to follow him around. If I would try to approach, he would run upstairs full speed and hide in my bathtub.
After a couple months, he slowly started to approach me. I could never be the one to initiate it, but as long as he did and I didn’t move fast, I was allowed to pet him. Progress was slow, but after 6 months I was able to approach him and pet him and started to get him to go for walks as long as Sebastian came along. We went to obedience training with hopes of him gaining independence, but after one lesson, the trainer asked me to take Sebastian along to sit on the sidelines. That worked out, and he did graduated. He didn’t learn as much as the other dogs, but he did seem much more confident after that.
Now instead of running away when I come home, he is the first one at the door barking and waiting to be petted. First thing in the morning, he knows my routine. Alarm goes off, I hit the snooze. That is his cue to jump up beside me and get petted as much as possible before I get up and leave for work. He comes downstairs just so excited to be free every morning. You would have to see it to appreciate what I mean, but his whole rear end is wagging and he has a way of almost leaping like a rabbit around the house. By the time he has gone potty and I have his food ready, he is literally dancing for his breakfast. I’m not a morning person and don’t smile much before my coffee, but seeing him so happy I just can’t help it. I still get a thrill when he jumps up on my lap because he was so afraid of me for so long.
He has almost left the puppy mill completely behind him now. Loud noises still make him jump – even television sounds. And I have to be careful to not approach him from behind without calling him first so he knows I am there. Other than that, he enjoys all the same things my other kids do, especially going to the pet store and getting treats. I know his circle dance is sad because he learned it living in a small cage, but he is just so enthusiastic and happy that it makes me smile to see. He is the sweetest little boy you would want to meet. He does sometimes take my pant leg and try to keep me from leaving the house, but I’m sure that is not what “fear biter” meant. I just can’t imagine him ever biting anyone.
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