Whippet Mix: How Tia Was Transformed

by Marie Anne Nardini
(Milton Keynes, uk)

My name's Marie and I have 2 beautiful dogs, Shep a full pedrigree Border collie, and Tia a Collie-Whippet cross, I think.
Tia is a very special dog as for the frist 7 months of her life she was mistreated very badly. She was not let outside, had things thrown at her, way underfed and probably a lot of other things I don't know about or haven't worked out by her reactions.
My partner and I have had Tia for a couple of months after Mandi, a lovely lady, rescued her from this terrible home but then could no longer keep her as she has such a bad back.
When Mandi first got Tia, she was happy about leaving her old home behind but did not have a clue about right or wrong.
She would mess inside, wouldn't walk on the lead and was scared of everything.
Mandi did a brilliant job of housebreaking Tia, and used a crate. For 3 months Tia lived with a proper family.
Because Tia pulled so much on the lead, Mandi had to find her another home. This was heartbreaking for her and her children.
Mandi said she chose my advert from a site called Preloved because all I was looking for was another dog who needed a loving home as a companion for Shep.
As we do not have children, I have lots of love, kisses and cuddles to give. We met Tia on a Saturday and she hit it off with me and Shep first time.
Sunday we went back and brought her home and I have not regretted it!
She is a bit of a handful, but given her first home, I feel lucky to have such a caring dog. She is as affectionate as Shep, and they love nothing more than playing together.
I have taught Tia her left and right back and front paws, to look left and right at the road, to stop at the road, roll over, jump, dance, and also to talk. She does this at all hours!
Shep knows all of these tricks too so you can imagine the fun... and chaos! But I wouldn't change either of them for anyone!
Tia has really come out of her shell, jumping and playing. I am slowly training Tia to heel, and although she is very clever in learning harder tricks, heeling is the hardest thing to teach her.
She is still scared of things, some are silly like cups or cushions, or flies, but I think with all the love my partner and I can give her, she will become as settled as Shep is.
They are both more like humans than dogs, and they love nothing better than to cuddle up in bed.
I would like to ask that if people are looking for a new dog, to take in a rescued dog. They are a lot of hard work and need alot of patience, but everyone deserves a second chance. In the rescue centers they normally teach the dogs basic tricks.
I've gone for the hard way, but I've learned so much that I would even think of doing it again once I move to a bigger house :)