Mia Staffie x DofB 2021 Herne Hill

[xxlynne]

Current Status: Homed

Mia's Story: Mia came into Rescue due to welfare needs. Rescue Remedies offered a Rescue place saving her life. Mia is now neutered, chipped, and fully vaccinated. Mia came in to our Rescue Centre nr Gatwick whilst awaiting her new family.

If you are interested in rehoming one of our dogs, the first step is to complete and submit our ONLINE HOMING QUESTIONNAIRE. We do not discuss dogs without a homing questionnaire submission. You must be ready and we will only contact you if we have a suitable dog. For more detailed information, please see our Homing Process.

Please support our work and help our long stay dogs: Our minimum Adoption Donation is £250 (£400 for pup under 1 yr old). This supports our continuing rescue work and is non-refundable. We exist solely due to the goodwill and donations of our supporters and volunteers. Our dogs need supportive families who will offer them patience, time and tolerance whilst they settle in their new homes. Our Rescue offers all our dogs back-up for life.

Please note: Dog laws have changed, with zero public tolerance and prejudice against bull breeds and terriers in particular. Our Rescue asks new owners to keep their dog on a lead in public spaces and manage and support its encounters with new dogs and people, so as not to place the dog's life at risk. Destruction and Control Orders are commonplace nowadays.

Mia's progress through our Rescue is below.
We work with our dogs, who often reveal an evolving picture and positive skills as they build trust.

Original referral information: 31.12.23 Please can you help this lovely girl in the New Year Lynne?

Mia came into RescueRemedies in January 24

[Chrissy M]

What a cutie !

[geoffcase]

I walked Mia yesterday. What a lovely girl, a little unsure and insecure at the moment. I took my time over the introduction, sausage helped, and gently she relaxed and after some petting I clipped the leads on. We went for a long walk, slowly at first, then at a better pace. Slack leads throughout, non-reactive to whoever/whatever we met, and very easy and pleasant walk. However, when we got back to the kennels and passed the walkers signing in area, Mia took exception to either Diane, or Georgie the cat, the only time she made a noise!!!
Lovely, gentle girl who needs some TLC.

[geoffcase]

Mia and I had another session today. I can’t say it was a ‘proper’ walk, but it was quality time. Mia was happy for me to offer her treats and pet her, but not so keen on having the leads attached. Once out, she slowly went down the lane, but then kept getting in front of me and sitting down, expecting a cuddle. On the fourth occasion she rolled on her back and said ‘tickle my tummy’. I decided Mia didn’t really want a walk, but wanted some cuddle time. We went to the bench in the drive and had 30 minutes of watching the world go by and having cuddles.
This girl needs a family who have the time to give her the attention she deserves.

[HelenR]

Mia is such a sweetie, but very nervous at present and distrustful of new people. When I initially approached her kennel she barked to let me know she didn't know or trust me, so I crouched down side on, no direct eye contact and talked to her reassuringly with the odd bit of sausage bribery (!) Soon she sat down and looked at me expectantly wanting more treats so I ventured in, at which she retreated towards her bedroom and barked at me again, seemingly all trust gone. I repeated the process and she again softened and came up to sniff me and check me out. At one point she felt brave enough to put her paws on my knees. She didn't trust me enough to attach the leads, so I asked the staff to get her out for me (and they put her back later too).
Once out she was a lovely walk i.e. not pulling, but didn't actually do her business (I presume as not quite relaxed enough - or maybe she had gone before I took her out?) and she was quite jumpy and skittish at times when she heard the wind rustling branches or twigs snapping as we walked. A couple of times when I spoke to her she jumped up for some fuss, but at one point her leads got tangled and she was on her guard and flinching when I went near her back to sort the leads out, so I had to do it gently and carefully to avoid scaring her.
She didn't react to dogs at all, although when we were out she was at one point a bit concerned by a couple of RR dogs quite a way behind us so we just turned off and took a different route so she could focus on her own walk.
Such a lovely dog. She really wants to love you but whatever has happened to her in her past has influenced how she views humans at present. With time she will see we aren't all bad!

[xxlynne]

When we get pictures you will see her beautiful self. Beauty in soul also

[anne]

Mia is a little sweetie. She is shy at first with people she doesn't know but time and patience is all you need to win her friendship. I have walked her twice now and the second time she was much more relaxed. In fact we had a lovely long walk yesterday and cuddles too. She is a very pretty girl with a affectionate nature.

[HelenR]

Walked the lovely Mia for the 2nd time today. She wasn't keen on me entering her kennel again - barky and growling so I didn't try it as she would have been more stressed out. I just gave her some treats from outside while her favourite person Keira harnessed her up and put leads on.
She was a little more relaxed on the walk in that she was more sniffy and wasn't jumpy, but she didn't go to the toilet at all and on the way back was pulling a bit anxiously. On the way out though she walked on loose leads and every so often sniffed the leads or my trousers as if she was reassuring herself I was still there - so sweet!

[HelenR]

3rd walk with Mia yesterday, but she was still too nervous of me to put her harness and leads on and remove them at the end of the walk so I distracted her with sausage while the staff did it for me.
Mia was more relaxed and sniffy on the walk than before, although she didn't go to the toilet, and for most of the walk she was on slack leads. As we got closer to the kennels though, she pulled anxiously most of the way.
I wondered if she might like a bit of chill out time before heading back to her kennel and she did indeed, jumping straight onto one of the chairs when we got close! She really enjoyed sitting up sniffing the air, watching the cats in their pens, watching people and dogs move around the site. When we set off again she jumped up me for fuss.
She seems happy to be stroked on the head and under the chin, but she is very submissive and cowers and lowers her tail if you touch her lower back area, poor thing - hence it's better to let the staff put her leads on until she trusts you well enough.

[RosC]

I had a lovely walk with Mia today. Although she welcomes me in her kennel she doesn't want me to put her harness on so Anna got her ready to go. It was lovely to see her so excited and waggy tailed with someone she knows well. We set off and had a nice walk including a wonderful cuddle on the swing seat
She was a little less sure once back in her kennel but allowed me to take off the harness and then leave her with a treat. Gorgeous girl who is growing in confidence.