DallasAmy's reading for Dallas

(Andrea's comments in black, Amy's in red.)

I wanted to share Dallas' reading (she was one that "shouted out" to Andrea). Truly, truly amazing….. 

Like I said before, some dogs just call out to me to talk to them. Dallas is one of them. 
She was purchased at a pet store by a Mexican/Hispanic couple who lived in an apartment, and then were eager to get rid of her, the typical stupid reason of "she got too big" She is as disgusted with that excuse as I am and makes the comment of "I'm a Great Dane people, not a Chihuahua. What did you think you were getting?" 

They didn't treat her badly when she was small, but as she grew and became too much trouble, the treatment got worse. Locked in rooms alone when people came over. New people, new men = being alone and unloved. Every time she met someone new, life just got worse. New people at the puppy store, new people in the house, new people keep taking her away and she is certain she doesn't belong. 
You need to tell her the stories of the dogs in your home before her, how it is forever and no one is taking her away, ever. 

She likes her collar, thinks you have style and she herself is a fashion diva. I think she'd let you put clothes on her. She knows she is pretty, but is not vain about it. She carries her inner self like a princess or Audrey Hepburn. She his happy with you when she allows herself to believe that she's not going away again. Tell her that she will always have room there with you. 

I see her jumping with those long legs and playing with a rope toy attached to a football. She'd like it if you showed her off while walking or at dog related events. She believes herself to be a great example of a good dog. She's only slightly unsure of herself, being with you has really bolstered her confidence; she's trying to be like you. She really looks up to you. 

You often hear of being meant to be with someone, and that is Dallas and you. 
I feel an underlying worry about smaller dogs with her, because of the whole early life experience, but when she sees how you are with them she'll change her worrying ways. 

She shows me groaning and sighing with happiness when she's on her back and having her chest rubbed, and resting her head in your lap. I think she'd be good around kids. 
She's showing me a green stuffie froggy toy too. Has long arms and legs and she likes it. She knows you love her already, just is a little insecure about getting to stay. 
 
The impression I got about the food was that the people figured they could keep her smaller if they didn't feed her enough. I couldn't tell from the photo that she was so thin. Please tell her you love how large she is and that being big is what Danes do best. 
 
I was thinking about Dallas as I was running this morning (against my will, I'm in the Navy and we exercise for 2 hours every morning) anyway, I was thinking about her and her flinching and food, and I got the image of her being so hungry that she tried to steal a hot dog from the man's hand, and he clocked her good for her efforts. All it takes is one smack when they're babies to wreck them. Just keep loving her and giving her the good stuff, maybe even her own hot dog to show her she's not going to be hit ever again. 
 
Kicking myself again for not following what I was reading about her and food. Her problem with food, to my view, was with the whole "the less we feed her the smaller she'll be" idiotic idea the previous people had. You may have to feed her one piece at a time or get one of those bowls that make it so they have to eat slower (it's got pegs in it to eat around) Make sure she doesn't have one of those collapsing esophagus things where the dog has to stand up to eat.
 

She is eating too quickly, and the food is soooo much better than the Ol' Roy and scraps she was given before. Reassure her that the bigger she is the happier you'll be. Call her your "Big Good Girl" and talk out loud about how awesome it is to have a dog as big as she is, and you can't wait to see her get bigger and fill out. Real girls have curves! Put a bit of yogurt in the food, the good bacteria could help out the digestive process. I'd check with the vet on it too. It's been my personal experience that when they're pooping and barfing, its vet time. 
I relayed the message of thanks to her, and told her to keep up the good work, and to keep the food in her tummy. There will always be more where that came from.

Contact Andrea

Andrea Newborg
andrea@andreatalkstoanimals.com