Andy and I are fostering a Siberian Husky named Geronimo. We were gifted with him because a woman who had been Geronimo's human for 9 years, was caught on the horns of a life-dilemma. I had no time to ponder my decision--I just said 'yes' without thinking about it, as it seemed like what my heart was prompting.
Geronimo was presented to me as a service dog. He may have been a stalwart companion...but he's not a typical service dog. He doesn't know (or at least doesn't respond!) to his name. He knows no typical obedience commands. He doesn't even seem to know the usual words or signals that elicit joy in our dog friends: picking up his lead or putting on shoes that may mean 'walk'.
The first 2 weeks of his time with us, Geronimo was understandably skitterish and anxious. His appetite was poor. He didn't seem to know how to connect with humans. However, he is not human or dog aggressive and is clearly housebroken. He's in wonderful health, and very vigorous. He needs a lot of exercise, even at 9 years old.
Apparently, many of these traits are Husky traits: poor appetite, sturdy disposition, independence, intelligence, not prone to pleasing humans for no reason...
And, of course, he loves to get on the couch and the bed! He's beginning to give our hands light licks in the morning. He loves his walks--really comes to life while outside and he's beginning to bury bones and dig them up in the backyard. He's slowly coming to life.
I've never been around Huskys and don't understand them--and they are different than most domestic dogs. But I'm working on listening intently to Geronimo (G-dog or DamnDog as we're calling him). I've not had much time to talk to local people about finding him a home of people who understand and love Huskies, but I will be doing that.
NEW NOTE TO THIS POST: We think that G-dog is deaf or almost deaf. This could explain some of the odd things about him--like not knowing his name, etc. Somehow his deafness is endearing him even more.
G-dog is teaching important lessons:
- how to love-and-let-go-in-the-same-breath;
- listen with my heart to this being who has been traumatized and cannot tell us about it;
- how to be the top dogs in a pack structure that we don't understand.
It's really sweet to see him beginning to socialize with us, to allow us to love on him.
If any of you are Husky fans and can help us help him, OR if you would love to be the human for a very sweet Husky dog, let me know.
Meanwhile, we're connecting, loving it when we see him enlivened by being around children and teens, and our everyday life.
More lessons from G-dog to come, I'm sure!
Beth, VTH Host