1 WEEK UPDATE FOR SKITTLES

I've had Skittles back with me for a week now.  He is such a sweet little dog!  He rides super well in the vehicle.  He is pretty quiet.  He will bark occasionally during play or at a knock at the door but doesn't bark at any other noises outside.  He is getting back to being really playful with me as he rebuilds his trust.  In the first couple of days he was a bit growly if I tried to move him when on the couch or on the bed but he now sees that I'm not afraid of him and that I will be gentle with him.  We have also been playing games that are building his confidence in being handled.  He's having fun and becoming less sensitive to the kind of touch you might use to move him or pick him up with.   After the first one or two days back with me, he stopped holding his ground over couch/bed space or with toys.  He is a smart little guy and if you give him some time he quickly understands that he can have toys and space but sometimes he needs to give them up and will get them back later. 

Here's a short clip of Skittles being playful with me.  I had just been making a humming noise that got him wound up...

He is cuddly but also enjoys his own space.  He will allow himself to be picked up and sometimes seems to enjoy being held but he hasn't fully given into it and prefers to be 4 on the floor.  He is friendly when meeting people although can be quite timid still.  He does not like people approaching him too fast and shows it by ducking and backing away.  If someone crouches and lets him greet on his own terms he is happy to meet them.  He needs his person to monitor his greetings and ensure strangers do not overpower him with affection before he is ready to accept it.  He will soon learn that most people are good, but in the meantime he is still shy or fearful at first.  He will warm up quicker to the person that doesn't try to make him love them. 

I have left him alone for a couple of hours a few times times now and he has been fine.  He does not chew inappropriate things in the house and has been completely housebroken.  He even sleeps in a bit without any demands to go outside right away.  He is friendly with other dogs.  If they get in his face too much he might back them up with an air snap, but when you're that little a rude/pushy sniff must feel pretty intimidating. 

All in all he is a super dog!  He is very easy to have around, walks well on the leash, and is cute with a little edge to his personality that makes him very entertaining.  I quite often catch myself smiling at his antics as he prances alongside me and turns his circles to catch his tail.  All he needs is someone to help continue to build his confidence, not spoil him, be gentle but firm with him....and they will be rewarded with a gem of a dog.