I really shouldn't read this site
I just want to scoop up so many of the dogs and make their lives filled with love and fun.What on earth could have happened to poor little Souris to make her such a terrified dog
If there is a vey special person on here, who loves Cockerpoos and could work for what will be a very long time with this young girl, then please contact Many Tears. Souris really needs you.Here's her details. She's right down the bottom of the list at the end of the page to see her picture.
'SOURIS - ID 2426
PLEASE READ ALL OF SOURIS WRITE UP BEFORE YOU APPLY. SHE IS A VERY TRAMATISED DOG AND YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF ALL HER NEEDS.
BEING FOSTERED IN BEXLEYHEATH, KENT
29-04-10 Souris is a very pretty dear little 16 month old cockerpoo who was unsold by her breeder. Souris means mouse in French and she really is a little dear. Souris is very scared and will snap with fear. She hasn't been exposed to the outside world at all and finds new situations hard and needs lots of TLC to help her overcome her fears successfully. She is very young so in the right home with the right help she should learn to forget her fears. Souris would be best in an older family as young children would probably scare her and another calm and gentle dog would also help her. She really needs a special and understanding home where someone who can give her all she needs.
08-04-10 UPDATE
Souris is really a very scared little dog. She is in a foster home where she is very slowly learning to trust people and all about living in the outside world. We are not taking applications for her until she is ready and brave enough to move to a forever home and this home will have to be prepared to continue with the work her wonderful foster home is currently doing with her. You will need patience, time and if course love.
From Souris' Fosterer
It’s hard to believe such sadness lies behind such a beautiful young face - Souris has lost most, if not all, of her confidence in human-kind. She is currently putting all her trust in other dogs and wants very little to do with us – though there are occasional glimmers of small steps in the right direction. Souris should be considered a long term project and will need someone who has possibly experienced this kind of trauma (as well as having another kind, gentle dog) to help her blossom when she is ready.
14-05-10 UPDATE
SourIs protects her treasures passionately at the moment so we are respecting her space and avoiding unnecessary confrontation. With the correct handling, she has stopped trying to chase us out of the room and is improving on the barks and growls when we enter it. Her continuous trembling seems to have stopped and when she has the security of another dog next to her, we have (on a couple of occasions) managed short snippets of strokes but it is very much a case of reading her body language and expression to know when enough is enough! Boundaries will need to be 150% escape-proof as she spent most of the first day and-a-half testing them and I have no doubt that even now, given the opportunity, she would flee.
25-05-10 UPDATE
Souris is making good but slow progress. She'll finally allow me to comfortably stroke her although this is only when she has the security of a pal & a bed. I'm having to take a back seat to allow other members of the family to catch up but my husband is clicker training her which appears to be helping no end. She has absolutely no inclination of walking on the lead and became too distressed so we won't be trying again for some time. Although she is still very vocal, judging by her progress in other areas, she'll slowly overcome this also.
07-06-10 UPDATE
Souris continues to make good but slow progress. After nearly 8 weeks she now happily joins me on the sofa for a snuggle and I can 90% of the time stroke her without bolting. Although at the moment my children don't have the same trust bond, I am 100% that she won't bite - although they are respectful children and never push Souris or make her feel threatened or fearful. Souris is still fairly vocal when it comes to my husband but is making progress. She still has no interest in lead walking - although this isn't an issue we've pushed at all. Although she still guards a few resources (towards other dogs and not humans) handled correctly she has the potential to improve.
We are now making Souris available for adoption. However, you must be fully aware of just how frightened she is and ensure that you are able to continue the work her foster home has started. She is far from a ready made dog and you will have to put in a lot of effort. She has not yet ventured into the outside world and walking on a lead is nowhere near possible. So if you are looking for a dog to enjoy walks Souris is a long way off from doing that. SOURIS WILL NEED ANY DOGS SHE LIVE WITH TO BE CALM, GENTLE, LAID BACK AND RESPECTFUL. SHE WILL TRY TO ESCAPE SO YOUR GARDEN MUST BE 150% SECURE. We hope someone who has dealt with a dog like Souris before will come forward.'
) my next mission is to give a dog a home ...... I'm almost certain it will be a Staffy, after that shocking panorama on Monday! 
