Meet the Frightened Rabbit (a.k.a. Finally a picture post)

[raincitygirl]

Looking handsome.

And in his natural habitat.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Please excuse the mess. I was not expecting company when FR decided to be all photogenic, or I would've tidied up.

Comments

[morwen_peredhil]

Oh, poor scared little scrap of a thing! Actually being able to get photos would seem to be progress, though.

[raincitygirl]

He's definitely making progress. He's still scared of me, but he didn't run away *every* time I came anywhere near him iwth my phone, and he seems to be getting very fond of the maternal unit. Part of that may be the treats. She's giving him a treat every time he does something good, like sitting or heeling. He has a very cute trick where he sits up on his hind legs and begs. I couldn't get a photo, though.

He's very respectful with Young Miss Weaver, which is good. And when I gave them both treats, he didn't even think about snatching hers. And she probably would've put up with it, because she's afraid of dogs.

It's such a change from Christmas Day. Then he couldn't even go for a walk without having a nervous breakdown about the cars looking at him funny. Less than a week later he's trotting along the sidewalk on the end of the lead like an old hand. He was still scared about getting *in* the car to go home, but cars in general don't seem to be as scary to him now. Which is good, because the maternal unit got a new dog in no small part because she wanted the exercise. So if he'd stayed the way he was the first few days, there would have been a problem. I think he just needed a few days to acclimatize.

[twistedchick]

He's still very much getting used to things.

And, as you said elsewhere, he was in a shelter and watching *everyone else he knew go away*. That's a devastating emotional load for a dog or cat, to be the only one left.

That's how it was with Simba, when we got him -- his first family dumped him and several other cats at a shelter, and the others were all adopted (he wasn't because he didn't like to be picked up, and he was big.) He was horribly depressed. It took a long long time for him to trust that when we left, we'd return; that there *would* be food one day after the next; that when I opened a door for him to chase the mice in the unfinished room in the basement, I'd be coming in with him and not lock him in and leave him. (The look on his face as he decided to trust me on that was heartbreaking; I hope I never meet his first family.) It takes a while to earn trust; it's not instant. Quite likely, your mother's and your body language are different from that of the people he knew, and it's possible the spoken language was different also. It's a lot to learn. I'm glad he's adjusting. He will gradually get used to the idea that people return from going outside (that's a big one for a new pet). Extravagant greetings are normal.

[raincitygirl]

Poor Simba.

And yeah, FR is definitely still a work in progress, trust-wise.

[glamaphonic]

Awwww sweet little darling!

[raincitygirl]

He really is very sweet-natured, although he needs to learn how to stand up for himself. On Xmas Day I had him in my lap, and he didn't make a fuss, but after a while he started to tremble all over. So I put him down. So last night I didn't attempt to pick him up, just sort of hung out and tried to look non-threatening.

But I'm slightly amazed he doesn't have more behavioural problems. Chronic timidity is nothing compared with aggression, or chronic piddling or something. And he spent several months at the pound. His more cheerful siblings were quickly adopted, but he couldn't adjust to the new surroundings, so he just got more and more withdrawn. So the pound got a rescue org to take him to a foster home in hopes he'd perk up there and become more adoptable.

[wanderer]

He's adorable! So glad to hear that he's beginning to relax and settle in a bit.

[raincitygirl]

Yeah, I think he just needed a few days to process the changes. A new home and a new human is a lot to get used to, especially since he's been through a lot of changes and stress the past few months.

[ancarett]

Cute!!!!! I hope he's feeling more comfortable soon.

[raincitygirl]

I think it'll be a while before he's comfortable around us kids, but he's definitely already acting significantly more comfy around the maternal unit. And since she's the only one he's living with, she's the one who's important. He's actually adapting faster than I had expected. On Christmas Day I was reminding her that it would take a few weeks before she'd know for sure if he was The One, but by Thursday she was already in love. And she intends to put the cheque in the mail this weekend so they can make it official.