Gotcha Day

Spoiler alert

Do not read on if you don’t want to jump months ahead into details of our story.

We’re taking a break for our usual programming to celebrate Diego’s Gotcha Day!!!! AKA one year ago today, I brought this fluffball home.

Let it be known that I did not think we would make it to this day, but I would like to call out a few of our stand out moments this past year.

Diego and Benny Play at the Farm

Brittany and I took things slow for months after a rocky start of Diego lunging at Benny on their first encounter. They met for short moments in the street with lots of treats. Then we went for walks together. I wore Diego around my waist on a leash, while Brittany held Benny’s, and we sat inside the kitchen together in our parents’ house on far ends of the table. After a lot of muzzle training, it was time.

We took them to the farm, neutral territory, and had a lot of meat to use as high incentive treats. We let them play together. I actually got to see Diego run around with another dog! The first time was messy with scary growls and a lot of rolling over the top of each other. We broke them up a couple times when it seemed too intense, but over time it’s improved. Diego still wears his muzzle, but it allows him to play more freely and for us to relax. He’s starting to learn more playful habits like when he paws Benny back to get him to start running around again. This weekend I dropped their leashes to take a picture and they just laid next to each other.

That’s what we call a miracle!

Diego’s First Swim

We trained hard together, but I didn’t think that we would get to the point where Benny, Diego, and my family were all on a pontoon ride. We had their lifejackets on—yes, I know dogs can swim. The jacket has a handle, should I need to pick Diego up out of the water.

It was a beautiful summer day, and I jumped off the pontoon for a dip. As I swirled to look back, Diego took flight into the air and splashed into the water darting towards me with his muzzle, looking like a little shark. He swam to me, and then it seemed as though once he realized that I could swim he scurried back and pawed at the bottom of the pontoon, wishing to return to his seat and dry off. It was a puppy rescue! He wanted to make sure I was okay.  Dad pulled him out of the water and he watched me swim for awhile, until he decided it was time for me to come in and barked for me to join him.  Diego can definitely swim, but I can’t say that he’s felt a desire to get wet again.

Diego Makes a Friend

My friend Morgan had inspired me to look into rescuing a dog. She saved this skinny little rescue, Tiger, and we got to watch her and Brandon bring him to be the healthy happy guy that he is today. I was so happy when she said yes to introducing Diego and Tiger. Happy and nervous! I was about to practice some lessons I had just gone through with a trainer.

I asked Morgan to sit in a park that was near her house. We would walk to her, rather than her coming to us. She let Diego sniff her (he was muzzled). I fed him a lot treats and we just talked and sat together. Diego had laid down and started to look away from her. That was a good sign. He was feeling at ease.

Then she went to get Tiger and bring him to the park, neutral territory. I asked her to start far away, and that if they seemed to stare intensely at each other to back away. I brought full on chicken breast for this procedure. I was not messing around.

I fed Diego piece by piece, as we slowly made strides towards each other. He sniffed the air, super curious about this new dog. Curious, not on edge. As we made our way closer, I was afraid that I would push him too far and lose our progress. I asked Morgan if we could walk around the park together at a distance.

They were doing well, but then a lady had two Frenchies running off leash throughout this children’s park! My dog off leash segment will be another time, but we were concerned that Diego would react and have a bad experience. We started making our way closer to Morgan’s house.

Diego continued to sniff towards Tiger, and we let them go near each other. I couldn’t breath! They placed their faces side by side and then…nothing! They were fine. They were great! They went in circles sniffing each other. Is this real? I was about to start tearing up. There’s hope!

We took them to her backyard and let them run off leash. I could not believe it. Thank you God! Diego made a friend that day, and later would return to play with Tiger and Benny as a group.

Thank you

On this day I want to thank God, my friends, and family who have supported us! It has not been an easy journey, and I appreciate you being by my side to help in any way that you can. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, and your forgiveness in our lower moments. This day—having him for one year—is a victory for all of us. Especially Diego. Thank you! I love you all.

– Megan