Mishka came to us from another rescue group in Alberta after his owners contacted them to surrender him late November, 2007. They had initially bought Mishka as a cute fluffy puppy for their children as a Christmas present. Of course once he was a few months old, he was too big and too energetic for the house, so they kenneled him outside and basically forgot about him. Once the barking and digging got too much, and he became too uncontrollable after no attention or training, they decided to surrender him. They asked their vet if there was a Samoyed Rescue group in the area, and we were contacted by the vet clinic.
Mishkas neck was shaved when he came to us due to the collar being matted into his coat, the groomer had done it just days before he arrived here with me in early December, 2007. He was only a year old when he came to us, and it was quite obvious he had been neglected in the areas of training and socialization. He fit well into my pack here as I fostered him for a few weeks, and he was a delightful, happy boy.
After a few weeks in our care, he was given the best Christmas present himself that year , his new forever home in Vancouver! We arranged transport with other dog folks travelling for the Holiday Season, and Mishka was off to a new life. He even went hiking in the mountains his first day there!
Since Mishka was in a pack environment here in Foster, we had no idea the extent of his separation anxiety. His new home was very concerned about his frantic behaviour whenever they left the house. The husband worked full time, and the wife stayed at home all day, so she was able to work with Mishka over several months. It was so bad that for the first year, they never left him alone , he was always in the car, or only one of them went out, and in a few cases, had someone "dog sit" him for the evening! These folks also arranged to surrender him back into Rescue, then, after lots of discussion, decided to keep working with him , they did love him that much.
They met with other local Reputable Samoyed breeders, highly referred dog trainers, and several other professionals and friends, to help Mishka gain confidence to be alone. All because he was so neglected as a puppy and young dog, through those critical developmental periods of pack (family) bonding.
One of the most wonderful things they found for him was an interactive Doggy Daycare, where he still goes a couple times a week, making LOTS of doggy friends, and being a typical fun-loving Sammy boy!! Mishka is reportedly doing really well today, and is maturing into a lovely dog that his owners truly love and adore!
Mishkas neck was shaved when he came to us due to the collar being matted into his coat, the groomer had done it just days before he arrived here with me in early December, 2007. He was only a year old when he came to us, and it was quite obvious he had been neglected in the areas of training and socialization. He fit well into my pack here as I fostered him for a few weeks, and he was a delightful, happy boy.
After a few weeks in our care, he was given the best Christmas present himself that year , his new forever home in Vancouver! We arranged transport with other dog folks travelling for the Holiday Season, and Mishka was off to a new life. He even went hiking in the mountains his first day there!
Since Mishka was in a pack environment here in Foster, we had no idea the extent of his separation anxiety. His new home was very concerned about his frantic behaviour whenever they left the house. The husband worked full time, and the wife stayed at home all day, so she was able to work with Mishka over several months. It was so bad that for the first year, they never left him alone , he was always in the car, or only one of them went out, and in a few cases, had someone "dog sit" him for the evening! These folks also arranged to surrender him back into Rescue, then, after lots of discussion, decided to keep working with him , they did love him that much.
