Introducing CiCi and me (Jan)

[JanG]

Hello,
I'm Jan and we have a female, 6 or 7 year old (?) Maltese named CiCi that we adopted from a local rescue group about a year ago. We have always had large dogs so C is a brand new experience for us. I'm looking forward to learning from everyone here.

CiCi was found wandering along a very busy highway. I was told that her hair was matted and her nails had grown into her pads. Her teeth were so rotten and infected that they all had to be removed (and that's why her tongue hangs out). She also had a heart murmur and luxating patellas. But we just knew she was for us. She still has some social issues that I'd like help for such as separation anxiety and fear of men (even my husband who she does tolerate but doesn't willing interact with that much.)

Sorry for the wordy intro - I hope to get to know you all better soon! My photos of her are on another computer but I'll post some soon.

[Nikki's Mom]

Hi Jan and CiCi :welcome:!! So glad you joined us!! Bless you for opening your heart and your home to sweet CiCi!! Your story of how she was found brought tears to my eyes. How can anybody abandon these sweet little souls? It is just beyond my comprehension. I am so happy that she has you and your hubby now so that she can live the rest of her life like a pampered princess!!

I just read a great article on separation anxiety written by Victoria Stillwell.
http://positively.com/files/VS-Bark-June2011-DontLeaveMe.pdf Hope it helps!!

Looking forward to getting to know you and CiCi better!! Feel free to ask any questions as we are a friendly bunch!! :D

[JanG]

Thanks so much for the welcome and the information, Lori. I had gotten similar advice from the woman who initially fostered C but it hasn't completely eradicated the behavior. I can leave her in the car now (well, not NOW because the weather is way too hot) while I guickly run into the post office but she still rattles her gate and chews her feet if I leave her at home. If I don't confine her, she'll pee all over the house.

But, we still wouldn't give her up and don't regret getting her for a second.

Now that I'm on the desktop, I'm going to go post some photos of her.

[JesBred]

WELCOME TO MALTESE JAN AND CICI!!

What an amazing thing you did for Cici :hearter: You are so sweet to have taken her in knowing all her health issues. I know she is going to give you so much love in return and appreciates the home you've given her. She is still so young and deserves a good life.

As for seperation anxiety we have alot of threads here on the topic, and what works for some doesn't always work for others so you may have to try a few things before you find what works for Cici. I have a Weimaraner who suffers from it and we have to be careful to stick to a routine, make sure he is properly exercised everyday, and not to make a big deal about leaving/entering the house or he gets very anxious.

You may try leaving an interactive toy for Cici, maybe a Kong with some peanut butter (since she doesn't have teeth this may be good so she doesn't have to chew to get it out). Also if you have the time, and know your leaving at a certain time, try walking her for 10-30 minutes before you go and tire her out so hopefully she will sleep while you are away.

[JanG]

Thanks, Jess,

I'm still browsing the site and finding all kinds of good information.

Unfortunately, CiCi doesn't play with toys at all and doesn't even look at a Kong filled with her favorite treats. Her foster mom suggested a marrow bone with the inside filled with peanut butter but she doesn't really go for that either even though peanut butter is a favorite treat. Sometimes she'll lick it out (& get it all over her!) but she mostly ignores it unless we're home.

I'll definitely check out the other posts on the subject. Thanks again!

[bellaratamalt]

Hi and welcome!!! And thank you for giving that sweet baby such a wonderful home - sounds like she wasn't well taken care of at all :(

[angeleyes]

Welcome to Maltese Talk Jan. You are so awesome to take CiCi into your home to love and care for. You will be rewarded many times over by the love these little ones give back. I don't understand people that can do bad things to these little ones, Thank God there are people like you who are thee to rescue them and show them the love they deserve.:heart5:

[Ullana's Mommy]

Welcome to Maltesetalk, CiCi and Jan!

:mtwelcome:

So happy that CiCi has found such a great and new home!

[JiJi's Mom]

Welcome Jan & CiCi!!!!

My little yorkie also suffers from anxiety. She trembles even when I take her out alone. I think she is learning that when she's with me no one can hurt her. But it does take her a while to warm up.

The only thing that helps her is the company of her other fursibblings.

[JanG]

Thank you all for your very warm welcomes. I have spent a lot of time browsing the site and finding a lot of very useful information and also finding that everyone seems very nice as well as having some outrageously cute fur children! lol

[ilovemysnow]

Hello Jan & CiCi!! Welcome to MT!

Bless your heart for rescuing CiCi!:hearter: Honestly, i will never understand how anyone could mistreat God's wonderful pure-hearted little creatures like our maltese furbabies!

I'm so sorry to hear about her anxiety.. My Snow also doesn't like men. It took him awhile to even start interacting with my boyfriend. He used to just run away from him, or stare at him with no response to anything he does. He would bark like crazy whenever he would get up or walk around. He just didn't trust him.. It's not until i made my BF help with feeding, join in on our play/training sessions, as well as cuddle up with Snow in the middle of us and me making sure to always reassure him that he's OK and that 'mommy's here, have no fear!'... lol. Now they play like father&furSon :D He still doesn't like other men though..

Like what JesBred said, i also try and tire out Snow before leaving him for a long period of time. And I keep Snow in an exercise pen when i'm at work too - even though i come home for lunch everyday:D and i make sure to leave him his toys that can be filled with treats (some treats easy to get, some hard, to keep him occupied longer) to distract him from seeing me leave. Snow always yelps for me whenever i'm not in his sight, and keeping him occupied and tired, i found to be the best solution to distract him and keep him busy. I also make sure not to make a big deal about me leaving.. i usually sneak out quietly so he doesn't panic.

Can't wait for CiCi's pictures and stories!! :hearter:

[Tebow's Mom]

Welcome Jan and CiCi!
CiCi is very lucky to have found you. Now she will have a good life.

[MaxJack'sMom]

Welcome to MT and your wonderful story of your little CiCi brought tears to my eyes. I don't understand how anyone can let something like this happen to a poor defenseless animal. Thank goodness she has you and your husband to open your hearts and home to her.

[JanG]

Thanks so much for the wonderful welcomes.

Mia, my DH does feed her and he's the one who carries her when we go anywhere (but she gets very antsy if she loses sight of me). We also have an alert when he comes down the driveway after work and C will get all excited and want to run out to meet him because she knows he will give her a treat. But, she wants him to put the treat in her food bowl and move away from her! She loves to be on the bed with me but let him come in to go to bed and she will try to jump down to get away from him! It really hurts his feelings because he really is so good to her.

Toys (we haven't been able to teach her to play with toys) and food don't really distract her and JiJi's Mom, I don't think another furchild would help as she totally ignores other animals. It doesn't even bother her to have them sniffing her or even growling at her - she's totally oblivious no matter the size.

I'll try the exercise though and hope that works. I've tried the Bach flower essences but they only marginally worked and my vet suggested Composure which helps a little more. It would be so nice to be able to go out without worrying about her or having to rush home for her.

We do love her in spite of all her quirks and it sounds as if she's terrible but she's really very, very good. She's quiet (we think her "barker" was removed although she can make some noises) and she's not hyper or underfoot all the time. She's loving in her way but isn't all in your face all the time. She's just very, very sweet and if I could get my hands on whoever mistreated her, you'd probably have to pull me off them! I don't understand how people can mistreat these poor defenseless little ones either!

[Tebow's Mom]

She loves to be on the bed with me but let him come in to go to bed and she will try to jump down to get away from him! It really hurts his feelings because he really is so good to her.

Some guy must have abused her. How sad. Time should help. Will she sit on your lap and let him sit next to you? Maybe you could both feed her treats.

[JanG]

Some guy must have abused her. How sad. Time should help. Will she sit on your lap and let him sit next to you? Maybe you could both feed her treats.

Yes, as long as I'm with her, she tolerates my DH. She'll even sit with him in his recliner as long as I'm near by but she's not totally happy about it. It's odd about the bed because when I put her on it, it's like a switch gets turned on & she gets playful and happy if it's just the two of us. But let DH come in and she gets very fearful. I figured she was abused in the bedroom - perhaps she was owned by a woman and her husband threw her out of bed or something. We've had her a year and it has gotten better but she just doesn't willingly interact with my husband.

[Morkie4]

HELLO JAN AND CICI AND WELCOME TO MALTESE TALK!!!!
Sounds like you have a huge heart for taking little CiCi under your loving care!!! Sounds like she needed someone very special to care and love her. She is a doll, tongue and all!!! One thing about rescues is that they never forget the love and care you show them and reward "YOU" with total loyalty and love back!!! She may feel so secure and loved now that she wants to be with her rescuers 100% of the time.........it is a fixable situation. But patience is definitely going to have to be in the equation but then I'm sure I didn't have to mention that to you. :)

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[JanG]

Thanks, Carol, yes, we know all about patience and she is getting better all the time. Thanks for the welcome - I'm happy to be here.