In the past, when I’ve tried to take Tzipporah for a walk she just sat on the ground and shivered, and if I dared to tug on her leash she fought like a wild animal to get away, burrowing under the bench by the retaining wall or trying to climb the wall itself. I was still taking her with me to therapy once a week, but I hadn’t tried putting her toes on the ground in months, and then last weekend something changed. Usually when we return home from therapy, Tzippy is exhausted, waiting just long enough to eat her chicken treat before stretching out in her bed for a long nap, but the day before the big blizzard she seemed more awake and aware, as if she was waiting for her next adventure.
I’m not sure what convinced me to try again, maybe just knowing that we would be snowed in for the next few days, but I bundled her back up in her winter coat, and put her leash back on, and carried her down the stairs and outside. At first, when I put her down on the walkway, she just sat down and waited as usual, shivering and looking around in alarm. But when Grandma started to walk ahead of us, Tzippy actually followed her. She only took a few steps before sitting back down again, but when I gave her some head scratches and encouragement, she took another few steps, and then a few more and a few more.
We managed the equivalent of one block – between our front door and the next building in the complex – and then she sat down more firmly and refused to go any further. I was sure I’d have to carry her, but when I turned back towards home Tzippy stood up and followed me, taking five steps at a time instead of three. She finally hit her limit about ten feet away from our front door, and then she sat down in front of me and refused to go another step. I picked her up and gave her kisses and so much praise for her amazing accomplishment, and she seemed to understand that she’d done something special, but she was also exhausted. As soon as I carried her upstairs and gave her a treat, she ran back to her bed to eat it and then stretched out for a long nap.
I’m sure it sounds like the tiniest of accomplishments, but it felt like a huge breakthrough. I’d almost given up on the possibility of change after more than a year of trying everything, and I have no idea what made this breakthrough possible; maybe it was all of those hours in therapy, or maybe her new food changed something, or maybe she was just ready.
The next day, after the snow had started to fall but before the real blizzard kicked in, we decided to try another walk just to see if the first one was a fluke. Tzippy was not at all sure about putting her paws down on the snowy walkway, but once again, when Grandma walked ahead of her, Tzippy followed. We walked twice as far, because Grandma insisted, but Tzippy wasn’t thrilled with the extra distance and kept trying to crawl under and through my legs to convince me to pick her up. With frequent breaks for head scratches and encouragement, we made it all the way back to our building, but the two steps up to the door were a no-go. When I picked her up, I touched her toes to each step to show her how it was done, but she was not at all interested and just wanted to get back inside.
Once the blizzard kicked in, we were content to stay indoors for the duration, and we didn’t go back outside until all of the shoveling and plowing had been done (by other people). But then we tried walking again. The third walk was short, and Tzippy was not enthusiastic, but she did it, so as the snow melts, I see a lot of short walks in Tzippy’s future. And if she needs to complain, I’m sure my therapist is ready to listen, and Grandma will hand out chicken treats by the handful as needed. I just hope it doesn’t take another year before Tzippy is ready to try the stairs.
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rachelmankowitz 
She’s such a darling!
Thank you!
Congratulations! Such an accomplishment for sure!
Thank you!
Congratulations on your progress! Sometimes we have to be patient longer than we think!
Thank you! She’s definitely teaching me more patience!
It is not easy being a little dog going for walks in the cold and with scary sounds. Tzipporah is very cute.
Thank you! And Tzippy thanks you for understanding her fears.
Way to go tzippy!!!! 😀
Thank you!
she is one adorable little puppy. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year.
More than a year! This progress is almost in miracle territory for me, after all this time.
Such an adorable pup. Yesterday, our vet suggested we try to get our pup to walk on a treadmill to get him away from being so “ball driven.” Yeah, right. He’ll sit on it; he will not walk on it. We’re taking it slowly, but this will be a real challenge. 🙂
I tried to teach Cricket and Ellie how to use the treadmill and it did not go well, though they appreciated the unreasonable number of chicken treats left for them to find.
Ha! Totally understand the plenitude of chicken treats. ☺️ Dogs are so smart!
Very!
Even slow progress is progress. This sounds like a good step forward.
Fingers and paws crossed!
This story made me smile. I’m happy she’s making progress.
Thank you! It was a happy surprise for me too!
Hooray! Maybe with spring around the corner, all the new scents to sniff will entice Tzipporah to want to explore more. 🎉
I hope so!
A real milestone.
It really is!
People have more success walking cats! This must have been very trying for you Rachel. Tippy looks really cute in her tartan coat that matches her fur.
Thank you!
What a good girl!! Good for you. And so adorable.
Thank you!
o cute!
Not a tiny accompaniment, definitely a breakthrough! You can build up slowly. When my husband was ill, my mother suggested he start by just walking to the end of the driveway and back. Alas, he never did or he may have been with us longer. Oh dear, didn’t mean to make it about me! I love this post, and Tzippy looks adorable in her coat!
My hope is that Tzippy will take her Grandma out for walks so they can enjoy the great outdoors together (while I stay home and watch TV).
It’s definitely progress Rachel, only a matter of time, perhaps with warmer weather she will be more adventurous.
I hope so!
Wonderful! Progress, for sure!
Thank you!
Aww, what a sweet girl, trying new things. I love her little coat 🙂
Thank you!
How wonderful for your little family! Congratulations!
Thank you!
All those baby steps are the foundation upon which her confidencwe will soar. Kudos to you both!
Thank you!
She looks so cute in her winter coat! My husband and I babysat our next-door neighbor’s dog last weekend. Kai gets to the bottom step of our walkway and refuses to go down it to the walkway. We pick him up and then he runs to the porch go to inside. He and Tzipporah should walk together. Who knows where they would wind up! 😄 This is progress, Rachel!! Yay!
I keep thinking she needs a buddy!
So does Kai! I’ll talk to my neighbor! 😄
I’m thrilled for Tzippy (and her peope)! And…it’s a very good thing that she’s small enough that you can easily pick her up and carry her when needed.
Thank you! We had the carrying thing in mind when we went looking for a new dog, but she’s still too heavy for Grandma unfortunately.
That’s too bad. Good thing they’ve both got you!
Congratulations, great progress
Thank you!
Huge accomplishment! Way to go Tzippy! We still haven’t had our first walk yet but maybe this is the year!
Fingers and paws crossed!
Hooray! Good news! One step at a time. 🐶
Thank you!
Oh my gosh, she’s so cute in her little coat!!
Thank you!
It takes so much patience to rehabilitate a traumatised dog, and you’re doing brilliantly. I’m sure she’ll continue to make progress in your loving care.
I hope so!
How wonderful! Bravo for Tzippy! ❤
Thank you!
Baby steps! How fantastic! 💜
Thank you!
Well done that girl! A real accomplishment. xAx
Thank you!
Oh bless her! She looks so cute in her little jacket.
Thank you!
What a delightful series of accomplishments! Seems as if there was good timing all around with everyone. The fact that she walked farther the second time is promising. And all your praise and showing her the way, paws on the steps for instance, I’m sure count a great deal. Plus Grandma and the chicken treats. Sounds as if you all were all right with the snowfall, getting dug out and all. My car was covered for a few days, though really the situation was worse after the previous storm. Tzippy is a great nickname.
Thank you!
Way to go, Tzippy, and kudos to you for your perseverance!
Thank you!
Small steps but huge accomplishments. Tzippy is gorgeous!
Thank you!
This is encouraging! Tzippy is slowly letting go of her fear. With more time and patience, I’m sure she’ll be walking long distances.
I hope so!
Wow, that’s great Tzippy – keep it up!
Thank you!
So cute. Had a dog that looked like her when i was a young boy. Her name was Merle. Tzippy so reminds me of her.
That’s lovely!
I think another possible cause for this breakthrough could be you continuing to not give up on the possibility of change. If you had given up on that, then Tzipporah would not have gone out for her first official walk (and that walk feels like a step towards more progress and more breakthroughs). So I hope you give credit to yourself (if you already have not done that) for this huge achievement; you’ve earned it, Rachel. 😀
Thank you so much!
Bravo Tzippy! I just read a friend’s blog that said, “Progress, not perfection!” Wise words for Tzippy, too! I hope your therapist isn’t charging double, since Tzippy is also benefitting from the sessions!!! 😉
Ha! I’ve taken most of my dogs to therapy at some point, and it really helps. Well, it really helps me.