NORA

THIS IS A COURTESY LISTING contact info at bottom of post Here is what we love about Nora, our brilliant and beautiful and eccentric Corgi mix: she deeply and loyally loves her pack; if she sees you as one of her own, she will greet you with heart-melting, exuberant joy. She loves a big space to run around in, especially in the snow. She’s a great play partner to other dogs she knows. She loves her walks and gets excited every time her leash comes off the hook. She’s a quick study for a new skill. She loves to show off her “dance” moves on her hind legs. But she is also a challenge. She was rescued from a ‘Friday Market’ in Kuwait, and later she suffered brain damage when her spay surgery was botched in January 2021 (she has since been properly spayed). We have worked with a host of experts to improve her behavior and quality of life, and while she has made huge progress, it’s become clear that our house cannot be a happy, safe for space for her. Here are some things you should know about her: • She has a bark loud enough to shake the walls of Jericho, and a tendency to “alarm bark” if she perceives an intruder. She can get used to new people in her space, but it takes steady exposure and persistence. • She can be highly territorial of her food. • On walks, we’re careful to dodge other dogs, as she is reactive to them when on leash. The reactivity disappears in an open area (such as a dog park or a big yard) or with dogs she knows. • If her boundaries are too consistently pressured, or if she feels threatened, she may have panic attack-like symptoms, up to and including lashing out at caregivers. She has never bitten a stranger, but she's capable of redirecting her anxiety at caregivers in ways up to and including a bite. If her boundaries are respected, she will calm down and it will be as if nothing has happened. • When inside, it’s very important that she never feel trapped or cornered. She always needs a way out of wherever she is. We love Nora and she loves us, but she will be much happier in a home that doesn’t have so many anxiety-provoking circumstances, where she can relish the joyful things in her life without such a high risk of overstimulation. Our row house in an urban area is just not the right fit. We’ve seen in the past that a calmer, less densely populated environment leads to better behavior across the board for her, and we think that should be her norm. Best of all would be a home in the country or a suburban home with a big fenced yard. Other dogs will almost certainly be fine once she gets the chance to know them. Children under 12 are not advised; Nora loves kids, but any child around her needs to know how to play carefully and respect her boundaries. Nora can be a wonderful addition to a special someone who can love her just the way she is. We hope we can find that special someone so she can live a happier more settled life. Those interested should contact David and Jessica Spencer at: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])