Body Building

When Clarisse first moved in with us, she was 9 lb 5 oz even with her overgrown hair. She scarfed her food down so fast she would get gassy. We suspect the sighted dogs in the previous home may have been eating her food before she had a chance to finish it. I was a little creeped out during the first days while petting her. Were all poodles this frail? I felt like we were going to hurt her from petting too hard. Her ribs stuck out some and her legs had no muscle to them. I remember struggling to maintain my composure the first time I saw her after her matted hair was shaved off as she just seemed too delicate, her legs too thin.

Over time, she has gotten less desperate when eating, often eating a little, then popping back by for a snack after a nap or a roll around outside. She has started running, hiking, swimming and gone on play dates. She has an astounding endurance that such a tiny figure would not suggest. Her body has grown strong. Her ribs don't stick out now. You can feel them if you press in, but there is no fat, just muscle, muscle everywhere. Her legs have incredible definition from all the hill runs she takes me on.

This week we took her to the vet. She has gained a whopping 1 lb 9 oz of pure muscle! We joke that she now has the body of a pitbull under her curls.

What a difference a little time makes! When you are considering adopting a rescue, especially one with special needs, you do have to consider what you can handle and what you can't. If you have small kids, a bite-risk isn't a good idea. If you have a lot of clutter and stairs, a blind dog may not be a good fit (although I am surprised at how well some blind dogs navigate stairs). However, do know that the dog you see at the beginning is not the dog you'll have in the end. The frail dog may end up loving to run. The socially awkward dog may become a social butterfly. The anxious dog may become an adventure hound. Your love can be transformational.