Amazing Aurora and Elizabeth

Aurora sporting a Thundershirt and Scrunchies

This morning I had a session with Aurora and her foster mom, Elizabeth.  Aurora went into foster care last week and is making incredible advancements!!  I was thrilled to see Aurora come walking across the tile and up one step to the landing to greet me with kisses.

Elizabeth was told that Aurora had no short term memory, didn't know she was supposed to eat and would never be potty trained.  I saw today that Aurora has proven each of these statements incorrect!  Way to go Aurora and Elizabeth.

The way Aurora greeted me made it very clear she knew exactly who I was and why I was there.  She is walking with far more control, the spinning is less and she never did fall down.  Elizabeth has noticed that Aurora has more balance when her head is raised and is feeding her out of raised bowls.  Aurora knows what food and water is all about for sure.  As for potty training?  Can you believe that in almost one week of foster care she has had only one accident in the house?  She has even gone and tapped Elizabeth on the hand to let her know she needed to go outside and potty!  Oh, and one more thing.  She is NOT deaf as we originally suspected.  Aurora's hearing is just fine.

Today Aurora allowed me to put a Thundershirt on her without her going into a wild spin.  Scrunchies on her feet were not a big deal since Elizabeth remembered me talking about that and has been putting them on her this week. This alone is a huge improvement.

Part of Aurora's therapy has been to swim in the pool with her life jacket on.  Now she isn't totally sold on the idea of the pool yet but she loves human contact and toys.  So if she needs to get in the pool to play with Elizabeth and her son then so be it.  She's game.

Elizabeth has been making Aurora's rehab so much fun that she has no idea she is working on balance and coordination.  Elizabeth will run around a cone and have Aurora chase her. Since Aurora spins counter clockwise Elizabeth will run clockwise.  Aurora follows right along.

Toys are another part of her rehab.  She can now lower her back end into a sit without falling and then stretch out her front legs to lay down.  This is huge for her!  Aurora loves to play fetch and toss around and empty bucket.  All of these fun play things are exercises in walking straighter and gaining strength and coordination.

I was thrilled to see her progress today.  Aurora scored big time when Elizabeth fell in love with her and decided to foster her.  I can't imagine her in a better place to become all that she can be.

Thank you Elizabeth for all you are doing for this very special puppy.