Fearful Ukraine Rescue Dog Couldn’t Bring Herself to Walk Through Doors & Hallways, Until This Happened
Trauma in dogs manifests in different ways. Some dogs become aggressive. Others become too hypervigilant, always on the edge about potential threats. In other cases, a dog may become extremely fearful of the most ordinary of things, particularly if it triggers their deep-seated trauma.
The latter represents Ditta, a German Shepherd mix rescued from Ukraine. From the moment Ditta arrived in her new adoptive home, her fear of doors and hallways stood out. Ditta would refuse to walk through a door in the house and would resort to whimpering and barking when she saw one. It even became hard for her owner to visit places with her since she’d back away and become inconsolable whenever she noticed a door.
While it’s not clear what exactly Ditta endured back in her war-struck home country that triggered her fear of doors, it was obvious that it would take a lot of effort and patience to help this lovely pup overcome her phobia.
Watch the clip below:
@dittawiggles We tried everything and I can’t believe this finally worked 🥹 @Bobbi Wiggles #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #foryourpage #dogsoftiktok #dogtok #dogs #trending #viral #dad #love #happy #cute #petsoftiktok #adoption #pets #dogdad #dogmom #rescue #scared #rescuedog #adoptionjourney ♬ Sweet Heat Lightning – Gregory Alan Isakov
An Unexpected Solution
In a now-viral TikTok video, Ditta’s owner revealed they tried everything to get their rescue pup to go through doors and hallways, but nothing seemed to work. Then, an idea struck them: getting a second dog to help boost Ditta’s confidence.
Ditta’s family brought home a Golden Retriever, Bobbi, who was the complete opposite of Ditta in terms of confidence. Surprisingly, the two dogs became instant buddies from day one. As the pair played around the house, Ditta would often observe Bobbi confidently walking through doors, an act that brought her a sense of safety and assurance.
Slowly by slowly, she began to follow Bobbi from door to door. The idea that doors weren’t as frightening as she thought started to take root in Ditta’s mind. It was clear that Bobbi’s presence was doing wonders for Ditta’s confidence, confirming that having a sibling was exactly what she needed.
“We tried everything and I can’t believe this finally worked,” Ditta’s proud owner captioned in the video.
A Lover of Doors & Hallways
Today, Ditta walks through doors and hallways without hesitation. Thanks to Bobbi, she’s grown into a confident pup who’s risen above her fears. Doorways no longer terrify her, and it’s now common to see her leading Bobbi through a door.
Ditta’s newfound confidence is a reminder of the impact that supportive environments have on dogs battling trauma.
“Ditta is a heartwarming example of how patience, persistence, and love can heal the deepest of wounds,” pet rescue advocate Rocky Kanaka says.
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