Watch This Terrified Shelter Chiweenie Relax During His Very First Hug
I’ve got a soft spot for the shy ones. The dogs who don’t run up barking or wagging. The ones who shrink into corners, hoping the world won’t notice them. That’s exactly what happened when I met Pickles. (Watch Video Above)
I was told, “He’s just a little guy hiding in the back.” And when I saw him? My heart cracked right down the middle. He was curled in a tight ball, shaking—completely shut down. But I knew: there’s a brave little soul in there, just waiting to be seen.
Earning Trust, One Treat at a Time
Pickles is about 5 months old. Based on his looks—and those signature east-west paws—we’re guessing he’s a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix. Yup, that makes him a Chiweenie. A low-riding, big-eyed bundle of nerves and sweetness.
He was found alone in a park by a Good Samaritan. No collar. No microchip. No signs that anyone was looking for him. He’s been at the shelter for four days, and while we always hold out hope, the longer it goes, the less likely it is that someone’s coming for him.
My first instinct, like most people’s, would be to scoop him up immediately. But that’s not how dogs communicate, and I needed to earn his trust on his terms. I wasn’t going to force him to love me, no matter how much I wanted to hold him.
People often ask me how I can leave after spending time with a dog and earning their trust. I won’t lie – it hurts my heart. It’s difficult. But what gets me through is imagining them with their forever family, living their best life, happy and confident and loved. That future happiness is worth my temporary heartache.
The poor little guy was shaking uncontrollably. I tried making myself smaller, sitting down on the floor to appear less threatening. For a dog so young to experience such intense fear is truly heartbreaking. He shouldn’t have to go through this. I thought about my son at the same age – how horrible it would be if he were left without the love, support, comfort, and safety of people who care for him.
Small Victories
His brain had shut down from fear, making him unable to enjoy treats or seek affection. Though every part of me wanted to pick him up and hold him, I knew we needed to start by releasing some of that fear first. If I overwhelmed him, it could flood him with even more trauma.
I kept talking softly while offering treats. His nose was working – a good sign. Sometimes frightened dogs won’t take treats from the floor but will take them from your hand. I tried a longer piece of treat to give him the distance he needed.
As I sat with him, memories of Katie came flooding back. She was a small dog we recently lost. That loss had been hard and some commented they weren’t happy with how it all went down. But the overwhelming positive response from our community is what brought me back to the shelter that day. I returned because I’m on a mission to help dogs like this one, and because even if you can’t physically come to the shelter, you’re here with me now, and that’s amazing.
Learning His Story
While working with him, I asked Kelly to share what we knew about this little one. He was young – around 4-5 months old by their estimate. Unfortunately, he had no microchip or known owner. A Good Samaritan had found him at a park and brought him in. This was his fourth day at the shelter.
From experience, I know that if a family doesn’t come within the first 24 hours, the odds of them claiming their dog diminish significantly. Parks are also common dumping grounds, as people sometimes think it’s a safe area where a family might find and take in their abandoned pet.
The health check noted his long nails, slightly dirty coat, and flea dermatitis on his lower back. For a dog this young to be this dirty and dealing with fleas, it suggests he hadn’t been lost for weeks or months – he wouldn’t have survived that long on his own at his size.
Interestingly, he was found with another dog, though we didn’t have details about that yet.
Becoming Pickles
Every dog needs a name, and Kelly suggested “Pickles.” I liked it immediately – I’m a fan of food names for dogs. With a name chosen, it was time for some positive affirmations.
I started telling him things he may have never heard before: “You’re a good boy, Pickles. Yes, you are. You’re such a good boy. I’m so proud of you. You’ve been brave and strong.” I wanted him to know that he was courageous, willing to trust and love. With those big eyes, he was checking all the boxes.
The Pickle Scoop
Finally, it was time for what I call “the scoop” – gently picking him up and giving him the secure embrace he needed. As I held him, I could feel how dirty he was, but more importantly, I noticed something remarkable – when I applied light pressure, his shaking stopped. With compression, he calmed down.
I made him a promise: “This is not what life is supposed to be, and from here on, it’s going to be warmth, comfort, treats, boundaries, safety, and reassurances. Your hard days are over. The good days are here.”
He was so stiff – no puppy should be that rigid. But as I held him with gentle compression, the transformation was immediate. His shaking subsided, and he began to relax.
Love Letters with Dogs
It was time for “Love Letters with Dogs,” a segment where we open mail sent by our viewers specifically for the dogs we’re sitting with. This activity also introduces shelter dogs to normal life experiences, like receiving packages – something most shelter dogs have never experienced.
Before opening the letters, we fitted Pickles with a compression jacket. These are wonderful for scared or anxious dogs, providing a constant gentle pressure that helps them feel secure.
We opened several heartwarming letters and gifts:
- Cheryl and Michelle sent an elephant toy so Pickles would “remember to be strong”
- Someone sent their soul dog CC’s favorite toy called “lambs”
- Sharon and David sent beautiful handmade cards that could be sold in the shelter’s store
- They also included hand-knitted hearts for the dogs
- Jill sent a pumpkin-themed gift
As we opened these gifts, Pickles began to fully relax in my arms, eventually falling asleep – a significant milestone for a dog who had been so on guard and afraid.
A Family Connection Discovered
Then came an unexpected twist. Kelly had tracked down information about the other dog Pickles was found with. When she showed me the video, I could see some similarities between Pickles and this larger female dog – they shared color patterns, though they looked quite different in size and some features.
I explained to viewers why the shelter might have separated them – sometimes it’s due to size differences (where the smaller dog might not get enough food), or because the dogs weren’t actually bonded. Neither Pickles nor the other dog was showing signs of distress from separation, which suggested they weren’t strongly bonded.
A Happy Ending Begins
As Pickles slept peacefully in my arms, I shared two pieces of good news. First, Lucky Chi Dog Rescue, an organization that specializes in small Chihuahuas and Chi-mixes, had agreed to take Pickles. Even better, when we asked if they could also take his potential relative, they immediately agreed to help both dogs.
This is just the beginning of Pickles’ journey. Leaving him would be hard on my heart, but I could already envision him curled up with his forever family in front of a warm fireplace, finally knowing what it means to be truly safe and loved.
The transformation had already begun – from a terrified pup hiding in the corner to one who could sleep peacefully in someone’s arms. That’s what makes all of this worthwhile.
