Texas Woman Brings Home A Rescue Dog So Frightened She Has To Teach Him That Stuffed Animals Won’t Hurt Him
After a rough start on the border, a sensitive Texas rescue dog named Wylie had to learn how to be brave. With the help of a patient mom and a protective older dog, he finally blossomed into a goofy, confident pup.
A Sensitive Soul
Wylie is a dog who feels everything at one hundred percent.
Whether he is nervous, excited, or just unsure of his surroundings, this sweet pup wears his heart firmly on his sleeve.
His dramatic but endearing personality is a direct result of a difficult past.
Before he knew the warmth of a loving home, Wylie had to navigate a world that was entirely too big and loud for him.
A Rough Start on the Border
Wylie’s story began when he was just a few months old.
He was found wandering somewhere along the border and was eventually brought into a crowded shelter.
For a tiny, sensitive puppy, the shelter environment was incredibly overwhelming.
There were always bigger dogs around, and Wylie simply wasn’t old enough or tough enough to fight for himself.
An Instant Connection
Thankfully, Wylie’s luck changed when a young woman saw his photo.
She immediately noticed that the timid puppy looked just like her other dog, Auggie.
Feeling that it was meant to be, she reached out to Wylie’s foster family to arrange a meeting.
The foster family warned her that Wylie was usually hesitant around new people, but Wylie surprised everyone by running right up to his new mom.
Retreating to a Safe Space
Despite that initial spark of trust, bringing Wylie home revealed just how scared he really was.
He was nervous about absolutely everything in his new environment.
Instead of exploring the house, he just wanted the two of them to sit in her bedroom and do nothing else.
His mom knew she had to be patient and help him slowly grow into his confidence.
Learning How to Play
Everything was a learning curve for the anxious pup, even things that were supposed to be fun.
Wylie was terrified of stuffed animals and didn’t know how to play with toys.
His mom would sit quietly with a stuffed animal, gently showing him that it wasn’t going to hurt her.
They also practiced spending just five minutes outside at a time to help him acclimate to the big world.
The Big Brother Effect
While his mom’s patience was crucial, Wylie’s biggest source of comfort came from his new furry sibling.
Auggie, the family’s first dog, immediately took the nervous puppy under his wing.
Having an older, confident dog around gave Wylie a sense of security he had never known.
He quickly learned that Auggie would protect him from anything scary.
The Halloween Decoration Test
Auggie’s protective nature was put to the test during the fall season.
The family was setting up some Halloween decorations, and Wylie was deeply concerned by the strange new objects.
He refused to calm down, so his mom called Auggie over to investigate.
Auggie sniffed the items and confirmed they weren’t scary, which instantly put Wylie at ease.
Overwhelmed by Good Things
As Wylie’s fears faded, his dramatic personality started to shine through in the most adorable ways.
Because he had a hard time before his rescue, having access to wonderful things still overwhelmed him.
Sometimes, he would literally cry because he couldn’t choose between two different toys.
His mom joked that seeing his sweet dilemma made her want to give him a million more of whatever he wanted.
A Confident and Goofy Future
Over time, the frightened puppy who wouldn’t leave the bedroom completely transformed.
He realized that so many things he once thought were scary are actually a lot of fun.
Now, Wylie even gets visibly proud of himself when he conquers a new fear.
Seeing him finally blossom into a silly, fun, and goofy little guy is the greatest reward his family could ever ask for.
