Sophie made her way into my heart through an Instagram post, and I adopted her in October of 2018. Four months later, I thought it was time for an update on my shy, bearded little girl.
The shelter named her, and I learned from her paperwork that we shared the same birthday! As far as I was concerned, it was proof that I was meant to be Sophies new mom. She ended up being the shyest, most frightened dog I've ever met in my life.
I wasn't fazed at first, we've adopted plenty of dogs over the years. The shelter told me she was captured down south as a young stray. Who knows what she'd been through before she got to New York? I was sure that with lot's of love and patience, she'd come around.
She's been with us about four months now, and I can't call her a lap dog, although that's what I'd imagined. 
She steers clear of people, especially if anyone goes to touch her (including me). Sophie much prefers dogs over people, she seems to like them all.
I first noticed this when I took her for her health certification. Several of the dogs she'd been in the shelter with were there, too. It was the first time I ever saw her wag her tail and I felt encouraged.
But almost half a year later, she'll still only tentatively accept pets from me, but she follows me around the house, and lays in her bed under my desk while I work.
Outside, she's happy to play with our older dog and runs around, happy. She has a good time running into Bella, over her and around her in circles, carrying huge sticks and making up her own silly games. But Sophie's still terrified of my husband, and men in general.
It breaks my heart to watch it, because he wants nothing more than for her to jump in his lap, or at least be happy to see him. Sophie want's nothing more than for him to stay at work longer.
Her posture changes when it's about time for him to come home. She goes from bright and bouncy to low and skulking. It's so sad that I've wrestled with the idea of giving her back, insisting she be placed with women, only.
But, I know there's no guarantee for that as a permanent solution. And I don't want her to have to get used to a new family. A friend told me it took their adopted dog nine years to form a bond with him. We're in this for the long-haul, but I do hope she comes around sooner than nine years!
