Sophie made her way into my heart through an Instagram post, and I adopted her last October.
I thought it was time for an update on my shy little dog.
The shelter named her, which made her all the more endearing to me, my little flapper girl. After I got her paperwork, I learned we shared a birthday; Universal proof that it was meant to be!
She's also the shyest, most frightened dog I've ever met in my life.
I wasn't fazed at first, we've adopted several dogs over the years. The rescue 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 five months now, and I can't yet 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 to her health certification appointment. 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 very 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 like a lunatic. 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 go through the acclimation period again. 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 pray it happens for us sooner than that!
Valerie DeVito
March 07, 2019
Hi Bob, Thanks for your comments! I know you’re right, she’s just not like any other dog I’ve ever had. I’m trying to be as patient as I can, and for the most part she’s ok with me. She’ll jump up on the side of my chair and give me some tail wags and kisses. Maybe she’ll get better with others, maybe she won’t, I just don’t know. We’ll have to see what unfolds!