6 month update on our rescue pittie mix Pepper - we made it

Six months ago I posted here absolutely terrified when we first brought Pepper home. Shelter said she had "unknown history" and was dog-reactive. The first week she hid under the bed for three solid days and wouldn't eat unless we left the room.

I want to say it got better fast but honestly it was two months of really slow progress and a lot of late nights googling "is my rescue dog getting worse." Our trainer kept saying trust the process and i wanted to scream at her a little.

But she was right. Month 3 something just clicked. Pepper started meeting me at the door, started playing with toys, stopped flinching at every loud noise. Last week she met my cousin's beagle in the backyard and after like 20 minutes of sniffing around they were napping in the same patch of sunlight.

If you're in the early weeks with a new rescue and it feels impossible - please hang in there. they need time and consistency more than anything. it really does get better.