When Frankie came into our care as a foster, his prognosis seemed grim.  Vets had recommended behavioural euthanasia and he was on four different anxiety medications. His previous home became unmanageable after a baby arrived, and despite their best efforts and significant expense, his owners couldn't find a way forward.

However, with time and patience, he started to settle. We gradually tapered his medications, and today, Frankie is medication-free.

We gave him space, settled into a routine, didn't panic during his moments, and integrated him into a quiet family life. He now loves car rides to visit family, coexists peacefully with my parents' other reactive dachshund, loves pottering around the yard and enjoys being the centre of attention.

Is he perfect? No. He's chaotic, severely stubborn  and has opinions about everything. But he's manageable, entertaining and so loveable. Sometimes dogs just need the right environment and time to decompress. Our advice to anyone fostering or owning a difficult or reactive dog is to lower your expectations, don't panic, let them be dogs, and give them time. 

After 4 months of fostering and lots of progress made, we decided to adopt Frankie. He's medication-free, healthy, and living his best life being a lovable pain. The dog with such a poor prognosis is currently asleep on the couch, completely content. Sometimes it's just about finding the right fit! and we just love him.