Dilly - TBRI

This is Dilly, she is our daughter and son-in-law's dog.  We are dog sitting this week while they are in Texas.  Justine was awarded a scholarship from Focus on the Family to attend TCU Institute of Child Development - Trust Based Relational Intervention.  She has her masters in social work and is working toward her counseling license.  

  TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. TBRI® uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. While the intervention is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI® is connection.

“When you connect to the heart of a child, everything is possible.”

– Dr. Karyn Purvis

Karyn Purvis' ideals and concepts with foster care and adoption are ones that Justine admire.  Karyn recently lost her battle with cancer.   Justine really wanted to meet her.  Her "formula" is her legacy and one that has helped countless families.  

On to Dilly...

Justine and Josh adopted Dilly from the Marathon County Humane Society several months ago.  Dilly loves Justine and I'm told waits for her return by the door.  I wasn't sure how she would handle not having Justine for a whole week.  She waited by our front door the first day.  Now, she has taken over the roll of "boss" - our dog Dolly is very submissive.  

Yesterday, I heard some tiny little toe nails clippity clapping across the hard wood floor....it was Dilly dragging a raw hide bone.  I don't know where she found that, Dolly must have a hiding spot.  Anyway, it was Dilly's bone now!

She eventually carried it in the living room last night and was protecting her property.  Dolly couldn't even go near her - she growled.  Poor Dolly just wanted to run in and jump on the love seat...but Dilly and that bone were in between her and her "chair."  Al even came in to sit down and Dilly growled at him.  The whole time hovering over that bone.

This had me thinking about little Dilly.  We don't know her whole history, how many families she has had.  However, I can image that at some time in her little life she was hungry.  Her behavior reminds me of a child who never had any "toys" and when they finally get one, it's "that's mine" attitude comes into play.  Well, actually you can understand it, as they didn't have anything and when they finally get something they are possessive about it.  

So, this morning, while the bone lay unattended, we did our own - trust based relational intervention - we took the bone away.  No more growling.  As I write this, Dolly is on the love seat and Dilly laying on the rug, both sleeping.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.