Femka- after days of planning- I couldn't wait to pick her up at the airport. When I arrived and they brought her out- she was terrified. The kennel had a broken lock, and I decided to wait until I got her home. When I got home and pulled into the garage with the door shut- I opened the crate- she showed her teeth at me with her ears flat against her head. I was thinking " omg- what have I gotten myself into. " I left the door open and sat down on the edge of the car- I spent the better part of 30 minutes just talking to myself- occasionally glancing at her in a soft calm voice and expression. Then I said " oh please Femka ( her new name) - please trust me- please come out- when she stood up, and buried her head in my coat. Her rubbing face on my jacket made me want to cry.. She followed me out of the garage- to the family room below. Hottie was at the door- I could hear him- but I wasnt sure of her reactions. I came upstairs and let hottie smell my jacket= " no big deal " hottie said ( lol) . She started to howl in there with me gone so I tied hottie to the post railing up here and brought her upstairs- a few tail wags and within a matter of seconds- buddies for life. When my husband came home- before she even saw him- must have been the garage door opening sound- but she took off for a back bedroom and tried to get under a bed. We both sat in the bedroom with hottie laying there- talking when she came out to see Darrell. She was nervous for a few weeks at home comings-- but slowly little by little turned " the noise of the garage door opening" from a bad thing to a good thing.. Now - she is a Daddys girl but misses me terribly if I am gone. ( sleeping on my side of the bed when I was in the hospital etc.)