It’s been over three months since we adopted Petey from the shelter. When we first brought him home, we had an idea of what he’d been through and knew he had a lot of healing to do. But day to day, the progress was hard to see.

Now, looking back, it’s incredible to see how far he’s come in such a short time. It gives us so much hope that he can grow into his full potential—confident, obedient, and chill.

Of course, it’s still a work in progress, and there’s a long way to go. But at the three-month mark, there’s already so much to celebrate.

They say three months is a big milestone for a shelter dog—it’s when they start feeling truly comfortable in their new home, and their real personality starts to shine through.

And while we’ve seen some major wins in his behavior, the biggest surprise? His physical transformation.

Physical Changes:

When we first brought Petey home, he was emaciated—you could literally see the stress and anxiety on his face. He was always on high alert like some paranoid drug addict. On top of that, he had these concerning rashes on his elbows.

Petey doesn’t have a lot of hair, so his skin is extra vulnerable, but the rashes didn’t seem like they were from rubbing against anything. The vet recommended an elimination diet and prescribed a medical shampoo for his baths. We also got him some clothes—not just to protect him from the elements, but to stop him from licking himself raw.

Now, at the three-month mark, Petey has never looked better. He’s filled out, his face looks noticeably less stressed, and even the bags under his eyes have lightened—though he still has those signature Steve Buscemi eyes. His hair has thickened up a bit (even in the places we thought he couldn’t grow hair), and most importantly, the rashes on his elbows are completely gone.

We’re not 100% sure what did the trick—whether it was allergies, bacteria, or just the stress—but I’m leaning toward a bacterial infection. So, as much as he hates bath time, those medicated washes probably made the biggest difference.

Barking at Noises

Over the past three months, Petey has made huge progress when it comes to dealing with noises—whether it’s sounds from the alley, the hallway, or even the TV.

When we first brought him home, things like garbage trucks beeping or our neighbors coming and going would send him into a meltdown. In those early weeks, he’d bark like crazy and take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to calm down—which was frustrating.

But now? He still hears the sounds, but instead of instantly reacting, he actually pauses and thinks about it. And if he does decide to bark, we can stop him with just our voices and redirect him to something else.

That’s a huge win. It gives us hope that, soon enough, these noises won’t even phase him—he’ll be completely used to it.

Biting Blankets and Cushions

Petey loves biting soft things. But he also loves relaxing on soft things. And, well, that creates a bit of a dilemma.

In the first two months, he was fixated on chewing blankets and cushions. We got him a bed, but he just kept biting it—so we had to take it away. It was one of the biggest signs that he couldn’t be trusted alone.

To curb the destruction, we tried a chew-prevention spray—basically just bitter flavoring. Did it work? Yes, for a bit, but it wasn’t a permanent solution. 

Fast forward to today, and while Petey still has the occasional urge to chew, the difference is that now, when we tell him to stop, he actually listens. That’s a huge milestone. Before, I’d have to physically block him, which would just make him double down—his “shelter brain” would kick in, and sometimes, in the chaos, he’d bark, jump, and snap at me.

Now, the only time he really goes for our stuff is when he’s chewing one of his toys and—by pure coincidence—a cushion or a blanket corner ends up in his mouth. At that point, the temptation is just too strong. But even then, we can call him off with just our voices. 

Most recently, we’ve introduced the bed back into the equation and while he still has the urge to bite it, there are also occasions where he is able to control himself enough so that he is able to lie down and even take a nap in it. 

That’s huge progress.

Being Left Alone

Probably the biggest struggle with Petey right now is leaving him alone.

He has a lot of trauma from being locked in a crate, and if we put him in one, it takes just a few seconds before he starts freaking out. We can extend it to a few minutes with a Kong. But even just closing him in a room is a challenge. We set up a camera to see what he does when the door is shut, and… yeah, he just jumps at the door over and over until he’s exhausted.

This is one area where, honestly, we haven’t made a ton of progress. We worry about him getting himself into trouble—or worse, annoying the neighbors with his constant yapping.

So, we’re taking it slow. Little by little.

We’ll leave him in the living room while we work in our offices—he’ll nap on the couch while we do. He’s fine when we step away for a bathroom break. And occasionally, we’ll step outside to throw out the garbage while he stays in the living room.

It’s going to take patience—on both sides. But lately, thanks to some afternoon naps together, Petey has started to chill out a bit. There have even been times when he takes himself to the bedroom to rest on his own. We have faith that as he develops more confidence, he’ll start seeking more opportunities to be independent. 

While there is no hard date. We do have a timeline—there’s going to come a day when we have to leave him alone. So, we’re really hoping the next three months bring more progress than the first three. Fingers crossed.

Walks

When we first got Petey, walks were a whole thing.

The smallest things would spook him—someone walking down the street, a shadow from a tree, kids playing, a random bang from the construction site down the block. But nothing freaked him out more than other dogs.

In the past three months, he’s gotten way better with people walking by and random noises. And for the most part, he can handle dogs in the distance. What he can’t handle? A dog—or even a person—coming too close to our home. If another dog walks by our gate, he gets territorial, barking and charging like a little maniac.

One time, he actually pulled out of his leash on me—and I swear, that was the most terrified I have ever been in my entire life. Luckily, we both survived that ordeal. And honestly? We both grew from it.

The key on walks has been constant treats. The more he’s enjoying himself, the less likely he is to freak out. But we’ve still got work to do—especially when I’m walking him with my wife, and one of us has to duck into a store. That situation? Still a struggle.

The best part, though? I’ve started taking him on some runs. It’s not the most efficient workout for me yet, but I know it’s something we can keep practicing and get better at over time.

The Most Cuddly Boy

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Petey in the past three months, it’s that he is one of the cuddliest dogs I’ve ever met—and honestly, we couldn’t be happier about it. He’s only gotten more cuddly over time, and it’s clear this isn’t just a phase. This is who he is.

And to think—at the shelter, there were discussions to euthanize this sweet guy. It’s almost unbelievable when I look at him now.

Petey is just this happy, fun-loving guy. If it weren’t for the rough start he had in life, he’d be an all-star dog. He’s super smart, pure-hearted, and the longer we have him, the more he reminds us of our first dog, Michael.

Like Michael, Petey is part Boston Terrier, and we’re starting to see those traits shine through. It feels like Michael’s spirit is guiding Petey in some way—and that thought just fills us with so much joy.

When I look at Petey in profile, I see Michael. It’s crazy how this dog found us, just like we found him. It couldn’t have worked out more perfectly for all three of us.

These past three months have been challenging, frustrating, and exhausting at times—but watching him heal, seeing his progress, and knowing how far he’s come? That makes it all worth it. We couldn’t be more proud.

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