From her Foster Parent: Leila (lay-luh) is about 2 yrs old, 30-ish lbs and a one of a kind beauty. This sweet girl has a lot of anxiety and trust issues- she takes a long time to get to know someone and gifts her trust in small chunks (and what a gift it is!). We’re not sure the ‘why’ behind that, but we do know that in order to win that trust you must be very patient, go very slow and be gentle with all your interactions with her. She’s sound sensitive, so a quieter calmer home will definitely be a better placement for her. She’s minimally vocal herself, having only barked a handful of times in her foster home, and all of those times were in reaction to something. She is more comfortable with other dogs around, so would love to become a dog-sibling to a playful, upbeat, patient pup of any age. She’s very smart and taught herself how to use the dog door and knows the house routine, especially in connection to walks and meal times. When she joined her foster home, she didn’t eat or take treats right away due to her anxiety- but over time she has become very food enthusiastic and loves to get treats and snacks. She is not cuddly, and may never be, but she has learned to accept scratches and pets- but it took some time and effort to get there. The home she is looking for will have outdoor space for her to enjoy and sit in the sun and bug hunt for fun (her favorite activity). The human/s she’s looking for will be very patient and understanding of her needs to navigate her anxiety, no small children, and have a willingness to take her on walks every day and provide a structured routine to help her relax. She seems to adapt better to women, but will warm up in time with men. Leila won't be a dog that connects quickly, but with compassion, dedication, understanding and empathy coming her way, in time she will show her playful, sweet demeanor and become a really wonderful buddy. To meet Laila please reach out to our foster coordinator at vbasfosterinfo@gmail.com.