Kiki has always been the sweetest lovebug – she just needed a little push… and the right people!

When this Pittie was first brought home from the shelter, she definitely had a rough few months. In fact, Kiki was so shy and reserved toward everyone that she made it almost impossible to live with her.

Due to her rough experience from the past, she had zero trust in people. But, Stephanie and Nick knew one thing – that they didn’t want to give up!

She Had A Difficult Time Adjusting

Before she was adopted from Rocket Dog Rescue, California, Kiki was picked up as a stray. She was extremely malnourished and shy when she was first brought to the shelter. 

Despite the fact that she had spent nine whole months in a foster home, Kiki wasn’t very lucky in her quest for a forever home. She was constantly overlooked until, one day, Stephanie and Nick looked her up on the rescue’s page.

This couple from Bay Area, California, immediately fell in love with her and decided to bring her home for good.

But, as it turned out, having Kiki around wasn’t a picnic…

The couple had a rough few weeks, as Kiki was extremely anxious in a new environment. She had accidents all the time, and would even bite due to her lack of trust.

“In the beginning, she would go from 0 to 100 in seconds, would constantly bite us, was difficult during walks, and our anxiety was always at a 9 when we woke up each day,” Stephanie says in an Instagram post.

Stephanie and Nick did everything to make her stay in the new home as comfortable as possible. And, after only a few months, they noticed a change!

Kiki, The Sweetest, Funniest Princess

It took Kiki exactly three months to completely relax around her new family. The couple tried the well-known 3-3-3 technique, and it proved to be very effective in her adaptation process.

She started to like walkies and plush toys, and she’d get really excited about the food! But, most of all, Kiki became sociable, even to her owners’ friends.

“She’s become a cuddle bug when we just want to lay on the couch, we can have friends over without worrying about her eating them, and we’re finally starting to feel like a real family,” Stephanie wrote on Instagram.

She even started to exhibit her funny quirks, such as giving the most hilarious side-eye whenever she felt annoyed or sticking her long, relaxed tongue out whenever she wanted to sleep or rest on the couch.

After the first three months, Kiki transformed into a lovebug. And, now she is a happy-go-lucky girl with tons of enthusiasm for new adventures.

“The first couple months were CHALLENGING, but Kiki has become such an amazing good girl and we can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us,” Kiki’s owners wrote in an update post.

She loves her pawrents so much. Even though her mom works from home most of the time, she always makes sure to be around her as much as possible. And, he’s always there by the door to wait for Nick to come home. 

Kiki has a special talent for comforting people, too. When times are tough, she reads her owners’ needs perfectly, and is always there to provide them with hugs and kisses.

Today, Kiki is far more than just a rescue dog with a not-so-glamorous past. She’s a caregiver, a friend, and a companion!

You can keep up with her daily adventures on Kiki’s official Instagram.