GRIFFIN ON LEASH

After the first week Griffin's walk on leash has improved greatly.  He is also doing awesome at open doors, whether its at home or getting in and out of the truck.  Here's Griffin showing off at the door before going for a walk.  He also sits quite nicely waiting for his leash to be clipped on, but then he's done that from day 1 so I think someone had already taught him that.

I took him out with the video camera because I'm just so proud that he's not trying to pull me down the street any more. He waits at the gate without rushing through and the first clip also shows he keeps a loose leash even at the start of a walk.  We had a decent loose leash walk in the first few days but the start of the walk took a bit longer.

Griffin sometimes dashes ahead a bit when he sees something interesting but he still has been keeping a loose leash.  I make sure to give him time to sniff at different spots on the walk and then we get back to business of a good pace.  I think he has figured out the routine and is comfortable with it and that has sure helped him relax on the walk. 

GOLDEN RULE

A golden picture of my former foster....inspired a golden rule

As my ideas of how I work with, or handle dogs, have been changing I find myself continually comparing my relationships with dogs to relationships with people.  How you treat someone when you first meet them, what access into your life you allow, what level of trust needs to be built, when you introduce new friends to your existing friends etc etc.   These ideas are not far off from how I begin my time with a new foster. 

Sorry to keep this short...but I'm heading off to work and wasn't planning a long, deep blog. 

GRIFFIN GOES TO THE BEACH

Griffin has been with me for one week now and I've seen a big improvement in how the tries to use his weight to push to where he wants to go.  Whether its on leash or in/out of doors he was stubborn and pushy.  He has since discovered that I am more stubborn and will out wait him at any door or on any leash.  In a matter of a few days he realized he only goes through a door once he either hangs back and waits, or if he sits patiently.  After a full week of this practice he now just stands back at the door at home and waits until I've unlocked and opened the door, I walk through and then he follows.  On leash he is pulling alot less and after our trip to the beach yesterday our evening walk consisted of him trailing very tiredly behind me.  He just needs to realize he can get everything he wants without pushing for it.  I have also stopped giving him any attention for pawing me.  His feet are big and his nails can hurt, so he is learning to stare at me with those soulful eyes of his and he gets affection without the paw. 

So as I type this blog, Griffin is just soaking up the morning sun  on the patio:

'was that a shutter I heard?....just give me 5 more minutes"

Yesterday, we met up with Paula and TG dog Silky at my favorite beach and Griffin really enjoyed himself.  He met all dogs with a good greeting, except one un-neutered male who came strutting up and stared Griffin down.  I caught his body language in time to grab his collar and he settled but that dog wasn't leaving until the owner came and got him.  I was told that he is good with all dogs at daycare including one unneutered male so the beach dog's challenging stance must have been what made him not like that guy.   He met people and dogs with a happy wag and he surprised me by being so good on leash even with the new distractions. 

We got to the water and he acted like he had never seen water and waves and he was hesitant about wading in.  A little verbal coaxing (and I MAY have pretended to have a treat in my hand) got him up to his belly.

This is his 'no further' look on the face

but....I'll walk along side you instead

 

After his first few times of getting his feet wet he went in a bit easier each time.  I think with enough exposure to water he might even learn to like swimming.  Maybe he just needs to observe all of those other water-loving Labs at the beach for a while longer.  

Griffin's endurance seems pretty good, but with it being such a hot day we were careful not to overdo it.  We stopped in the shade on our walk back to cool down for a bit.

'we're going home now....right?'

Griffin spent the rest of the day flaked out.  He was so pooped he didn't even entertain eating his dinner until 9:00 at night.  He is a very easy dog to have around.  

Here is a quick video I caught, of Griffin's stair waddle.  He looks so cute going down the stairs, with his whole bum and tail in motion.  I couldn't catch him doing the whole length of stairs because he now stops to wait for me if I don't come with him the whole way. 

GRIFFIN HAS A DO-OVER

Griffin was driven down from Turtle Gardens to the Lower Mainland in September last year.  I remembered him being the nicest dog out of that dog run.   He is calm and such a 'love'.  He went into a foster home and it was noted that he was not a candidate for a home with cats.  He was subsequently adopted into a home with a very nice couple who have been showering him with love and affection, not to mention he had to have some dental work done and is missing one of his lower canines.  So it wasn't that his owners didn't love him, it was his obsession with the next door neighbour's cat that had moved in.  I don't believe he had been making a fuss noise wise but he was trying to get next door whether that meant going through or under the fence.  He also tried to go through the shared access panel between the two units when his owners were away.  He was pulling hard on leash and trying to jump on people in his enthusiasm to greet them and get closer.  At 80 lbs he has learned to use his weight to get what he wants and I have compared him to a 'tank'.  So for a mellow big dog, he's not necessarily going to out-run you or need more than your average exercise but if he's determined he's going to motor his way where he wants.

I'm not sure if he could catch a cat in a wide open space but he can't be trusted with a cat in a confined area, so he needs a home without a cat and to be safe probably without birds, hamsters, etc (why take a chance).  He does have great dog skills and was fine with dogs of all sizes and ages when he was at Turtle Gardens.

And so, that brings us to yesterday when I picked up Griffin.   He travelled okay in the truck, a little stressed but good all the same.  When we got to my place I wanted him to get some business out of the way so we hung out in my little yard for a while.  All he wanted to do was get inside and see what was in there. 

'is this where we go in?'

'no....okay, how about over here?'

'hello!...I know you're in there'

Closed door isn't going to stop the nose from getting information.

 

Griffin gives up for a brief moment and comes to plead his case with me.

'um....whatcha waitin for'

One ear North and one ear South...Griffin patiently waits

 

'come on...what gives!'

Griffin finally gave up his watch at the door and did both bits of business I had been hoping for.  He likes to plow his way through a door, whether its to get in or out so we spent a bit more time learning patience at the door before he was allowed to come inside.  Once in, he remained on leash and I gave him the grand tour.  He drank some water and we headed back out for a quick once-around-the-block.  He is learning not to pull on leash and after a short distance he catches on and becomes a little easier.  Back at home base he flopped down on his own bed and not a peep out of him for a while.

Later in the evening when it had cooled down outside we went for a longer walk. We saw 4 baby skunks along the way.  When we passed the first one, Griffin got excited and pulled on leash.  Not so much that I couldn't hold him back.  By the time we saw the next ones I was better prepared and held a taught leash and just moved him right on by.  The experience of seeing the skunks wasn't really that much worse than any other foster I've had that would love to go chase them.  At 80 lbs though, he does need someone who is balanced on their feet and strong to walk him.  He is not the dog you'd hand the leash over to the kids as he'd out-weigh a small child and would pull them right over.  I'm confident he's going to learn to walk on a loose leash but he may never get past his desire to run after a critter, not unlike many other dogs I know.

At the park we met with three small kids and Griffin really shines in this situation.  He seems to really love their energy and probably their size too which means he doesn't need to jump up to get closer.  He sat patiently while being petted and when he'd had enough he looked at me as if to say 'okay' that's good for now.

Griffin slept on the floor next to my bed last night, not a peep out of him.  He did have the choice of two other beds so I could see what his preference was but I suppose location won out over the comforts of either bed.  I have yet to hear him bark, despite any noises going on outside.

Today, was Griffin's first day of daycare and I'm told he went to all the staff for affection throughout the day.  He got on well with all dogs and while he didn't play today, he showed a glimmer of wanting to.  Once he gets used to being there I'm guessing he'll start playing.  So here is the result of a day well spent: 

Griffin was still on leash when I brought him in the house today, but he is so well behaved he will earn off leash indoors tonight.  He is such an affectionate dog.  He hasn't jumped on me since yesterday after I first picked him up, but I think he wishes he was 15 pounds so he could be a lap dog - he just has a way of wanting to be closer than his size allows.  I know there is a perfect home for him out there.  He's a great dog!