Ginger Update, and Max Seeks Quality Time

Here is a shortened update from Ginger's family. Jade, Ginger's mum and I are cut from a similiar cord. We have a knack for writing novels instead of blurbs :) But that's okay with me!

From Jade and Mark:

Our Kia Sportage is now officially the "Ginger Mobile" -- full of her hair already and slobber marks all over the back door and windows, and this is just after two car rides :) Ginger and the cats are still adjusting, with every interaction monitored, but they don't seem to hate us as much as we thought they would :) Ginger just can't figure out why these two furry house mates don't want to be "instant" friends with her :) Ginger LOVES her food and especially LOVES to mooch for our food ... we're working on her manners ... tonight she was so tired from a full day today and her nightly walk that when Mark & I were finishing some homemade pie, Ginger was struggling to keep her eyes open, but gosh darnit, she wasn't about to give up on the possibility of getting something at the end ... it was quite comical to observe her trying to muster enough energy to see it through :)

She has spurts of playfulness, I bought her a larger than normal sized tennis ball from Bosley's and she really enjoys chasing it all of 4-5 times and then it's too much work after that :) On tonight's walk after dinner she HAD to meet this older couple and in general she feels the need to MEET EVERYBODY that comes our way, but not everybody is that friendly and when we did come across a family with another big dog like that, Ginger had this disappointed look on her face as they all quickly walked on by, wondering why there was no "greeting." I also just realized that she's about 93 lbs., well I'm only 96 lbs., ... she's a whole other me in dog form :) Thanks again for recommending Ginger to us ... she really is the right match for our family :) Smiles, Jade (& Mark).

I didn't  take any of my own pictures of Ginger while she was here as Piper had such great ones, but here are a few my co-worker Brianne snatched of her at daycare.

The Lion

I have a cookie -she is thinking she might stand up for it...

Too lazy to stand for cookie, but will follow it with my eyes...

Max continues to do well. I am making sure to continue mentally challenging him with new things. He is a dog that although isn't really fearful is hesitant to tackle new things on his own, but it's important he does, and that while doing so, he is reminded who is in charge of the situation. It's like having Beckett all over again (minus the fact that Beckett wasn't reactive, and was probably more stubborn overall). Still, the way the two of them will sneakily take advantage of the situation is EXACTLY the same. Hahahahah, oh Max, you have lots to learn from the old man! I'm over you like a dirty shirt ;)

Our learning curves over the past two days have included:

1) Daycare, where he did well with 20 big dogs in a group today --quite a large group for our daycare--. He needed a few reminders that he was safe and didn't have to protect himself, and quite a few (non-literal) kicks up the rear for marking (lifting his leg and claiming things as his). Although he is a bit of a pain in the butt, he would do well to continue being in a bigger group of dogs. On the brighter side, he did play some today. He doesn't quite know how to ask to play with another dog yet and kind of just expects that someone will come and ask him. Like the shy, awkward guy at the dance.

2) I took him with our dogs to a fenced in dog park last night. What better place to tackle leash reactivity than a place where most of the dogs are very social. I had to brace myself as people give you dirty looks if your dog is being a jerk, but it wasn't too busy, and we met, maybe 20-30 dogs total, maybe 4-5 of which were bigger male dogs. Max will get his hackles up long before he actually meets a new male dog, and he automatically assumes he isn't going to like said other dog, or that other dog wants to do him some damage. Then, the submissive dog suddenly switches and becomes the dog that's going to show he's a big tough male. Enter: he starts the mad pull towards them. Put him in his place right there and make the other dog pass him and you get absolutely no reaction out of him. You have to make sure that the other dog doesn't invade his small bubble, to show that you have the situation under control on both sides, but if you are proactive in the smaller stages, there is no longer a flare up. Does he have the potential to be quite reactive on a leash -MOST DEFINITELY, but does he have the ability to be an awesome K9 citizen, OBVIOUSLY. He needs a 'master'. Someone he can devote himself to, someone that makes him listen, someone that isn't going to let him get away with anything.

3)   Time at home by himself. Max has been easily crate-trained, and being wiped out on Monday he was a-okay left at home by himself for 7 hours while I worked Tuesday -IE: crazy day at work-. Although Max shows some signs that he could develop some seperation anxiety, I'm beginning to realize he's a dog that seeks QUALITY TIME. He's a dog that would be okay home by himself 3-4 days a week providing his person or people pays him a lot of attention when they are home. He is a dog who wants to lay at your feet, a dog that wants to go for a walk, and a dog that in general, just wants someone to love him. I've met lots of QUANTITY TIME dogs, where they would rather you around a lot but don't really want quality time (walks, playtime, training, etc.), but Max, much like my own two dogs, would rather have the quality time. With that quality time, he will sleeps the days away!

I believe Max has an app with a homecheck to do, so we will see where that leads.  For now, we will continue challenging him to be a better dog, while at the same time making sure he feels safe in the process.

Max -by Brianne. He says: "Look into my eyes, I need love!"