A quick, 1st night update on the San-Man...
He's doing just great! We ran into Petsmart before heading home and
got a Gentle Leader (which he took to very nicely) and two chew bones, one for
him and one for my Beau. He got a bunch of compliments in Petsmart from
customers and employees.
He rode great in the truck once he had his bone and after
he finished it stuck his head out the window (rolled down just far enough for
his head!) and had the most hilarious flap-jaws. I think he liked how it felt because he kept
turning into the wind every time his lips would stop flapping! He looked so funny; I saw people in two other
cars pointing and laughing!
He learned to use the dog door before I could even get
over there to show him how! Fastest learner of the dog door I've ever had. Usually I tell Beau 'outside!, he
demonstrates and then I hold the flap open while my boyfriend Rocky stands
outside with a treat. Sanford watched
Beau and then pushed the flap back open and out he went! Same thing coming in, watched Beau once and
that was that. They raced around the backyard for 30 minutes peeing and chasing
then we went in. The boys settled down
on dog beds and took a 2 hour nap!
We've said his name literally hundreds of times with lots
of ear rubs and treats, he's now responding to it pretty well, about 80% of the
time. I think he's getting the hang of
'go potty' and 'good tee-tee' as well. We haven't had any accidents inside. He
started to lift his leg on a big potted plant (I can't blame him too much, it
looks like a tree!) but he stopped as soon as I said 'No!'
This evening we learned to sit and he's now doing it on
voice and hand command; we'll see if he remembers in the morning. Tomorrow we
are having a walk on the Gentle Leader, learning to use the clicker, and going
to the Zilker kite festival.
Beau has been teaching him some 'doggie manners' like
'that's my bone, don't touch it', 'wait your turn when we are drinking from the
hose' and 'don't jump on the couch or mom's bed those are MY spots!', oh and
most importantly, 'you may play with all of my hundreds of toys except for my
baby, the stuffed foxy!'
I set up his crate but he's been doing so well I haven't
put him in there yet. He's sleeping on
his dog bed right next to my bed right now
I've got matching bandanas on him and Beau and my mom's
making him one with a big ADOPT ME!! sewn on it.
There will be lots of photos and videos as he is soooo
handsome and quite photogenic!
Oh, I almost forgot the funniest thing. He 'buries' his bones inside. First he pushed a large potted plant about a
foot out from the wall, dropped the bone behind it, behind it not in the dirt,
and then shoved the plant back against the wall. Before bed he nosed my zip-up notebook, which
was on the floor leaning against the bedside table, out of the way, shoved his
bone half under the table, and then pushed the notebook on top of it. He was
getting frustrated because the notebook kept sliding off the bone but he kept
after it, readjusting bone and notebook 7 or 8 times until it balanced and hid
the bone to his satisfaction. So funny! I
wish is gotten a video but I was so busy watching and laughing I didn't even
think about it but I have a feeling he'll 'bury' again.
He likes to have something in his mouth but he's not very
mouthy, if that makes sense. He also
hasn't barked at all; I'm hoping Beau doesn't teach him how! I'm happy
to say he hasn't humped again since the initial 'hello hump'. And
that determined streak is great! He's not exactly stubborn he just really wants
to try it his way :)
Well, I thought it was going to be a quick update, but
he's such a joy I just had to share all!
Thanks so much for letting me take him and for all the
awesome hard work y'all do saving these fabulous dogs.
