Day 3 - Sunday, May 23, 2010

I sound like a broken record, but we had another good day…and asked for new things from him.

Even though, today was great, the absolute best thing I get to report is that I’m told Sinatra is not going to the bathroom in his crate/run!!! It’s so awesome to love on a dry dog. Also, someone at Bark Avenue gave him a localized wipe down, so he’s not crunchy any more. I can’t wait for his stitches (from his neuter) to come out so he can have a full bath.

Anyway, on to our walk. Louie and I brought Scotch and Rou with us today. We did a full meet ‘n greet with Sinatra and Rou, which went well. Initially, his hair was up and his tail was high and wagging (not in a rigid wag). Still no growling, fortunately. Each dog licked the other’s lips a few times. We did a cursory meet and greet with Sinatra and Scotch. Scotch was in heel position on a sit with Louie, and Sinatra and I walked by closer and closer. We didn’t let them do any sniffing (baby steps for them). Sinatra avoided her almost completely, and she didn’t make much of an effort to sniff him either (though we were asking her for obedience). So, I walked Rou and Sinatra and Louie walked Scotch. Almost the entire time, Scotch was in front, followed by Rou and then Sinatra coming up the back. All three dogs were in pretty close proximity without incident. A few times Sinatra walked side-by-side with Rou, but mostly stayed at the back. There was even some incidental contact between the three with no problems.

Early in our walk, we passed a house with some little dogs barking from cages behind a fence. None of the dogs were the least bit interested. On the way back, at the same house, we were bum-rushed by two really fence aggressive dogs (afterward, my friend Debbie told me she crosses the street to avoid the dogs in this house). All three dogs were startled (as were Lou and I) and initially pulled toward the fence, but none barked or growled. I made sure Rou and Sinatra were separate, in case he (or even Rou for that matter) got worked up and redirected, but it never happened. Both were pretty responsive when I made a hard and fast 180 turn to cross the street. After we crossed and were waiting for Louie and Scotch to catch up to us, Sinatra stared at the wall, his head down and his back to the barking dogs across the street.

Also, we encountered a man watering his lawn with a hose. Scotch wanted a drink from the hose and the man nicely obliged. Rou, who likes to swim, hates hoses…as did Sinatra. He lowered his head and backed away from the man with the hose. Sinatra and Rou were quite the pair – two tough looking dogs trying to get as far away as possible from the water hose. Meanwhile, Scotch was biting the water stream, drinking and having the time of her life.

When we got back to Bark Avenue, we had the lobby to ourselves. All of the dogs got a drink and we just hung out for a bit. Sinatra tried to mount Rou a few times, but each time I told him no and pulled him off. Rou, of course, didn’t react at all, nor did he move away or alter his body position. Sinatra stopped trying after about four or five attempts. He also contemplated approaching Scotch, who was lying down, completely relaxed and exhausted. Sinatra cautiously made a wide circle toward her, sniffed the nearest item, looked at her briefly, then sniffed again. He never closed the distance completely (they were probably about 2-3 feet apart). Scotch lifted her head, looked at him and kind of leaned to sniff, but never got up.

It was hot, hot, hot today – by far the hottest day of the year – at least 87. For the first time, I saw Sinatra’s tongue hanging out (as were Scotch and Rou’s). At one point toward the end of our walk, Rou stopped to pee and Sinatra found a piece of shade and lay down. It was so cute. As soon as I said, “let’s go,” he was up and moving, but he was tired. All three dogs were completely spent after the 25-30 minute walk. Sinatra didn’t even look back when they led him back to his run, which is unusual.

He hasn’t pooped for me on-leash yet, but he’s usually pooped within a few hours of us going for a walk. In due time, I keep reminding myself.

As Louie tells it, he likes this dog stuff “in moderation.” I love him for supporting me on this and joining me on our walks.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Day 2 - Saturday, May 22, 2010

Sinatra was fabulous again. He was definitely feeling a bit better. For the first time ever, he jumped up on me (he was really pumped to see me). Louie and I took him for a 25-minute walk or so (including Damen and Grand again, but new side streets). He did a little sniffing and exploring, which made me happy. And a few times he walked ahead of me.

Anyway, still no growling...and we pushed the envelope a bit more today, walking past a doggie daycare where a couple dogs bum-rushed the fence barking hard. NO reaction.

We passed a small child (probably about 2) banging a whiffle ball bat on the concrete. That totally unnerved him. He glued himself to my side, slowly approaching the situation (putting me between himself and the child with the bat), then quickly ran by the situation, never making eye contact. He then refused food for the next block.

On the way back, we passed the doggie daycare again. No dogs bum-rushed the fence, though there were dogs on the lot. He wanted to stop and gawk a smidge, but wasn't stiff and came with me on an upbeat “leave it.”

He sat for me (AND Louie) a few times outside today, but still won't at busy intersections. I was really proud of that.

He's starting to enjoy cheese, but not as much if I'm not around. Rick, one of Daniel's awesome staff members, has been watching him closely and has taken an interest in him. He said (thus far) Sinatra has not demonstrated reactivity toward any dogs, including walking along a fence with small dogs who are barking. He also said a few dogs at Bark Avenue have gone nuts barking at Sinatra and he didn’t even look in the direction. It will be interesting to see how things go dog to dog-wise. I don’t want to be naïve; there is still a lot of work to do with this adolescent boy.

He's incredibly attached to me, but REALLY liked Louie and even sought out affection from him, which doesn’t do to anyone but me when I’m around. When we were walking, he'd split the difference between me and Lou...and even sat for Lou too (again, which he’s not doing much of for anyone but me when I’m around).

As always, it was incredibly difficult to leave, but I know he's in good hands and Linda from Puppy Love/Love Cats was going to visit him this afternoon.

Lou and I are going to walk him again tomorrow…stay tuned.

Day 1 - Friday, May 21, 2010:

Day 1 – Friday, May 21, 2010:

I picked Sinatra up at A.C.C. today around 2:00 p.m. Charles brought him out for me (with a towel, as he was his usual urine-drenched self). Sinatra was ready to go. He could hardly wait for me to put the towel down on the passenger’s seat before jumping in my car. Once I got in, he curled up and put his head in my lap.

As far as the rest of the day, it couldn’t have been much better, though I recognize Sinatra not only started a new life today, but also was neutered just yesterday. So, I don’t expect today was typical. Anyway, we got to Bark Avenue and introduced him to everyone. I think he’s going to have a fan club. There were lots of dogs in the lobby (4-5) and he was pretty good (staring, but no growling). We hung out for about 30-45 minutes and then I went back to work. I returned to Bark Avenue around 5:30 and he was out on the lot, “playing” with one of the kennel attendants (it was more like hanging out, but…). Daniel brought him out to me and we worked a little bit of obedience, but mostly just had fun and played around (with other dogs coming in and out, walking though, etc.). He met a few more people (some of whom he was immediately comfortable with and some whom he took him a minute to warm up to), and then we went on a 20 to 25-minute walk, which included Damen and Grand (both very busy at rush hour), as well as some neighborhood side streets. The leash was NEVER taut (not even once), nor did he EVER place one foot or his head in front of me – and this is not the least bit of an exaggeration. It was the easiest walk I’ve ever taken with a dog. He peed immediately (as usual), but didn’t do any environmental sniffing (except for as noted ahead). His head was low, but his tail was in the middle (neither too high, nor tucked) and his gait was pretty comfortable and relaxed. He’d head check with me very occasionally, but not often. He was acutely aware of my body and movement (I stop, he’d stop; I turn, he’s right there too), but would not do any obedience on the street (and I did not push it) yet. On our walk, we encountered loud buses, an underpass (with passing traffic), people walking with grocery bags, bikes, runners - approaching from both the front and the rear, and a number of dogs (probably 5), mostly at a distance, but we passed one closely in the neighborhood (at a distance of approximately 4’-5’). We stood in the parkway grass, while the dog (a good size shepherd mix – bigger than Sinatra) and its owner passed in front of us on the sidewalk. Upon the dog’s approach, Sinatra started sniffing the ground all over (which he had done none of up to this point). He continued sniffing until the dog passed, then calmly watched the dog and owner walk away. He made no effort to go the dog, nor was there any hard staring. All the while, there were dogs on a balcony across the street barking at us and the passing dog (he didn’t notice any other dog on the walk, nor look for where the barking was coming from). As for the runners, the one that came up from behind startled him; he came in close to my leg when she passed, recovering as soon as she was a few feet ahead. He watched the bicycles carefully, but didn’t break his stride. He noted and was a bit uncomfortable with changes in terrain, like when a driveway slanted the sidewalk. I left Sinatra around 7:00 p.m., and he was headed to have some dinner. Louie and I are going to take him for a walk tomorrow. Hopefully, we’ll have another great day.

Again, I take all of this with a grain of salt, as I know it’s his first day out, his first walk outside of the A.C.C. lawn in almost a year…not to mention that he had surgery yesterday. As soon as his stitches come out, that boy is getting a bath.

I’m sure this is more than you needed to know, but thanks for letting me share our fabulous day.