Thanks to all who helped me find my first dane! He is the new love in my life!
Things are going well.
Last week we saw the vet and discovered an eye infection which we are currently treating. We will see the vet again this week for more medication.
I'm so happy to have meet my buddy. He is simply amazing! He is still very timid around other human beings and most animals, but we have already made progress in just a week! Chief loves our walks around the neighborhood and is making friends left and right! I am enjoying observing people as they meet him too. Most are intimidated at first glance, but that fear vanishes the second the realize that he is more afraid of them then they are of him! I am so happy to report that he has found his voice as well. He now barks when someone passes through my back gate at night and i am very pleased about that. He has also been wonderful around my nephew (almost 2 yrs old), and other children. He is already protective of me and always wants to be as near to me as possible. A friend of mine jokes that he wants to stay close to me so that i will protect him, not the other way around!
Although his foster mom told me that he prefers to crate at night and during the day wrk hours, chief downright refuses to get in his crate! (I guess he is afraid or doesn't like the smell of it? It is brand new). He cannot be enticed with treats, toys, praise nor pleads! (There are 3 treats in there that he has yet to fish out..He couldn't care less it seems!). So, he seems very happy to sleep down at the foot of my bed on his dog bed. So far i have managed to get him into the master bathroom to stay there in a safe space while i'm at work.
I was told that chief has a history of chewing things up. On the car ride home, he did try to eat some post-it notes, but has been really content it seems and hasn't gone to town on my furniture or rugs..(knock on wood)yet. . Although i did find a stuffed animal bunny rabbit tonight that he had taken outside at some point..And I also caught him with one of my rain boots this morning. ..Hmm..New trend emerging here? No, this is what foster mom was talking about I am sure.
I am on the hunt now for a great trainer in Austin to help us work on a few things. Ultimately, i would love to be able to give chief full access to the house while i am at work. I look forward to building trust with him more and more every day. I cannot wait for the day when i see that he no longer has a fear of abandonment. He's stuck with me for the long run!
Thanks again kim, lauren, jennifer (?, Snick foster mom), and everyone else involved in the organization. I really admire what you do, and thank you for everything. If it weren't for you, i wouldn't have this new love in my life!
Much love,
Stephanie Schoch
sskipperlove@aol.com
I uploaded photos (as promised!), And i hope you are able to view them! Let me know if i need to try loading them again.