So it's been a while since I posted about my daughter's horse . . . er . . . giant dog (Newfie/Pyrenees cross) [View all]

I've been walking him 4 days a week, and doing most of his good citizen training.

He's a big goofy sweetheart, who is already a neighborhood celebrity. So far, he hasn't caused any accidents - but several people have stopped in the middle of traffic to ask about him and/or take his picture - probably every other day. Definitely has some issues from his prior home - one we haven't figured out yet (severe car ride anxiety). He'd be an ideal scent dog - working on ways to exercise his sniffer so he doesn't have to use it quite so much when we're working on learning new skills. As long as I'm not insisting he walk by my side, he never lifts his nose up from the ground and darts across from one side of the street to another. I know exactly where Newfies store things they have gobbled up that they know they aren't supposed to have (like chicken bones someone tossed aside) . . . my hand is still not de-slimed from the escapade.

But in two months of training, he walks beside me on a loose leash most of the time, crates himself (so he doesn't get into trouble while she's working), is a champ at sit, down, up, touch and leave it in the house - less of a champ outside where there are outdside distractions, gives me each of his front paws to clean/dry off one at a time when we come in from outside (whether it is wet out or not). Getting better at recognizing when we hit the street corner (and mostly he's swinging his head right and left . . . not sure he knows what he's looking for, but at least it slows him down).

Two days a week (when I'm not walking him between classes) I take him down to the local cemetery and work him on a 50' leash both for exercise and to work on recall. That leads to some pretty hilarious situations.

Next goal is to get him to the local dog park. It's 1.8 miles away - and right now we don't want to force him into the car since he is so reactionary. I may just give him a good long walk and take him there on a day I don't have classes. He got to play joust with a Huskie the other day, and was pretty gentle, given how big he is, so he would definitely benefit from some unleashed time hanging out with other dogs. In the mean time we're playing sniffing games where he has to put his head in the car to play. So far, so good. But that's a slow process.

So here's the star!

I decided to lie down on the floor yesterday. He was concerned.


Playing with his favorite cat (translation: The only 1 of 4 who will actually play with him)


One of the hilarious cemetery situations on a 50' lead