Kallik, mid-week, Week 2

So it has really been a bit of a whirlwind ride over the past week and a half. Getting to know Kallik, monitor his behaviour and interactions with Aana and Tuvaaq, and get an action plan in my head.
At the end of last week it was clear that he is an energetic little thing, and needs to blow off steam before he calms down and walks nicely. That's fine, we have ways and means around that, and today was one of the exercises I had in mind to achieve that.
Once he is drained of energy, training can begin. No point before hand right now.

Last week we realised that Kallik has a dislike for things being placed around his neck. He has got used to the lead now, but the gencon is another matter. But we are getting there. Once it is on him, he walks much better without a shadow of a doubt. Hunters are my preference, easy on, easy off, and greater flexibility and control. The downside, an excited and determine dog coughs and splutters if it pulls too hard. Never nice.

To deal with the energy, and to allow him to play more in the park, but still under control, I bought a 10 metre rope tracking line to let him have some freedom on. When he approaches other dogs, it is gathered in so no tangling occurs. When alone, he can run free (within 10 metres!)

See vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyXhvGFjtn4

Today was the first time using it, and I have to say I didn't think it all out too well. Entering the park the gencon was removed and put in my pocket. As we got to the green I attached the line to his fixed collar, checked it was nice and secure, then lifted the hunter lead loop over his neck. First mistake, the 10m line was running through the middle of it, which meant each time I let more line out, I had to slide the hunter up the line. Doh!

He had great fun, running around, meeting other dogs and people, and slowly the energy level dropped. Time to do some closer lead work. Bringing him back to me, I slid the hunter all the way back down the line, and put it around his neck, then carefully detached the line from his collar. Gathering the line back up, I looked down and saw the handle of the hunter dragging along the floor behind him!!! S***!
I NEVER take the looped handle of a hunter off my wrist, but because of the earlier tangle, I had! Walking calmly after him, I closed in as he sniffed around a bench, reaching down with relief..... he took off!!
Now you see him.....

Now you don't!!
If you look past the two closest trees, there is a orange / yellow looking frame towards the right, he is just beyond that, with 3 other dogs, and 2 ladies.

He sped off across the park, me more mortified that he might scare someone more than anything, keeping calm I walked in the direction he was heading in. Thankfully, he had been playing with two black labs earlier while I spoke to their owner, so seeing Kallik arriving at their feet, will his lead dragging, even before I called over to them, the wonderful lady calmly reached down, took his lead up and walked back towards me. I am SO thankful, and I don't even know her name. But she is most definitely my favourite person in Mayow Park right now.

Other than that, all is going well, he walked beautifully on the lead all the way home, no gencon needed.

They are absolutely amazing together at home when left alone, and I cannot think of a better match for Tuvaaq and Aana. May the amazing times together last for many years.

In the meantime, I am slightly sore at myself for him getting away. It will NOT happen again!

Kallik, the journey. One week on.

So it has officially been a week since he had his first full day at his new home. So I thought it was time for some updates for those interested, and of course some pictures. 

This time last week he went for his first proper walk on his own, and we discovered a few things. First and foremost, that his lead work is terrible, and he really needs some work there. And to add to it, he seemed very uncertain about things being placed over his head and around his neck. This was discovered after a lovely wrestling and biting session.  As for being on the lead, he is a puller, that is for sure. Some of that is the breed, some is lack of experience. The latter we can work with easily. 

Over the past week improvements have certainly been made, as tested and demonstrated this morning on a nice long walk, and visit to the park to socialise a bit more. Early on in the walks he is full of beans, so use of a gencon really helps restrict the pulling, and helps keep him in the right place. Simple device, and stops them choking themselves on a hunter lead. Aana and Tuvaaq have both been trained the same way. By mid walk, the energy levels have dropped and he is starting to calm down. At least to a point which I am happy with, for now. 

Around the house, things have calmed down a lot. Aana is still being a noisy little boss, while Tuvaaq has lost interest in the new kid, and just carries on about his business, unless of course Kallik attacks him playfully in his usual fashion. Sleeping arrangements are about as good as you can ever imagine. Even catching Aana and Kallik snuggled up one evening. Nice to see them so relaxed.

Feeding time is really no different to usual, just another mouth to feed, and another place to find for a dog to eat. They are fed separately to avoid any aggression. It is all over in the blink of an eye, then Aana collects up the bowls to clean them thoroughly.

One thing that has changed is the dynamic of walking time. There is the usual  excitement from Aana when leads appear, which has sadly led to Kallik copying her, that is something to work on. But there is now little to no vocalisation when one dog leaves the house. So clearly Kallik is worthy of being considered a pack member, and no one is left feeling left alone.

All in all things are working really well with him joining the family, and we can now officially say, we are hoping to go ahead with a full adoption in the coming weeks. So looks like at this point, that Kallik has officially found a forever home. By the end of next week, hopefully we can confirm this, and make the arrangements.

He is already VERY popular at the park when we go to socialise, with people making their way over to where we calmly sit, to make a fuss and introduce themselves and their dogs. Comments on his coat colour, questions on his breed, and shock and awe at the fact he is so big and still so young. It is lovely to having him interacting with so many people and dogs. The reason for sitting on a bench and waiting isn't being lazy, but to work on his excitement levels, and to try and reduce his drive to thunder over to other dogs. Letting people and dogs approach without him moving works very well. 

So, I will leave it there for now, but updates will follow for sure. 

So here are the pictures. 

Aana and Kallik having cuddles.

Sleeping in close quarters. Accepted in the pack.

Tummy tickle times.

Meeting new friends at the park.

Getting to know you. Not everyone quite so impressed.

Nice and relaxed. Both of us.

Ann and Kallik having a snuggle.

Adopt a dog. Kallik, the journey.

Losing a pet is never nice, losing a dog even less so. Not that I have personally ever lost a dog to illness or had one PTS. However, having recently seen little Bailey bum deteriorate and slip away, realising that my two, Tuvaaq and Aaanga were getting on a bit, and that the day would come when I will lose one. Then what!
Having grown together, and become my perfect dogs, a little stupid, a bit grumpy, and a whole load of relaxed, I have always wondered what it would be like to start over. Not that I really want to think about losing either of them.

While looking online at rescue centres, to see if there would be a good companion for my sister and her kids after Bailey passed, I noticed Prince. http://alldogsmatter.co.uk/dogs/prince-7/ On All Dogs Matter.. Having only rescued from a Malamute rescue in the past, I must confess I had not heard of ADM until last week. But seeing Prince, an 11 month old Malamute Husky cross, I decided I had to find out more.

After seeing he needed a foster for the time being, and wondering what my two would think of a new addition, I thought what the heck, and got in touch. Being than mine are not very well socialised, and Mals are not known so much for their open arm welcomes to their established packs, it was always going to be interesting. But given my two are getting on, they have chilled, a bit!

After getting in touch, and arranging a visit to ADM at Southend Farm ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Southend+Farm/@51.6822663,0.0342225,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47d8a02841b270a7:0xc703f531d47a1623!8m2!3d51.6822663!4d0.0364165 ) we set off on Saturday morning.

Initial introductions went really well, with Aana having a youthful dog to chase and bully again.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRftxYHDlEn

A good walk, and some time chilling out in the pen, and we decided we would take him home for a trial foster period, with the view to offering him a forever home.

The journey home was the first challenge, would the dogs share THEIR car with a new dog? Well I guess the picture answers that one ... Jordan with Aana happily sitting across her.

Once home, the intro to the house was the main thing, as although things went well, and he was accepted in, it was time to establish a pecking order. Aana has always been the matriarch, and this isn't about to change any time soon. Kallik (the name Prince is known by now) and Aana will have many encounters for a long time yet, but he is learning to deal with them, and getting more comfortable around her.

Trying his luck with all 55kg of Tuvaaq  was always going to be interesting, and after once being very dominantly pinned in the house, they came face to face again in the garden. Resulting in this picture.

To say Kallik was taken aback is an understatement, but he is learning now. No one was harmed in this.

Over the evening we discovered more about his personality and history, but by the end of the night, and after a nice group walk, their first night at home was a quiet and settled one, with everyone finding their own spaces.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRgyULAjo-f

This morning, Monday, the hard work begun, and some lead training and other bits that need addressing started. So off for a long walk, using a head collar too, we set about getting him sorted on a lead walk. Full of energy, I remember doing the same with Tuvaaq and Aana, so the pulling comes as no surprise at all. However that doesn't make things easier at all. He is a powerful little pup!

Off we went to the park, to socialise a bit, check out behaviour around strangers and other dogs of all shapes, temperaments and sizes. I am pleased to say all went well.

I will leave you with some pictures of the park trip for now, but will be sure to update.

Huge thanks to Ira, Sonia and Simon of www.alldogsmatter.co.uk for allowing all this to be possible.