Goodbye, Gorky - Hello, Rigby

Sweet Gorky went home today and boy is it quiet here. Chima and Sal are really going to miss him. Frodo, not so much. But the girls had a blast with him and he's been here since November so he felt like one of the pack.

Waiting in the parking lot to meet up with his new mom

Ready to head home in his new harness. First thing he did is tear over and give his new sister kisses.

Tomorrow evening our new boy Rigby arrives and we'll be back in action. He's 8 years old so I'm guessing that Frodo might like him a little better than Gork. He prefers the more sedate terriers. And in this house, sedate is relative because we are used to a quite rowdy crew.

Rigby on the road, getting a new toy on transport and wearing his Gettin' 'Em Home transport bandana.

Mardi Gras!

It was Barkbox day at our house the other day and there was a very fun Mardi Gras theme this month. The jester ball and carnival mask toys are pretty much shreds of fabric at this point but the dogs had fun destroying them.

Chima, waiting her turn while Gorky squeaks the jester ball

Gorky loved the squeakie jester ball and is still managing to get a few squeaks out of it, even though it's lost its tassles. Chima had her typical wrestling match with the toys and I loved the video I caught of her, completely still, waiting to see if Gorky would come and take it. For most of the video, the only way you know it is video is because Gorky's tail is wagging full speed.

We used the catfish po'boy treats at Nose Work class for Chima and she found them delicious. Of course she occasionally eats poop so it's not like she's picky or anything.

Spring Time!

We had a rare day that was both dry AND had blue skies. The dogs and I took advantage of that and while I did a bit of clean up in the yard, they explored and sniffed.

Gorky and the daffodils

The daffodils overcame the fact that Chima occasionally likes to poop right in the middle of them and are looking great. Not long now...

Gorky sniffing the fuchsia 

Tilly was over all this green fun before the rest of us and was not happy about the other girls sniffing her so much. She wanted to be picked up and taken inside! She had rolled in the mud already so was ready to go back to sleep.

Tilly had enough of the big girls sniffing her

Queen Tilly is ready to be carried back inside

While it may be awhile until we get our next day with blue skies, it's great to see the birds coming back and the shrubs and trees starting to bud.

Gorky's Beloved Squirrel

We have these Hugglehound brand plush squirrel toys that the dogs enjoy. Plush toys tend to only come out for short lengths of time here since Frodo, Tilly and Salinas immediately shred them. Gorky and Chima LOVE to play with them though. Chima likes to roll around on her back while she holds the toy in her mouth and Gorky, well Gorky likes the squeak. Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak... On and on it goes with the occasional shake thrown in.

During one of those play sessions he had the squirrel and he squeaked it for a good 10 minutes while Chima followed him around, waiting her turn. Once he let his guard down she had it in a flash and he begrudgingly watched her roll around for a few minutes before she got bored and he had his chance to squeak again.

I'll be sending Gorky to his forever home with lots of plush toys since they tend to accumulate here and he actually plays with them. And of course he will get to take his squirrel home.

Gorky tells Chima, "Don't even think of it, lady"

But Chima did think of it and eventually her patience as she stalked him won her a turn with the squirrel

Gorky's Adopted!

I'm super excited to announce that foster boy Gorky has found a new home! Our field trip to Seattle was to visit his new mom and see how the Gorkster handled city life.

Gorky was picked up as a stray in a rural farming community in Central CA. Here's a street view of the area he was found as a stray.

After that Gorky adjusted to suburban life while with us in foster care but now he's going to be a city boy, living in a highrise apartment and walking downtown. Lots of change but he's a very resilient boy who tends to go with the flow after a little adjustment time. His new mom loves to hike so he will get to spend some times on the trails as well, which he will love.

Congratulations to Gorky and his new mom. We can't wait to hear updates about how he's doing. He'll be with us for a few more days and then will head to his new home. Stay tuned for our next foster dog, the first new foster of 2015, to be introduced soon.

Field Trip

Gorky had an adventure in the city on Sunday and did great! While he was definitely a little nervous by all the new sights and sounds, he's a resilient little guy and before long his tail was up and his butt was wagging. Thanks to my fully loaded treat bag he decided this city stuff wasn't so bad.

Looking towards Seattle Center from the edge of downtown

We didn't overwhelm him too much. Just a little walk with lots of sniffing (and peeing on) street trees. A streetcar drove by, as well as a bicycle, a skateboard and a bus and he took it all in stride - watching them carefully and then regularly checking in with me to make sure this was all safe.

Checking out all the street trees

The only thing he found really scary was riding in an elevator, but who can blame him! I mean how weird is a room that moves?!

Making sure nothing tries to sneak up behind him

On our way back to the car we stopped so he could admire the landscaping and we could avoid a Shiba Inu that was walking past. While Gorky isn't really reactive to other dogs when he's on leash, he does get hyper-alert and intense so we kept more of a distance to help him learn another dog on a leash isn't a big deal. That will be important for his continued acclimation to leash walking - no face to face or up close greetings while he learns to relax. Then he can slowly work up to closer distances to the other leashed dogs. Unleashed, he is totally relaxed around other dogs but on a leash he's still working on feeling safe.

It was a great experience for him though. It's always good to expose dogs to a variety of environments, just making sure the exposure level isn't overwhelming and the overall experience is a positive one for the dog.

Couch Time

The couch is a favorite spot for the dogs to nap, no matter how many soft, cushy dog beds are lying about.So when we put a new, small sectional downstairs I should have known the dogs would quickly take it over.

Chima, Sal and Frodo, hanging out

The lower floor of our home is the rec room. Our television and computers are down there, books, games, and a whole walk-in closet full of dog stuff. We spend a lot of time in this comfortable, cozy room.

Gorky joins the mix and they all take a nap together

Recently we replaced the couch down there with a small sectional and I love reading or working on my laptop on the chaise section of the couch. Unfortunately the dogs have decided this is also THEIR favorite section and typically by the time I want to sit there it's covered in a mound of terriers.

Sleepy Gorky

The only way I get to sit on the chaise - with dogs lounging on my lap

I actually think I'm going to purchase a small ottoman for the other end of the couch so I still get to put my feet up when the dogs are hogging the chaise end. Of course, I could be the mean guy and kick them off, but who could really disturb such cuteness?

The Art of Thievery

Chima has long been known as the expert toy thief in our house. She does it without growling or intimidation, Instead she just moves closer and closer, waiting for the perfect moment to steal without confrontation. Well Chima had better watch out because there's another expert thief in town.

Last night after Chima and I got home from Nose Work class she was rolling around on the floor, happily playing with a bone. Slowly and with great strategy Gorky made his move. First nosing one end of the bone. Then slowing moving his paw down the bone to the end closest to Chima and then scooting the bone carefully towards him. Chima watched the whole thing and while she was a little too still for my liking during the bone coup, Gorky managed to get the bone without a single snark from Chima.

Chima, enjoying her bone

Of course once he had it he decided it wasn't nearly as interesting as Chima was making it seem and he let her have it and went off to look for something more interesting, like a Nylabone or squeakie toy.

Gorky, starting to make his move

Moving his paw down the bone carefully - the most dangerous part since his paw is close to her mouth

Starting to get some distance between Chima and the bone. Watch out Gorky, Chima is awfully still. Not a good sign.

Short Boys Get More Toys

Gorky is short. I mean, really, really short. It doesn't slow him down any though and his bowed little legs can run like the wind.

He's long known that if he tucks his head he can run right underneath Chima but recently he learned a new skill - scooting under the couch. Why is this such a great skill? Well, it's twofold.

First, he can hide under there when he's wrestling with Chima. This gives him a break from the action but also allows for a strategic position where he can poke his head out and chew on her legs. It frustrates her to no end since only her head fits under there.

Coming out from under the couch after successfully chewing on Chima's legs and finding Frodo's favorite ball.

But secondly, and the reason he developed the "under the couch scoot" skill in the first place, is the toys. Anyone who has dogs knows that a couch holds some magnetic force that sucks dog toys beneath it. Once under there they tend to be forgotten for ages. Well Gorky discovered this treasure trove and when I don't see him, typically he is under the couch, chewing on a choice nlyabone or squeaky ball that he has found under there.

So while he can't climb a gate or jump up on a dining room table to steal treats like the other dogs in the house, he can hoard toys they lose under the couch which in his opinion is a talent worth having.

Gorky's First Puzzle

Because my dogs (and foster dogs) eat a mix of wet and dry, I don't pull out the food puzzles that often but I really should. Puzzles are a great way to put a dog's brain to work in a very positive way. For shy dogs as long as you start easy it is a great confidence booster since it is self rewarding to them and the person can be at a distance so they can turn off the anxiety for a bit and just enjoy themselves.

Gorky isn't a shy guy but he likes to keep busy and he really seemed to love the experience. His breakfast was served in "The Green". This is the large version but they make a smaller version that is better for small dogs. I just bought all my food puzzles before they came out with the smaller sizes, unfortunately.

Because I have about 10 plus different food puzzles, Gorky will have a lot more to try out in the future.

Bitey Face

Gorky and Chima love to play bitey face any time and any place. Unfortunately sometimes they like to play when the rest of us are wanting to relax. The other night they just couldn't stop. They were having way too much fun.

Later Gorky made the mistake of trying to clean Chima's ears for her (which Salinas loves and lets him do all the time. She took great offense and all the happy times of their game was immediately over. Fortunately Gorky immediately stopped and all was forgiven. He'll know next time not to mix the two up when he wants to clean some ears.

Couch time and Gorky is being careful to steer clear of Chima's ears. 

Toys of Christmas Past

Because I wasn't blogging in December, I missed sharing some cute shots of Christmas.

Handsome Gorky in his candy striped bandana

Gorky wore his fancy Christmas bandana and enjoyed killing his toy squirrel. Chima had fun tossing hers around and chasing it, Gorky gummed his to death until it was loaded with dog slobber and the other dogs chose a path of quick destruction. He also took turns on the mint and turkey/cranberry nylabones that were in plentiful supply.

Salinas working on a turkey/cranberry Nylabone dinosaur

Frodo finishing off one a Christmas cow

Gorky and his soggy squirrel

Dorky Gorky

It's been almost two months since I've posted. I have no excuses other than life gets busy and I've been a bit burnt out. However, Gorky is such a great dog and people are passing him over so I really wanted to try to restart myself on blogging so hopefully more people will hear about this sweet guy.

It is pretty much the norm that when people are looking for a dog, they are making their choices by the photos they see and not the words that tell about the dog. They want that gorgeous purebred look but often the reality of the temperament of the working dog that they want is a shock to their system. "What?! I have to work this dog out twice a day and between that keep their brain active?"

Well Gorky doesn't have the purebred look. He's got odd proportions and enormous ears and a crooked little mouth. But along with those enormous ears he has an enormous heart. He loves people, plays politely with other dogs, enjoys just chilling on the couch with his people, and is doing great with his house training. He just has the sweetest temperament.

Gorky, hanging out with his foster sisters

I  think he would do fine with one or two older kids with good dog manners but toddlers would stress him out. His only down side is something unfortunately he started doing here and we are working on it - growling at me and my husband when he wants to sit in a spot that another dog is sitting in (specifically, right next to us because he always wants the prime spot.) We are working on teaching him that the growling doesn't get him what he wants and at the same time building up other more appropriate behaviors.

So only one negative that I can think up and a huge list of positives. He is a joy to be around and I hate to think that people are skipping him over because he looks like a bit of a goofball. I tell you, everyone who has met this dog instantly falls in love.

So take a second look at this sweet blue boy with the epic ears. He's a gem.

More Wrestling!

The big shocking news at our house this week is that Salinas has decided that she likes to play with Gorky. You have to understand Sal to know why this is so shocking. While she is quite playful with her toys, tossing them to herself and chasing after balls, when another dog tries to engage her in play she gives a slight curl of her lip and walks away. It's weird because more than any of my other dogs she does best having another dog around, but she just likes to co-exist with them - no playing.

But for some reason she has decided she loves wrestling with Gorky. Unlike her sister Chima, Gork isn't so vocal and intense in his play so Sal doesn't get nervous that this might end up being dangerous.

Taking a break

It started with just a few short matches to try it out but now, a few days later, and they will spend a good 20 minutes wrestling, giving themselves short breaks when they get tired or the wrestling gets too intense. It has been a joy to watch them.

Chima and Frodo are a bit irritated by it, but they are always a bit irritated if they aren't the ones having the most fun.

Frodo on fun patrol

And the result of so much wrestling? A very tired Sal and Gorky.

Sleepy Sal

Salinas' decision that she likes Gorky still doesn't apply to when she's resting and he wants to hang out next to her. Although after he used her head to kick of the couch to chase a ball, I can't really blame her for that.

Apologies for all the leaves on the carpet. The dogs bring them in when they whoosh in the door from outside and there always seem to be a few more, along with fir needles recently.

Snow Time for Gorky!

The snow is mostly gone now but the dogs sure enjoyed it. I will never understand why Chima thinks that being outside in rain is like taking an acid shower but being outside in snow and wind that cuts right through you is no biggie.

It was likely Gorky's first snow and like all things in life, Gorky approached it with excitement and wild abandon. There were many rounds of zoomies in the yard followed by a lot of snow snuffling and "catching" snowballs that I threw.

Gorky Chills

I'm not going to lie to you. Gorky is a busy boy who likes to go, go, GO! He regularly has us laughing as he tears around, chasing after a ball he has thrown for himself or bugging one of the dogs to play with him.

But after he's played, and played and then played a little more, he does choose to hang out and snooze on a lap or just the couch if there is no lap to grab. Here are some photos as proof that this silly boy does slow down. 

A lot of Gorky's initial energy that we were seeing was nerves and the stress of getting used to a new environment but the more he settles in, the less busy he is, making him better able to enjoy moments of "chill" such as the ones pictured in this post. 

Leash Learning

I don't think that Gorky has ever been walked on a leash and he probably hasn't spent much time outside of a backyard so another thing we've been working on is putting a harness on and taking it off, and also walking around while leashed.

Heading out on his first "walk"

Because so much of the noises, sights and smells of our suburban neighborhood are new, I'm not starting out actually attempting to just "go for a walk". I want this to be a positive thing for him so to begin with I attached a treat bag to my belt, harnessed and leashed him up, and then I let him sniff around our front yard and practiced walking on the sidewalk in front of our house and the neighbor's house.

Gorky set the pace and we walked around the yard while he carefully sniffed each shrub and plant. 

For the most part he didn't do a lot of pulling and stayed close so loose leash walking shouldn't be too tough to teach

Gorky was a little nervous but he is starting to understand that this is safe and fun and before we know it we'll be working on longer walks. For now we end our walks with a fun off leash romp in the back yard which is something that he loves to do. You always want things to end of a good note so that next time the leash comes out they are going to associate it with fun, and not something negative.

Gorky and the Grab

I had mentioned that Gorky has learned in his previous home that to be safe it's best to stay just out of reach of human hands if they are trying to reach for you.

This is the first thing we are working on which I'm working on in a bit of a round about way.

First off, I'm teaching Gorky that I am a wild and crazy treat dispensing machine. I want him to get a bundle of experience that when people are around great things happen. Remember, a dog often has a long history that has created a certain behavior, in this case avoiding a collar grab. Our job is to teach them that something else is a better option. The better option I'm giving Gorky is that when he hangs out near people, treats rain down from above and toys are offered.

Some dogs are too worried to approach people so you have to start out by tossing treats. Happily Gorky is willing to take treats from my hand already before he darts away. Remember that a training plan is always a unique plan, based on the dog you are working with. There is no such thing as one size fits all training. Your dog decides where the "starting line" is and with what speed the plan proceeds.

The other thing that I'm working on with Gorky is that looking at me is rewarding. I want to build up our relationship so he knows that checking in with me and paying attention when I call his name makes great things happen.

So now I have a dog who is paying more attention to me, and wants to come when he's called because it means his person might give him something tasty.

Now I sit down and wait for him to tentatively approach for pets. He gets love and attention and during this I gently hold his collar, still laying on the charm, and then I release the collar, give him a treat and lots of praise and maybe throw a toy. The key is to practice this a lot so that he doesn't learn that collar grab = end of fun time. Coming to his person should always be positive.

Gorky has proven to be a very smart guy and even after just a few days he's spending more time approaching me and asking for attention and less time worried that someone is going to grab him and do something unpleasant. Good job, Gorky!