Cole’s major accomplishment this month has been that he has gotten much better around other dogs. Our instructor at obedience school suggested a very simple intervention – give him a special treat every time he sees another dog. We’re using cheese, so we take sticks of string cheese with us whenever we go out and he gets to eat the cheese as long as another dog is present. If we need to pass another dog, we just hold the cheese in front of his nose and he follows it right past the other dog. Within a week, this had a huge effect. He’s never going to be friendly with dogs, but now we’re the ones looking sympathetic as other dog-owners drag their snarling, lunging dogs away. He’s already made the connection between dogs and cheese. When other dogs walk by the house, now, he just barks once and then rushes to the fridge to get his treat. We can now comfortable pass about 5 feet from another dog. I hope that in a few weeks, we’ll be able to share a sidewalk.

Despite all the cheese he’s eating, Cole’s continuing to lose weight. He’s eating a mix of weight management and regular food which he seems to like fine. He’s doing a lot of walking and jogging. On Mondays, Cole goes out to play Frisbee during the day and comes back exhausted.

It’s a little hard to type this since Cole is crawling in my lap and asking to be petted. He’s a very affectionate dog who just can’t get enough attention. He’s been a wonderful addition to our family.

Just checking in to let you know Xena is doing great!!!! Settling in giving a lot of kisses and getting a lot of hugs!

It’s been a long time since I’ve sent information on Skyler. He’s been here in Maine for quite some time and is quite happy!

He’s almost 11 years old and still ‘young.’ Though he can no longer outrun Greta when they fetch at the beach, but he can hold his own. Sky is the legend of the Kennebunk Dog Park as he is the only dog who can carry 4 tennis balls in his mouth at once. He doesn’t want anyone to take them from him; he just prances around and receives praise. He’s still a very funny dog. He ate all the tomatoes and cucumbers off the vines in the garden this summer. (Stupid me; fence before you plant!) He has taken to sleeping on my bed and is happy as long as he is touching me. He’s even overcome his fear of the basement and sometimes I can find him on top of the dirty laundry in the dark wash room downstairs. Sky is great with the electric fence. His health is excellent (annual checkups and thyroid evaluations). He loves the vet and she thinks he’s great! Skyler is one of the few dogs I know who gets out of the car and RUNS to the front door of the vet office! He and Greta are good together. Independent Labs as always but quite a comfortable team. She is the ‘mother’ and he aquiesces. She even washes his face. You can see that he is in wonderful shape, a gorgeous pup and a love of a dog. Thank you, NEARR, for his rescue and all of his love.

Just wanted to let you know that things are going well with Xena. She has
settled right in. She loves playgroup and they love her. Here is a picture
of her in her new home.

Max continues to do wonderful with us. We were at the beach today and a number of other dog owners commented on what nice dogs Max and Missy are, and how they play so well with each other and friends. Max had such a good time he is snoring under my feet as I write - tough life. Thank you for brining him into our lives because we and Missy really love him, and there is no doubt he loves us!

Buster is doing just fine. He is going to the vet tomorrow to get on his heartgard. He is sutch a good boy we are so glad we got him. He loves that I am home with him every day. He is the best dog I have ever had.

Jack is doing very well. I am just starting to see that he is becoming bonded into the family. His comfort level is more relaxed. Jack sits and stays for longer periods of time. We can now take the toy while he is in a stay position without him coming after the toy and getting your hands.

We also have been working on wait which is pretty similar to stay so he has caught on quickly. Jack loves the trampoline. One day he just jumped up there to be with my husband lying on the trampoline. Jack loves my husband. It is so funny to see him bouncing with the kids. He also will sit on the trampoline by himself. I think he likes that he has a clear view of the yard. My husband created a game with Jack that he climbs under the trampoline pokes his head out from underneath in different places and Jack just loves this game. The mimics hide and seek since you cannot tell where the person is under the trampoline. We have had a lot of laughs with this game. Jack is very happy to stay within the boundary lines at home and at the lake house, he is very comfortable to stay with us.

We have the ability with our lake house to allow Jack off lease while walking since we live on a private road in a dense forest landscape. Jack is doing very well following commands when we walk on leash so we decided that it was time to allow some freedom to see how obedience training is working. Jack waits for you, obeys his ok, sit and my favorite HEY command and continually looks back at you to make sure you are with him at all times. Jack was very unfamiliar with people being around him all day (we always have someone home) he used to pace to each one of us at the beginning but now he comfortably will lie down beside you. Jack is at my feet lying beside me as I write this email. Again, the bond has begun and we are so thrilled that he has accepted us as his family.