Well, it’s been three months since our last communication on Cole’s progress and in that time we have had some exciting experiences. Cole has also continued to mature behaviorally, but curiously, from an activity perspective, has seemed to become more puppy-like.

As we have noted previously, Cole does not get along with other dogs, and we have been working on conditioning him to respond in less aggressive manner, primarily using cheese as a reward. This has worked out very well, and Cole can now be in the presence of another dog (albeit not right next to it) and not react. In some instances he can sit and wait for his cheese as the other dog approaches, and while he will notice and pay attention to the dog, he will not regress into his aggressive mode. This is significant progress for Cole, and he seems to be on a path of continuous improvement.

We have also noticed that Cole has been acting more puppy-like despite his seven years of age. When we play fetch with a tennis ball he is actually bouncing after the ball like a rabbit, bounding two and three feet in the air as he chases the ball. We attribute this to jogging with Cole now that the weather is warm enough. He has developed considerable stamina (two mile runs!) and muscle tone. We also changed his food (Eukaneuba) and that may have had an effect as well. In any event, he is acting like a much younger and happier dog.

We recently took our first long trip with Cole, taking him with us on a four day vacation/conference weekend in Pennsylvania. Finding a pet friendly hotel was a small challenge but we eventually found one. The drive down was uneventful and Cole seemed to really enjoy being in the car with us even for the extended periods between stops.

On Saturday Cole and I went to Valley Forge National Park . We arrived fairly early in the morning and there was no one around so I let him off the leash to explore on his own, and he discovered deer! There are many deer in the park, so we spent the next two hours or so, tracking down small herds and chasing them (Cole, not me) until they outran us. Cole was very proud of himself for becoming such an efficient tracker, and to thoroughly immerse himself in the experience, every time we came across some deer scat he would roll around in it.

All in all, it was a very successful trip and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. We definitely are looking forward to the next time we can take Cole on a trip with us.

Bruno came to us in wonderful condition. Thanks to rescuers Susan, Deanne, Dagmar, and especially Karen. Bruno is a happy, loving, big dog. We’ve been very active playing and walking. The photo shows a content dog after a session of ball. He loves our yard and the local bike trail. We made our first trip in the truck yesterday to the dump and the local pond for a swim. We’re still getting to know each other. We need to work on having him live near the other dogs in the neighborhood. He is very well trained and has been great while we’ve gone off to work.

Hi, Still doing well. Plenty of fun exploring islands and digging clams. Allergies are a problem now with visits to the Vet. Under control with bathing and a steroid shot once in a while. Ducks and Geese are still safe!!

Hi everyone, it’s Maxwell reporting in on my 2nd year in my adopted home. I have settled in nicely… while really, I’ve taken over…in a nice sort of way. I love my Mom and Dad a lot and I can tell that they love me right back. We do a lot of things together. I’m rarely not with them… to the point that I have earned the nickname… Mr Velcro. Where they are I want to be. We take a daily walk each day where I can run around and just be a Lab. Sometimes we go to the beach …but do you know … I’m really not into that swimming stuff…. let’s just say that the ocean is very pretty. I also enjoy an occasional play date at a local kennel where I can romp to my hearts delight. People at the kennel can’t believe I’m almost 11 yrs. old. If only they could see me after I arrive home… I’ m bushed!!!! Sleeping is an important part of my daily routine … second only to eating. Mom and Dad feed me well but really do help to keep me at a svelte weigh around 85 lbs. Have to maintain my “youthful figure” you know. I also like to drive around with Dad. Sitting up just like I was royalty.

My Mom and Dad tell me that they really lucked out when I arrive at their house. They really, really love me and show me more and more each day. Boy am I the lucky one.

As of yesterday, Tucker is now ‘off leash’ around my house. He’s doing great, sticking around (with lots of little treats of course) while I’m either working in my shop behind the house, doing yard work, etc. I’ve never gone through so many mini bones in my life. It helps a lot that Tucker if food driven. My son is fostering a dog where he works and the dog, Stewey, has absolutely no interest in treats.

Tucker played with the kids next door today after work, for the first time. They are 9 & 10 - I was working in the back yard. I told them to be very strict with Tucker if he jumps on them, etc. - I gave them some instruction and tips. They played with my previous lab, Goosey, all the time and took him for walks. Tucker is not ready for them to take him for a walk around the block yet. I want Tucker to be more familiar with them before they walk Tucker. When I think Tucker is ready, I’ll walk with them around our block a few times and train them with using the harness. They are very anxious to walk him - I paid them a dollar each when they walked Goosey. Ha, ha. I’m thinking a good time might be when Tucker and I are taking the Basic Obedience class.

Tucker is getting better at ’sitting’ before we go out of the house - I still have to repeat the ’sit and stay’ commands several times before we actually are ready go out the door. He is also quite excitable when it’s time to put on his collar and Easy Walk Harness, but getting a little better as time goes on. He knows it’s time to go out when I pick up his collar and harness. I’m also working on the ‘roll over’ and ‘crawl’ with Tucker. He gets the idea quickly, but is way too anxious for the cookie yet. When he has mastered those tasks, I’m going to train him to retrieve the newspaper that is thrown on our driveway every a.m.

I can’t remember if I told you in my last e-mail that Tucker kept doing everything in his power to get the ‘Gentle Leader’ off his nose after I put it on. So much so, he rubbed all the hair off under his eyes and started to make red marks. So I eliminated it and switched to the same brand ‘Easy Walk Harness’. I find it works just as well as the head collar did - I can still walk him with a loose leash and guide him to the right or left side of me. If he tightens up and pulls, I stop and wait, then we start again.

I now have him trained to wait in the car or truck while I first get out, and then I say OK, and out he goes. He now beautifully sits for a treat and sits for his breakfast and dinner - I say ’sit, stay’, make him wait, then say ‘OK’ and he goes to it.

I brought Tucker home on Thurs. 4/28. Tucker has made good progress and getting used me and his new home. I’m hoping he is beginning to think - Hey, maybe this is going to be my permanent home.

Our vet visited us (she comes to your home) on Tues. 5/3. She examined Tucker, prescribed ClomiPramide Hydrochloride for his very high anxiety level. She will have him on it for 1 month, to help him focus on me, his new surroundings, training and his new routine.

On 5/6 professional dog trainer visited us at our home to evaluate Tucker. She worked miracles in 1 hr. I couldn’t believe what she accomplished with Tucker in such a short time. Among training tips, she introduced us to the Gentle Leader. We took Tucker for a short on the Gentle Leader - no more tugging and yanking me around like one of his toys. I signed up for basic obedience class - begins 5/30 and runs for 6 wks.

Both vet and trainer stressed going slowly, one step at a time, with Tucker so he will eventually increase his confidence in me, making him work for everything with lots of small treats, praise and petting. They both said: you want to own the dog, not the dog owning you, and a happy dog is a well exercised and trained dog.

He sleeps in his bed in my bedroom or on my bed.

Hi. I’m sure I’m past due on an update. I just wanted to let you know that Kia and I are doing wonderfully. She has adjusted to her new home so well. She is such a sweetheart. We completed obedience class and she did great. She loved it and she is so trainable. Her separation anxiety is much better–she doesn’t bark or cry when I leave her alone at my house. This winter spent many weekends in Maine , she loves it there and enjoys the snow and hiking the trails, she even loves the car ride!

I’ve included a few photos of her that I took this weekend. Isn’t she beautiful!!

I cannot believe it has been a whole year since we adopted Onyx!! Here are a few pictures of him. He is enjoying this beautiful spring weather we have been having and is looking forward to Summer. We use a gentle harness for him which helps when we walk him so he doesn’t pull. It has been working great!

Tracker’s doing just great!! Very bonded to Dave and happy in his new home. We had a nice walk down his runway along the river. My two guys swam and got Tracker to give it a try, too (albeit very briefly!) He listens to Dave, stays close and looks fantastic! It was really fun to see him and he seemed happy to see us, too. All good…