Adoption Update: Keegan

Hi Sarah,
I just wanted to report in on our first days. Chris and Ember came over Saturday night and the gang played for awhile then we put all the dogs inside except Keegan. Chris worked with him a little - and said he was a completely different dog. In the mean time I had taken some dishes inside and was cleaning up a bit and they said he was crying for me (hopefully that means some kind of bonding is taking place.) I walked him this morning and he earned his kibble a few morsals at a time, we played some tug in between to keep it light and fun. We met up with a woman and her 2 small dogs, Keegan was sniffing little Nina's butt when he decided to raise his lip and give a growl at which time I decided he might die ; ) he immediately went into a down and then just looked at me like "Not me!" as I saw the little halo glowing over his head and said "yea, right!". We continued on our walk and he did REALLY well. In between dog naps I was working him outside and started working on recalls. (Although honestly between, me, Chris and Carlos we keep calling him Finn!)
All the dogs have been really good together, Newt gives him a little growl here and there but she will get over it. I keep playing with all 3 - I know she really wants to be part of the fun. She really doesn't seem to be bothered by him and if she is, she just lets him know. And as you know he loves Ripley and actually play bowed to her yesterday. So besides the fact that I think he may be a little too used to the easy life! I'll keep you posted.

Another quick update - I walked him this morning again letting him earn his kibble (along with some high value chicken) and he was great off the bat. I plan on doing this as part of our daily routine. Today's distraction was a shiny red pick-up truck - I immediately intervened with that fun-looking moving thing and he was good but I'm learning fast about the BC focus! One other thing that I want to check in with you on my thinking because my next move is to kill him - being firm works for the moment but he forgets too easily...I noticed when we have reached a certain level of excitement in play (tug or fetch) he gets very excited and tries to grab my leg - obviously not acceptable but if you have any advice besides my next move (to kill him) - (this is my first male dog although not the first time I have been around a male dog). I think I need to add after the correction that play will end too but I'm not sure and like I said it is excitement more than dominance (I believe) but either way I know it needs to end immediately. (note from Sarah, yes, it does!)

On a positive note he seems to REALLY love his new home and he really wants to fit in with the girls - I think between the 3 of us girls we will definitely keep him in line.

He really is a good boy and I think I will be able to manage any issues that come up. But I definitely have my work cut out for me!

I hope you enjoy the pictures and I look forward to hearing from you and will email you again soon.

Thank you,

Kathy