Getting to know him

Oliver has had two sessions at the CAHS obedience program. Most of what they are teaching he already knows but they are teaching eye contact as a means of getting your dog to focus on you. He picked up on that almost immediately with food motivation. He needs socialization with other dogs so being in a controlled group setting with other dogs has been good for teaching him more self control. The trainer said he has 'a middle of the road approach to other dogs.' If they get into his space by touching noses with him too quickly he growls but if they can sniff eachother's rumps first he is fine. She said that this is normal. I will take him to the next level training session after we complete this class. Nathalie attends these sessions with me. We enjoy watching him grow and mature. We may be buying a house in South Lansing. It is Nathalie's Grandmother's house. We encountered a nieghbor with a Labradoodle. Oliver and she seemed to like eachother very much. He does seem to prefer the company of female dogs. We took a nice walk in the neat, well kept post WWII neighborhood. If we do get the house there are 3 little mop-haired dogs next door that bark intensely. When Oliver met them he stared for a couple minutes as still as stone, then erupted into barking and play stances. I have noted that Oliver loves to watch one take a bath. He loves water. He will hang his paws over the tub. When he gets bored he waits patiently snoozing on the bath rug until I get out. He loves to play 'tug-o-war' and tends to chew on his bones and toys avoiding our things unless Nathalie is ignoring him while in front of the computer!! He then destroys only my things. Only a couple of unimortant items so far. He prefers to play with others but will entertain himself if he's had enough excercise.The photo here I've posted is from the only camera I have (my cell phone) and though it's crappy, it shows Oliver in one of his favorite activities: rolling and scooting on the floor making strange moaning, growling noises. He is getting better on leash but his first impulse is to pull and pull some more. I try to tire him out and let him run around in the fenced in tennis court and then proceed with an hour jaunt down the River Walk. He is often very distracted by squirrels and birds but I have noticed that if I turn him around and walk him quickly in an oval pattern and then offer him a treat as we continue on our original course, he seems to be less distracted in all but the most extreme cases. These times usually involve large flocks of geese and ducks. I think with time he will learn to mellow out under these circumstances too. I have been reading on dog psychology and I think it has really helped in my dealings with him. Dogs brains are less of a mystery to me now.

Obedience class in March

Beginning March 9th Oliver will go to obedience school! It is through the Capital Area Humane Society. It goes for 6 weeks.

New feline friends?-One down one to go.

Our cats Gypsy Rose and Lola are quite curious about Oliver. The at first cautious play between Gypsy and the dog has now become more relaxed. Gypsy follows him and he her. She rolls on her back and bats at his nose and ears. They like to watch birds together. Lola is still cautious around Oliver but is not showing more than minimal stress. She still sleeps in the bed while he is in the same room in his crate. She does not seem interested in play but otherwise seems fairly normal. I am sure this will improve with time.

A Thief at the pet store

Tonight we took Oliver to a pet store and agonized over the best quality treats and bones we could get for him. He thoroughly enjoyed the new smells and went crazy for the birds. While in the check out line the dog noticed some strategicly placed dog cookies. He grabbed it and started chomping. It was only .99 cents but I thought that it was pretty disgusting to put unwrapped dog cookies at dog level just so that they could pimp us for one more buck before we left!

Oliver acquired a bit more freedom in the house today. We introduced him to the cats again and he touched noses with Gypsy. He had the priviledge of being able to access the living room in addition to the bedroom (where he has stayed with the baby gate in place). They are very curious about eachother.

He loves to learn and play...

This morning Nathalie and I shared a morning walk and coffee with our canine pal. Late last night we felt there was a definite similarity in the dog's pleading soulful look to that of Oliver Twist as he asks for another bowl of gruel. We feel it suits him and in just a day he seems to respond to it and show's no preference for his former name. A name is really for the humans and we need to relate to the name of our fur kid. I hope his former foster mom will not be put off by the change. I had no problems with the name 'Moki' but he seems like an Oliver to me.

Oliver is learning to walk on his leash like a well mannered boy. After about 20 minutes of concentration I let him run loose in the back yard and we play and act crazy together. His appetite has not been immense but he is eating. I think he is very stimulated by all the change. He is unusually quiet even when I had to put him in the crate today. This evening after our walk, he responded to the collies' barking with a jubilant cry of his own.

A New Addition

Moki, a blue merle cocker spaniel, has come a long way in his young life already! He was discovered at the residence where a pit bull terrier was about to be picked up after a complaint had been made to Ingham County Animal control. He was mistaken for a black plastic garbage bag tangled in a chain and garden hose. When the officers realized that the bag was actually a dog, he was confiscated along with the other canine. His hair was a matted, shaggy, filthy mess. He was also starving. Judging by the doggy mugshot, he looked hollow, broken and lifeless.

When Nathalie and I met him he was being fostered by Jana, owner of Gone 2 the Dogs in the Old Town part of Lansing. He was starting to put on weight and was acting like a normal dog. He had love for everyone and only a bit of anxiety around some larger dogs. It didn't take long before we both wanted to give him a trial run at our home.

I just picked Moki up from the shelter today after being neutered and given a Rabies vaccination. I cannot believe how playful and affectionate and bouncy he was after having his manhood severed! It is like nothing happened to him at all.

He met the 4 collies downstairs upon arriving. It looks like they will be friends. He also met the three little chihuahuas down the street. Two out of three seem to like him.

I started teaching him what the clicker means and why good treats come from it. He already knows how great it is and I taught him that his new dog bed is his place to sleep not on the bed with the cats. Oh the cats. They are scarce and wary but they have let me know that they still love me even though I brought that stinky thing home. Moki loves his new beef nylabone but seems reluctant to try the crate. Now we are going to walk to LCC to pick up Nathalie from her class. Moki loves to learn and food is a perfect motivator. I think he is a very trainable dog at one year old.

I will post pictures and will give more updates soon to all of his fans that are wondering about him.