But all the other dogs get to do that!

Thursday is trash day in our neighborhood. Every Thursday Finn and I have this discussion on our walks. He wants to sniff and pee on the trash cans, and I won't let him.

'Why can't I do that?'

'Because trashcans have to be picked up by their owners and the trash guys, and dog pee on them is disgusting. Polite neighbors do not allow that.'

'But all the OTHER dogs get to pee on the trash cans!'

'I don't care, you are not. If all the other dogs jumped off a cliff, would you jump off too?'

'But...it smells so interesting!'

'No!'

Then we walk to the next yard and have the discussion all over again.

It's like I have another kid, that won't grow up.

Even in the heat, walkies are good.

Chris: "Finn, would you like to go for a walk?"
Finn: "Yes Please!!" Happy Dance!




The enemy has infiltrated our territory!

Attack!

Alas, he was too cowardly and fled to the pine tree.


Almost as tall as Chris...

Morning walk

We had a break though today! Finn lifted his leg a bit when he peed. Not quite enough to truly 'mark territory', but enough to show he was finally starting to feel a bit more self confident. It was a sign I had been looking for.

Finn had squatted to pee since we had gotten him. That is generally a sign of submission in males. I wasn't sure if he was still in his puppy mindset, or if it was that he wasn't confident in his new situation. He also didn't mark any of the usual spots, when other dogs had gone. He peed to go, and that was it.

Gradually over the last month he had been sniffing spots, and going closer to where other dogs had gone. He had been lifting his leg for a second for a few days, like he was testing the waters, but now it shouldn't be too long before he is leaving mail for the other dogs. Since height from the ground is important when you are marking a mailbox or post, he will have a significant advantage.

Silly thing to get excited about, but dog rescue people will understand, LOL!

Finn's 'Happy Dance'

Every morning when I get up, I take Finn for a walk. We do the 'short block,' a loop around a triangular block in front of our house. (The long block is twice as far, and is the rectangle behind our house.) Finn is pretty enthused about the walk, and does some hopping and running around me in circles. I think this is pretty funny, so I encourage him a bit, rubbing his neck and playing with him.

However, this dance takes place right over the bedroom of my son, who last night complained about the fact we wake him up every morning. My son is 20, works in a deli and is going to college. He tends to not be up before noon, not because of work, but because he plays games on-line and chats until the wee hours of the morning.

So today I taught Finn 'Happy Dance.' Now he really puts some energy into the dance, leaping up and down, and whirling around me as I shout 'Happy Dance, happy dance!'

Yes, I am a rather cruel mom.

Taking your dog for a walk

I am a firm believer in taking dogs for walks. Even if you have a fenced back yard, you should walk with your dog. It's not just the exercise, although that is good for both of you, it's the social activity of doing something with your dog. It creates a bond between you. Of course it also helps them sleep through the night if you wear them out.

Finn's schedule starts at 5:30 am, when my husband gets up for work. Finn gets taken out in the back yard for a quick tinkle. At 7:15am I take him for a walk. I fill his water bowl and give him dry kibble for breakfast. Sometime around noon-ish my son gets up, and takes him for a walk before class. I get home at 6 and take him for another walk. He gets dinner at 8pm (kibble, a bit of leftovers and warm water is the current formula) and a final walk at 10 pm.

He is starting to enjoy the walks, when we pick up his leash he wags his tail and comes to us. He is very polite about door ways, and walking, finally starting to sniff more, and relax on the walk. Wolfhounds are sight hounds, coursers, they are bred to run ahead and go after prey. I try to get him to walk ahead on the leash, and encourage him to sniff anything we pass that may be interesting.

I also see this as enrichment. Kennel dogs don't get the chance to sniff smells and identify things. I try to help Finn educate his nose, plus mentally stimulate him as he works to identify what he smells. We explore new places together, and I talk to him a lot, both to keep him focused on me, but also working on teaching him to recognize commands. He is very submissive, and never needs more than a quiet 'no' to get him to stop. He still looks for his family though., on every walk.