Seth is a little on the shy side when you first meet him, but if you'd been reading our blog over the last couple of months, you probably already know that we've gotten accustomed to some of those shy dog quirks from our last foster gal, Suga. Seth has also had the benefit of being in a really good foster home for the last couple of months, so from what I can tell he's come quite a ways from when he arrived. I was asked to take him last Thursday, and brought him home with me after last Sunday's adoption event in Georgetown. After receiving the run-down on him and studying up on his bio, I felt pretty certain that this dog still would barely be looking at me by now, but Seth warmed up surprisingly quickly. He's cautious for sure, but very curious and very food/treat motivated, which has helped a lot in our getting to know each other. On day 1, Seth sort of hung out in the hallway upstairs for the first few hours, averting Ollie's attempts at play and pacing the hallway. But eventually he worked his way downstairs to the living room, poked around in the toy basket, and settled himself on the dog bed. Each day, he gets a little more fearless in the house, and is fantastic about coming when called. In fact, he follows me around quite loyally to see where I'm going and what I'm doing (or perhaps if I've got a snack for him up my sleeve, I'm not really sure). He and Ollie are also getting more comfortable with each other and Seth's playful side is coming out as that happens. It's an absolute joy to see him in action.
Seth is happily helping himself to squeaky toys and chasing his foster brother through the house. He's also gotten comfortable enough to hop up on the couch or people bed if he feels like there's room for him, but only because we're cool with that here. He's very responsive to verbal guidance, so if that's not your thing, he'll totally respect that and happily find a cozy spot on the floor. He sleeps in his dog bed through the night, and is stationed there, crashed out and cozy as I write this.
When I first tried to take Seth and Ollie for a walk so they could be introduced, he got totally spooked by all the people that came his way, most notably because they had kids with them and went into flight mode. And because he's a pretty big guy he is a strong puller when he wants to be. The use of an Easy Walk Harness helped to manage this at first, until my dog walker went and told me he walked very well without it, after which I had to test his study myself.
Turns out he was right, and Seth has been walking beautifully without a harness since Tuesday. Yesterday we even went out on a run together and he did awesome, trotting alongside me like a perfect gentleman! He's very responsive to verbal commands and hardly pulls at all, happy to stay right next to me on our jaunts through the neighborhood, and curiously sniffing an occasional tree along the way.
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| After our morning run, such a champ! |
Unlike our Suga, he doesn't try to hide from every single stranger that passes us by, and even gives quite a few of them a pass by sniff. But he definitely needs to meet people on his terms and needs to take it slow. Yesterday when my neighbors and their young daughter came over to introduce themselves and make small talk while we were out in the side yard for a potty break, he was beside himself even as Ollie was willing to say hello, and attempting to hide wherever he could. So I let him head inside the house to chill out so as not to keep him in an uncomfortable situation, and he rebounded shortly after, ready to take on his evening walk. Tonight we went to the dog park and once he became familiar with his surroundings, he did absolutely wonderfully (and snoozed in the car on the way back home...have I also mentioned he is very well behaved in the car?). Some of the new people made him a wee bit nervous, but he was very polite and playful with the other dogs and even gave a couple people a good sniff to say hello.
Seth will be out and about this Sunday at our Lucky Dog adoption event from 12-2 pm at White Flint Petsmart at 5154 Nicholson Lane, Kensington MD. Because he gets nervous around new people, Seth would like you to know that he may not necessarily show himself as awesome as he does at home when he's had some time to warm up and get cozy. So he asks that you try not to take it personal if he acts shy. He promises with a little patience and love, he will soon start to show the incredible companion he is. In the mean time, keep checking back for updates and fun foster foibles, both here on the blog and on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog
Also, please be sure to see and share Seth's bio at http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22318259 and help us tell other people how great he is, so we can find him a great home!
With puppy love and a couple of ear scritches,
Lynn & Seth
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