Quick Update for Koko!

Hi all! Just a quick update from Koko today! I took some pics on our walk this morning because I have been told his pictures online don't do him justice! So I'm going to try to get some really good ones!

He is getting better everyday with his separation anxiety! :D! And I cannot give enough thanks to Denise (Turtle Gardens Foster Coordinator) for recommending classical music! My sister didn't even know the dog was home after I'd left for school! That's how quiet he was being! Denise said dishwashers are for babies, music is for dogs! And she was right! Because of that he has been improving with leaps and bounds!
And the hunger strike has ended! He used to not eat if he knew I was leaving :( but now he eats all his breakfast without hesitation! That alone should tell you how much his stress has lifted! :) I think he also knows I'll be coming back :)

He is sneaky though! If we are on the couches or even in the house he has never even looked at the couches. But I got home and one couch had hair all over it... I said hmmm and them my sister caught him later napping on the couch! So when we're not home he naps on the couches! And i never knew till we caught him in the act, sneaky guy! ;P

Will post more soon!

Koko's week update!

I have had Koko here for over a week and he has turned into a sweet cuddle bug!

I also learnt a bit more about him! Yvette has told me that his birthday is December 22, 2010! So he is 20 months old! He is very mature for his age!
And he is a purebred Belgian Malinois (His Dad is Rafiki).

He is very smart! Though he may not know many tricks, he has great recall and is very good at listening! He knows, Out, No, Come, Stay, Wait, and listens to whistles too! So far he will only sit and lie down for a treat.

I have found though that he is nervous about the stairs down to our basement. At first he wouldn't go near the door to it, but every day he gets closer and yesterday he almost took a step down!
The stairs outside the house he has already mastered :)



We are working on his separation anxiety, though he will still whine and pace while we're gone. He is non-destructive though!

Because of his separation anxiety we would love to see him go to a home where someone is home most of the time, or someone who has the time to work through this with him.

He doesn't usually play with many toys, but he likes to chew on antlers and rawhides. But he loves to play with people! He will trot around and prance and then come in for a cuddle :)

He is a nice mellow guy who can still have fun, but knows how to relax.
And he is very tolerant! He had his nails trimmed, was bathed, and brushed vigorously to get all his dead hair out and we gave him a couple breaks in between but otherwise he just stayed still!

On walks he is very good! He will perk up when he sees other dogs and people but does not pull.
He greets the other dogs well, just as said before he does not like other dogs to get in his personal bubble or the personal bubble of his person. But as long as the other dog is respectful, Koko gives them respect.

He also loves car rides! And never tries to jump out, he sits usually down in the floor of the back seat and sticks his nose out the window! (I do hang onto his leash just in case- but I've never had a reason to worry about him!)

Koko is very good at the door and never barks when people knock or ring the door bell. He waits by the door and stays out of the way of the person coming in. He stands to the side to sniff the people as they come in. He gives them a nice polite distance! He is not the kind of dog that shoves his nose into "personal" places. If it is a stranger he will give them a couple more inches of space and then gives them a once over dog style (As in with his nose). He so very polite!

He never takes food off plates or hands unless he is told he can. He is respectful of space.

We have not seen him around kids, but I believe he would be good with kids as he is so tolerant and well behaved!

He went to the vet for a check up and he was very well behaved! :D Other dogs walked past and all he did was watch them. He was so relaxed at the vet that he just laid down! :D

And he found the big wall of mirrors there! And thought they were very funny :P

And they also weighed him and he is 65lbs :) A nice healthy size for Koko :)

Koko is such a sweety and loves to nap and hangout wherever you are in the house!
He also loves the trails! We took him to the trails and he was a happy camper! :)

 I will post more soon!

Koko!

Hello again!

I have only had Koko for a little over 24 hours, but so far he is proving himself to be a sucky boy!

He has had a bath and a HUGE brushing and he is looking very spiffy, and there is a new spring in his step!



He seems to be a pretty mellow guy who just wants to love and be loved!


Koko is crate fearful and should not be crated. But Koko is non-destructive, and is fine when left free in the house while alone.


He loves to be with his people and he is very sweet! He doesn't jump up, though he may give a tiny hop or two when excited. He loves to snuggle in for a good cuddle and lay on your feet. But also loves to find a nice spot to curl up in while the family is just hanging out. He loves to be where his people are, and do what his people do.


Because he wants to bond so much with his people he can be possessive of his people if dogs get too close. So far it seems he only does this if the dogs get right up in his face and his person's space. Then Koko will tell them to back off. He gets along with other dogs when introduced properly, and he greets dogs on the walk well.

~As a side note... Greeting face to face is rude in dog language, so make sure whenever your dog meets another they have enough slack to get to the other dogs bum and discourage behaviour where they focus too much on the other dogs face.

He is very good on leash! He walks nicely at your side on a loose leash, though he likes to walk so close sometimes he will lean on your leg a bit so make sure you're not on the edge of the road ;)

Koko knows his name for sure! I would actually recommend that his future adopters do not change his name, because he has such great recall - even around distractions!

When he is unsure about a situation or nervous/anxious he will come right over to you and look for assurance and guidance.

Koko is just a big suck and loves to be brushed and fussed over!





As I get to know him over the next weeks I will keep you all updated - he's proving to be a great family companion!

Next Dog - Koko!

So tomorrow Bambi is going to be heading to her foster on the island, and tomorrow is also the dog run, which means....

Another Foster Dog!

Tomorrow I will begin fostering Koko!

A 20 Month old Belgian Malinois Mix.

His Dad is Rafiki!

I am very excited :)

Can't wait!

I will miss cutie-pie Bambi though! I woke up every day with a smile on my face, and she always kept me laughing! Now she can brighten the days of her island foster home :)

Will post more soon!

Bambi - Doggy Play!

I took Bambi to the park early morning today and she made a new friend!
Her name is Lily and she is a year old Golden and my she was pretty! And they got along famously!

I was so proud of Bambi, because this was the first time I've watched her play and she was so polite in her play and never one fussed or got too rambunctious! Even Lily's mom was saying how sweet she was! And she also commented on Bambi's speed! She said, and I quote "I don't think I have ever seen any other dog who was faster than Lily, but she is - she's faster!"

With her speed, and agile nature, she would be so great at agility! When we're out and about she loves to run over things and jump over things and loves simply running! She would make a great agility prospect! And even if she got into it just for fun, I know Bambi would love it! :)

Here is a link to the video of Lily and Bambi playing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAGIisR6bhA

And tuckered Bambi afterward :)

Will post more soon! :)