Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Observations in the first 30 days - Husky/German Shepherd

Generally,  Skye has lots of energy, a very open and friendly disposition towards people, she is smart (you can literally see her study and evaluate a situation), beautiful, elegant in running and moving in general, loves to dig and play - till she gets bored, which can happen quickly. Loves to play with dogs, but has not figured out how to do the same well with smaller ones. In the dark, she seems very cautious, but not fearful. When noticing  a big, dark or unknown object (like a wheel barrow with plants in it) ...she barks at it and seems to rather want to run away than attack it. She will cautiously investigate it...and get more daring. Once the nature of the objects has either been determined as benign or they are gone (deer), she turns her attention to new matters.She seems to like water. When it gets hot, her drive to be active does not last long...it is much higher in cooler wheather
Walking her on the first day, I also noticed a certain aloofness, which she still occasionally displays. It seems she can be very friendly and  "attached", and then be content, and quite determined, to just go off on her own...or sit apart and look away.
When she get's a fresh scent, she almost goes crazy...and can dash off in a flash...pulling my arm out (or so it feels) if it catches me off guard. Small animals trigger her hunting instincts, larger bigger ones elicit her dark alarm bark, alertness and desire to investigate. 
Unlike other dogs here - she did not just sling down her food in a greedy fashion. Of course, at first, we may not have had the right kind for her. She seems to prefer slightly smaller, but more frequent meals. Treats? Better be real tasty...just a hot-dog bit is not always a temptation...I have to microwave them :) Tip from the trainer, but even that was not always enough.
She by now knows exactly what come, sit, down and wait means...and you can see that it really is her own motivation more than anything which decides whether or not she will follow/obey it without any reinforcement. This requires reading her in the moment, and being quite attuned to her intentions....as I'd rather catch her when she is inclined to follow  commands.

After a month, she has adjusted well to staying at her sleeping spot without complaint till about 5 or 530 am.
We have walked the perimeter of the property many, many times - to get her used to the boundaries. But if there's a scent...that gets 100% forgotten, and our fence really is a "no fence". What an adventure. I think she'd be very good in search and rescue.

I love her....:)

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