Trooper

April 6, 2006

Trooper is here, sent here for  a last chance from the Calaveras Humane Society. He started off at Calaveras then was transferred to a well known no-kill shelter for adoption. They promptly returned him saying that he was food aggressive. But the CHS folks wanted to be sure and knowing that we take the "problem children" he was brought out for our opinion. We were a little concerned at first watching him getting wrestled out of the car, but had still had high hopes because of our success with unruly dogs.

After a day to settle in, we brought him out for a first lesson and walk around the ranch. Unruly was an understatement! He can jump high and used every bit of that ability to greet his trainer when he entered the kennel! The folks at Big Time Wrestling would be proud to have Trooper as their star! But soon we were out and starting to learn how to walk nicely.

After a few minutes, we found Trooper to be just a big baby that had never been taught any manners. All he wanted was attention. Also, it became clear that no one had spend much time with him. He was very uncomfortable with being touched on his back and having his feet looked at. But that ended when he found that nothing bad was going to happen, and a little massage felt pretty good!

He soon settled down into a nice heel position. Once he figured out that walking nicely earned him the praise he wanted, he enjoyed the calm walk! His tail was wagging nonstop as he heeled back and forth across the grounds.

The new challenge of leaning to sit was met with some trepidation, but the positive experience from the heeling exercise made the effort much easier. In training the goal is to build on success and take it a step at a time. In Trooper's case, this is working well, and he's having fun, too!

His "down" could use some work, but hey, it's only been a few days! He does love being a big goof and this is just his comic side coming out now that he is building some confidence. We have a feeling that over the next week we're going to see some pretty good monkey-business from him!

And, he still surprises is with a jump or two. But, he will soon learn that he gets much more praise and affection if he keeps "four on the floor"! Trooper is a big strong goof-ball that needs a happy home where he can play, be loved and cared for. He is about a year or so old, 50 lbs and soon to be neutered. He is current on all vaccinations and heartworm preventive. Trooper is a big boy that would love to romp and play with older children but might overpower younger ones.

Please call us at (209) 223-3194 or email to info@twincedark9.com for more information or to meet Trooper. He's a good guy that is well deserving of a second chance.

Trooper update, April 15, 2006

Trooper is having a great time in school! The best description I can think of is that he is just a big baby! More than anything else he loves being out and on the lead. His favorite part is walking and he has mastered (well, mostly) the loose lead. In fact, every now and again during a training session he will break out into play mode. Even when he charges in circle around me he does not pull hard on the lead. I am amazed that her has learned that so fast. He also knows heeling and sit from the side. He'll hold his sit and is learning the down position. He is still learning that and sometimes is a big goof rolling on his back, but he's learning and trying. Overall, he is such a sweet guy that I can't believe folks would ever give up on him. Major kudos to the CHS folks for keeping the faith and sending him out to us. He will make a family with older children very happy.

But, Trooper will chase cats, so he should go to a home without indoor cats.

Food Aggressive?! He happily shares his treats, as shown below. He has no problem when eating from his bowl, either. That "shelter" might want to recheck their evaluators... or just admit they did not want to deal with a less-then-perfect and unruly dog...