Slamdunk Shaq

It's been six days

2008-07-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

since Shaq come to hang out with Harley, lab mix, Chloe, small Maltese/Bischon, Maya, pure Greyhound and me. Shaq's been muzzle free for 3 days and is settling in nicely. He's a gentle, loveable big boy. He sleeps on the floor next to my bed on a soft, comfy dog bed. He's a great sleeper and wakes me up about 7:30am to go out. I crate him when I leave the house but he hangs with me and the other dogs during the week in my home office while I work...just a great house guest.

Dog Bed

2008-06-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

I've been leading Shaq to the dog bed for 4 days now, and he wasn't having anything to do with it.

Gemini is laying on his dogbed, nice and comfy, Shaq still wasn't getting the picture.

Finally, today, Shaq discovered the comforts of the dog bed. Sorry I had to interupt his nap to snap the picture.

He is starting to take to the retired life!

Stairs 3 Shaq 4, finally!

2008-06-19T05:26:00.000-07:00

Shaq versus the Stairs.
Round 1
The competition seemed weak at first, Shaq bounded up the stairs with no fear. No Problems! Then bounded back down - taking the flight of stairs in three steps, wrestling away from Mom's grip without fear! Well, the stairs won that round! Shaq ended up at the base of the stairs on his rear. Stairs 1, Shaq 0.

Round 2
A few hours later, I went upstairs and Shaq was full of fear. So, I went back down stairs and walked him up the stairs, one by one, with him shaking the entire time. I let him relax at the top for a few minutes. I gently guided him to the top of the stair case and he turned and ran away. I got him back to the top and took him back down, one by one, his whole body shaking. Stairs 2, Shaq 0.

Round 3
Bedtime - One more try up and down before bed. Walked him up the stairs, Shaq was still shaking like a leaf. Back down, he wanted to run from the top of the stairs. I kept a good grip on his collar and we slowly made our way back down. Then we had to go right back up to go to bed.
Had to call this one for the stairs. Stairs 3, Shaq 0.

Round 4 - Morning
Let Shaq out of the crate. He watched his foster brother go down, I had to hold his collar and he eased his way down. He is getting the hang of this! Stairs 3, Shaq 1.

Round 5
I went upstairs and left Shaq on his own. His desire to be around people was greater than his fear and he came up the stairs on his own! Stairs 3, Shaq 2.

Round 6
Time to leave for work.
My greyhound knows as soon as I reach for the treats, he runs into the crate. Shaq stills needs to learn the routine. Shaq didn't want to go up the stairs, he did about 1/2 the stairs and stopped so I put a treat in front of his nose and walked the rest of the way up and he followed. Yes, he recieved the treat as soon as he made it to the top! Stairs 3, Shaq 3 - it's tied!

Round 7
I let both hounds out of the crate and Shaq went down the stairs on his own, finally learning to take the stairs slowly. Stairs 3, Shaq 4! And Shaq wins!!

Shaq is now going up and down the stairs like a Pro!

Saturday Evening Walk

2008-06-14T18:31:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous boy. We let him have special time in the office after all the other dogs had been taken care of. He was calm, curious, seeking attention from everyone. He was very interested in being loved on and petted. He was wanting to go home with us. When I picked up my purse to leave, he just fell in line like he was going also. He seemed sad to go back into his run, but did so without any trouble. He seems to be a lovebug in waiting. Hope he finds his forever home soon!