Shadow just spent a week up in the northwoods and he was AWESOME! He got to free roam on the farmstead, chase the chattering red squirrels, listen to the wolves howling, go swimming in Lake Vermillion. He had a blast! He was SUCH a good dog--stuck close by the house with the other dogs, went swimming for the first time since I have had him, and was a GREAT travel partner in the car. (Well, he LOVES going in any car, even if it isn't mine, but for a 4+ hour car ride, he was fabulous!) I think he's actually dropped a few pounds since coming here, which is good for his hips, and the exercise he got this week was great for him. It was so fun to watch him lope across the hayfield with the other dogs, as well as to watch him spring into action-figure mode when Gus (the resident squirrel hunter) sounded the red alert. There were two awesome moments around his guarding stuff (which has really decreased in both frequency and intensity over the past few months). The first occurred one night after all the dogs were totally pooped out. Shadow had the tennis ball which was sitting on the arm of the armchair that he was sitting in. Moe, the other resident, walked over and simply picked up the tennis ball and walked off with it. Not a peep! (In fact, Shadow has never been terribly concerned about guarding from other dogs-- a little growl here and there, but no big show. But for as brazen as Moe was, I was just thrilled with Shadow for his non-response!) The second moment occurred when we were having a barbecue with the neighbors. Shadow had found an old, well chewed by many dogs, deer bone in the woods on their property, and he dragged it over near the grill and sat down near us to chew on it. When the hostess started walking towards him to pet him, I was just about to give her a warning, but Shadow just looked up at her and wagged his tail--again, not a peep, no incident. I was so proud of him! All three of the dogs got a bath Friday morning, and Shadow did just fine with that (another first since he's been here). That night, we had a picnic on Lake Vermillion with yet another dog, and Shadow did fine with this somewhat feisty Ridgeback. My two, having just totally dried out from their afternoon baths, were in the lake within 30 seconds. Shadow joined them and seemed to love going for a little swim. Also, there was tremendous tennis ball action going on during the swimming and we had NO controversy over who the balls belonged to! He slept in the car most of the way back. We stopped to visit at another farm near Cloquet, and he stuck around, and was very well-behaved while we visited in the house. In fact, when we were leaving, he didn't want to go. He parked himself in the big farm kitchen and seemed to be saying "This house needs a dog." He was totally pooped out last night. This morning I brushed him, and he again was such a good boy--no resistance, even though he had quite a few tangles that would have made me crabby if I were him. I am just so happy at how Shadow has settled in as he has gotten more trusting. Nearly everyone who meets him develops a crush on him. He needs a home with someone who is dog savvy, who won't be ruffled by his occasional growling incidents (note: he has never snapped, ever, at me or the other dogs; he's very polite about giving his warning signals), who wants a big mountain of happy dog who will stick right by your side, who LOVES walks, rides in the car, chasing sticks. He gets along fine with other dogs, has a little too much interest in cats (but again, he's never gone after the cat). He gets along great with my two dogs, and is just a delightful love muffin of a dog! And smart and good-looking! What a package! Call now!
Shadow guarding a valuable treasure!
Shadow waiting patiently for his new home.
Shadow, contemplating that the grass really is greener if you have a bone to chew on
On the porch, listening to wolves.
