Kinnick has not had any training in the first year of his life, so he does not know the basic commands. We have begun leash training and found that a chest Gentle Leader works the best. He is not opposed to it so I think he will catch on quickly. He really enjoys going on his walks and does well on his leash.
The other training objective we are working on is house training. It has been our first priority since he was not accustomed to being in a house. The first couple of days were rough, but he is now catching on and we have not had an accident for a few days. He is a smart boy and really wants to please, so it is important that he get immediate positive reinforcement.
His favorite toys are the ones that squeak, and his routine is to take the toys out of the basket one by one until they are all spread out. Unfortunately, he has not yet learned how to put them back in the basket!
The forever home and family for Kinnick will need to be an active family who can give him time and attention for training and exercise. Given Kinnick’s size and exuberance coupled with his delayed training, a family with older children, 10 and over, would be best for him.
Because Kinnick spent his first year of life tied up outdoors, he should not be on a tie out. Rather, he will require a home with a fenced yard where he can safely enjoy the freedom of running around.
The family should also be committed to some form of obedience training. While not mandatory, I think Kinnick would also do best in a family that has another dog that can help him learn to play; size of the other dog is not important.
It is unknown as to how he would do with a cat. My sense is that he would want to play versus hunt as we have not witnessed a high prey drive.
Kinnick is such a wonderful boy: very sweet, smart, and focused on pleasing his humans. He is learning and gaining more confidence each day.
