It has been 2 weeks today since we adopted Hoss and it is going amazingly well. We were so lucky to have found him. He is really a good dog and is getting even better with training. We have had no accidents in the house, yeah.
I have always done my own training of our dogs in the past but with hard headed stubborn Hoss being 2 and a half and set in some of his ways we decided taking a obedience class would help us train him. Rick and Hoss are taking the class which is good. Rick wasn't as ready to get another dog as I was and although he liked Hoss OK he was not ready to open his heart to another dog. Years ago it was the same way with Zoey. Zoey wasn't Kari and he had no intention of falling in love with another dog and then going through the heartbreak of losing it.
Believe me when I say I understand completely. But, I love animals. I love having a dog around the house. And with Rick not working he needs a dog around to keep him active, well he is always active, but to give him someone to tend to while I am working. It has started a bond between them that I can see will be strong.
So anyway. Hoss had had little to none leash walking training. That is the first thing we started working on. We have walked miles and hours and he is doing so good. He will now loose leash walk almost all the time unless he is intent on finding the perfect potty spot. Rick has been working on heel and he is getting that down also, especially after we have walked for a mile or 2. He is getting so almost every single time we stop walking he will sit at our side and stay until we say free. So smart. And slowly he is learning not to jump on strangers and give them big sloppy kisses in their face. They never are sure with him being so large if they are going to get a kiss or their face ripped off.
Hoss does have some bad habits. He is as stubborn as a mule. Rick was working on training outside and when done wanted to come in. Hoss did not want to come in. Rick commanded, Hoss laid down. Rick tugged and said come, Hoss rolled over on his back. Rick finally had to pick him up and carry him in the house. He will do the same thing in the van. If he isn't ready to stop riding he won't get out of the van. You have to lift him out. Or if he gets into your seat it is a battle of wills to get him in the back seat. We bought him a harness seatbelt to keep him safely in the back so he wouldn't climb on Ricks lap while driving and would safe if we ever had an accident. You use the seatbelt to hold it in place. Well Hoss figured out pretty quick how to put his big ole paw on the release and now that was a waste of money. Instead I keep another leash wrapped around on the bottom of the back seat and clip him to that. So far he has not figured how to get out of it.
And we have found him on our kitchen table 3 times. Yikes. If we go out to work in the yard he will hop on the table to see us. I have tried cans to scare him when they fall off, I think he thought that was great fun, keeping all the chairs flush to the table, he moves them out, and of course naughty dog, Ha, yeah like that works. And he chewed on the leg of my beautiful 140 year old rocker I inherited from Betty. First thing we did when we got him was get him a couple of wonderful chews toys, does he chew on them, oh no. Cat toys, yes, kids toys, yes, antique rockers yes, his own toys, heck no.
So as you can see stubborn. But oh so lovable. He does not have a mean bone in his body. Like Zoey you can clean out his ears, wash his face, trim his nail, look in his mouth, he takes it all in, happy to be at your side getting petted and primped over. He will see a stranger at the store and roll over on his back to beg for a tummy rub. Rather embarrassing but it works, he almost always gets the person to say, Ohhhh so cute and rub his belly. He loves that.
At night he sleeps, not on his dog bed, heck no, he sleeps on our antique bed. So much more comfortable don't ya know. We are just happy he isn't sleeping with us as he has a snore louder then Ricks. We can still hear it from our bedroom but it is much better then if he were in our room. The cat doesn't seem to mind as she has taken to sleeping with Hoss since it has gotten cooler. And he will go to bed at 9 pm and sleep until 8:30.
Hoss also has this cute thing he does. He purrs when you pet him. I swear! You pet him and this low rumbling comes out of his mouth and he looks so content and happy. Makes you smile to hear it.
The trainer and everyone that sees him thinks he is a boxer. I think they may be right. The woman that originally had seemed sure he was what I thought but he does look like a fawn boxer with a english bulldog type head. Doesn't matter, they are both goofy friendly lovable dogs with a calm demeanor. As long as he is friendly and lovable I don't care what breed. We love him. I think Zoey would have loved him. Heck even Chester seems to like him.
