Achilles update

PhilT

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Haven't posted anything for a while so thought I would just update how Achilles our new family member is getting on, it is still a slow process to get him feeling less anxious when outside the house but he is slowly getting better, we are able to treat train him now which is a big step for him he wasn't interested in treats when out for a long while, I'm walking him three times a day for around 30mins each time it's still difficult to get him to walk in places that are new to him struggles to cope with strange places, working very hard with our trainer and slowly making progress, he walks well on a long leash in places he knows and has started to do investigation sniffing which is something he didn't do a few weeks ago, we are going to do some socialising with another dog this coming Thursday which will be at the dog activity field we go to every week, he is such a joy to have at home such a loving gentle boy and absolutely loves his weekly trip to the activity play field where he can be a dog, he runs and plays for an hour it's great to see him running flat out without restrictions, it's a pity every time we go there it's been raining or very wet he doesn't care but takes ages to get him washed down before putting him in the car.20230309_132827.jpg
 
That's a good pic, he looks like he's enjoying himself, mud splashes and all! I don't know how bad the mud gets, but I wonder if using a towel to wipe him down would be faster/easier? His fur doesn't look too long in that pic, but maybe it's all matted down from being wet? You guys get so much rain, I hope you can find a solution to this. Maybe a rain jacket?
 
That's a good pic, he looks like he's enjoying himself, mud splashes and all! I don't know how bad the mud gets, but I wonder if using a towel to wipe him down would be faster/easier? His fur doesn't look too long in that pic, but maybe it's all matted down from being wet? You guys get so much rain, I hope you can find a solution to this. Maybe a rain jacket?
They have a wash point at the field and we take plenty of towels to dry him, when he gets a bit tired he has little mishaps like forward rolls or side rolls and the mud and grass gets really stuck into his coat so a good washing down is required 😉, his coat is a lot longer than a dobermans and also needs brushing a couple of times a week as he is starting to lose his winter coat.
 
I am so very happy for you both! Sometimes love and patience are the exact thing they need most!
We are lucky that time isn't important when you take on a rescue dog that has been at a rescue centre for over 14 months you don't know what their life has been like, we know he was fiscally abused from all his behaviour but difficult the effect of being so long in the rescue centre has had a negative mental effect, just give him every bit of love and care we can.
 
We are lucky that time isn't important when you take on a rescue dog that has been at a rescue centre for over 14 months you don't know what their life has been like, we know he was fiscally abused from all his behaviour but difficult the effect of being so long in the rescue centre has had a negative mental effect, just give him every bit of love and care we can.
I agree %1000, Echo is learning, but still has many issues and triggers. As long as we remember that they didn't have a good life before, but they do now! Now they have love, patience, understanding, boundries, and caring beyond measure! They will become beloved, lifelong friends, our "babies"! Rescues deserve just as much love as any other dog!
 
So glad to hear an update on Achilles! You are the right family for this boy. ❤️. Taking the time to improve his life, loving him the whole time. Even without an unknown past, an animal can display a personality 'bump' that needs attention. Even though Buddy came from a breeder when we took him home at 7 months old, I think it was a whole different life for him. Wide open spaces, noises he's never heard and animals he's never seen. It took a lot of work to acclimate him to this life. But those are the trials we take on when we get an animal. And it's well worth it in the end. 💞


Echo is learning, but still has many issues and triggers.
We need an update on Echo! 😁
 
We have just returned home from Achilles first socialisation with our trainers dog at the activity field she has a 11 month old collie called Jinx, after introducing them with one each side of the entrance gate I took Achilles to the very top of the field and started throwing his ball then Jinx came in of lead and amazingly they just got on and played no aggressive action by either, Achilles didn't mind if Jinx got to the ball first and returned with it and she was the same, they played very happily for nearly 45mins, both covered in mud because yes again it has been raining, at the end of the playtime they shared a good drink from the same water bowl and waited patiently to be washed off before getting in the car's to go home, we are so pleased there was no reactive behaviour from Achilles and our trainer thinks the reason he does when out for walks is feeling restricted on the lead so something else to work on.
 
Achilles has been with us for 6 months now so I thought an update was due, we have noticed he has so many of the Doberman behaviours very protective of Lorraine she can't answer the front door unless he is with her, likes to lay on his back on the couch and then we get the sneezing, gets very wary of people who are in the house he doesn't know keeps checking with us it's OK for them to be there, very vocal if he doesn't think he's getting what he wants when he wants it, his running style is all Doberman, it's been a big learning curve for us with his anxiety when going for walks he is getting better but it is a slow process, it's hard to believe how anxious he gets when he gets so excited to go for walks, we have been working with the trainer to help with his reactivity to other dogs he now has four friends he plays with so again slow progress but getting there a little at a time, this week we are meeting up with another reactive German Shepherd to see if they can help each other, we still go to the activity field exleast once a week sometimes we have another session there in the evenings if we've been out for a couple of hours during the day, he is a real character and very loving his new obsession is catching flies in the house leaps about barking at them and unbelievably does catch some, now we are having a long sunny period he enjoys to just wander in and out to the garden because the patio doors are open all day, he brings a great deal of joy and happiness to our lives.20230525_132231.jpg20230525_131727.jpg20230219_192917.jpg20230318_234016.jpg
 
What a handsome boy and I'm glad he's settling into your household so well!

How are you doing now?
 
What a handsome boy and I'm glad he's settling into your household so well!

How are you doing now?
I'm doing ok thanks Jan had my six month check after my knee replacement surgery last Tuesday and they are pleased with the progress, got my six monthly check for my lung disease on this coming Wednesday not expecting any problems with that so fingers crossed not doing to bad, hope you are all doing okay.
 
Achilles is looking good and I'm glad he is learning to enjoy his life outdoors. I notice he has the "Doberball" sleeping position nailed! :D
 

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