Kali's Favorite Odd Place

Kali has a few places she really likes - her crate being at the top of the list. The oddest place she really likes, though, is the staircase. It doesn't lead anywhere (the attic isn't finished so I keep the door closed) but it's where she goes when she wants a place of safety (she seems to know to head for high ground regardless the threat - vacuuming, a strange package, one of my dogs getting too excited) and, sometimes, when she just wants to relax.

More Breed Guessing

Apparently mixing Staffordshire bull terriers and whippets is a thing in some circles (called "staffywhippets"), particularly in the UK. While most of these photos are of rescue dogs, and thus their breed is just a guess, some of these look like they could be littermates of Kali.

Quizzical Kali

The Competitors

for the 35-pound "Terrier Title":

Confidence Builders

When Kali isn't sure what's going on or what's expected of her, she gets very nervous. Two things that seem to take the anxiety away: telling her to sit and putting a leash on her. She associates both with good things at this point, and seems to relax since both tell her what she should be doing.

Three Terrier Girls at "Work"

 

The video quality is not great, but this is Kali chasing a ball, then being chased by Willow and Molly.

Pretty day at the dog park.

3 Little TerrierX Girls...

...make a lot of noise when at play. Kali is pretty quiet, but Willow (8-10 y.o.) and Molly (12-14 y.o.) both use their voices to make up for their lack of endurance. I'll post a video of them playing in a bit...Kali is great with them, happy to lure them into chasing for at least a bit.

Running Away to the Circus?

Kali is a bit of a circus dog - she can stand upright on her hind legs, balancing gently. While she mostly does it if she's curious about something, she's starting to learn it in response to the command "circus".

Pleasantly Tired Pups

Willow and Kali have worn themselves out playing.

Kali In Class

Kali is an eager student - she really enjoys working and learning new tasks. She's graduated from the basic obedience class at this point and moved on to the advanced class. This week's focus: "stay", "come" and polite leash walking.

At class on Monday we ran through the first 5 tasks for the Canine Good Citizen certificate. Each week, we'll practice what she's already learned and add some additional tasks.

While I started taking her to classes to help her comfort level in new environments, it turns out she loves learning new things!

Cherry (Tomato) Picking

Kali is great about helping pick the tomatoes, and doesn't even complain if the one she gets as  a reward has a blemish in the skin.

First Place!

Kali won a contest in her training class tonight. The challenge was to see how many times your dog would sit on command in 1 minute, and Kali sat 16 times!!

In addition, she started to learn "mine" - in the sense that "this food is mine and you shouldn't even think about looking at it, much less eating it". She was a rockstar, only stealing one of the treats that was "mine" in about 20 minutes of work. I like training dogs for this because I don't want a dog that helps herself to my food, even if I leave it on a low table when I'm out of the room. I don't think she's quite there yet, but for a first try, she did great!

Kali's Training Successes

1. solid "sit" on command
2. lure to a "down"
3. "load up" for getting in her crate
4. "wait", although not quite solid
5. made 3 new human friends in the last week (and one new dog friend)
6. can differentiate "ok" from other words

current focus:
- "come"
- improving "wait", "down" and leash walking
- continued desensitization to new people and people pulling her by the collar

Tonight she starts the "advanced" class with Tina at Sit Happens. (The basic class continues for a few more weeks so she'll continue with that as well.)

Where's Kali?

Today's training outing was an early lunch at Barberitos (downtown). Kali wore her new headcollar - while she's not yet a fan of it, she's very tolerant, just rubbing her face with her front paws occasionally.

BBQ

Yesterday Kali and I did a training session at White Tiger. She did great! She was curious about the many people present but not intrusive and, while I think she would have preferred BBQ as reward for her sits and downs, she was polite and didn't help herself to any from the nearby tables.

Field Trip

Kali enjoyed hiking from Sandy Creek Park to Sandy Creek Nature Center yesterday. It was quite an outing - 4 dogs and 3 people - but everyone did great. The older dogs got tired out, but Kali seemed to be unfazed by the 2-hour hike (and the very full car ride!).

This Weekend

Kali will be spending this weekend at Pawtropolis, so she'll be available to watch on their "Fiesty Fidos" camera until Tuesday afternoon. (She'll also be available to meet in person at Pawtropolis - drop by if you've been considering making her acquaintance!)

Kali's Metamorphosis

 These were Kali's shelter photos. I took them the second day I met her, and she was very stressed. She was sweet, but wary. She's changed a lot since these photos - her chest has broadened quite a bit and she's far more muscular. As a result, she looks far more terrier than she did originally. Her coat is also sleeker and softer and she no longer has talons for front nails.

Breed Guessing

Kali's breed is a mystery. She's clearly a mix, but of what?

Last night her trainer suggested Kali might be a Decker strain giant rat terrier mix. I'd never heard of the breed, but apparently they're rat terriers that were bred to be larger than 25 pounds. After looking at some photos and reading descriptions on line, there might be something to this. I've thought she has some hunting dog in her, both because she's very stimulated by quick movement and because she constantly "tracks" what's happened on the ground, just like my hound mix. While rat terrier ears usually stand upright, in some cases they flop over. In fact, I think she looks a lot like a brindle version of these giant rat terriers.

Wikipedia's description of the typical rat terrier personality also fits Kali - smart, socially sensitive, has an "off switch", easily trainable, and very easy to live with. Unfortunately I don't think she got the exposure to new things that's recommended at an early age, but she's a total experience sponge - the first time she encounters something new she's uncomfortable, but the second time she experiences it, she's a pro.

Contradictions

Kali is interesting to me, because she is simultaneously very curious about the outside world, yet frightened to engage with some parts of it.

From working with other initially-scared dogs, I expected Kali to be distrustful of anything new or different. But that isn't the case! She isn't scared by loud noises (trains or car horns) or bad weather and she loves going on walks. While initially the car was scary, she now seems to actively enjoy both the ride, and the promise of new destinations. She's curious about what goes on outside my fence and is the first dog in my pack to approach when it's something new. She likes other dogs and is confident about meeting them - as she settles in, she's increasingly dominant with dogs (but not inappropriate).

Yet she is also wary of new people - I suspect she wasn't treated well in her prior home and so any approach by a new person that seems threatening (eye contact, direct approach, hand over her head) puts her on high alert. She isn't aggressive, but she does give a lot of warnings to stay back (bristling, growling, barking), until she's sure you're a friend. Usually this takes until the second or third meeting, but people who understand scared dogs and don't challenge her often never activate her distrust.

I'm working to desensitize her to new people, which involves outings around people who will ignore her, and rewards for curiosity and non-fearful behavior. That she considers new experiences a reward in themselves is very helpful in this process, and she's become a star of her training class as a result!

Breakfast Routine

Kali has become a pro at distinguishing "ok" from other words.

At this point, her meal routine is that she sits (well, she does still spin a few times) at a bit of a distance from the baby gate. Once I enter the room and make sure she's paying attention and calm, I tell her to "load up", at which point she leaps into her crate and sits facing me, eagerly anticipating her food. I place the bowl in front of her and she looks away from it, then back at me.

At that point, I say a word - anything except "ok" - and she determinedly looks away (up and to the right) while quickly licking her lips. Then she looks back at me, I say another word, same routine. Only once I say "ok" does she dive into the food bowl.

It's cute - she concentrates soooo hard and seems to be avoiding the temptation of even looking at the food until she's allowed to have it.

The Velveteen Puppy

When I met Kali, her hair was dry and brittle. Petting her was lot like rubbing dry grass. Now, though, she shines! Literally. Her coat is beautiful and her head feels like velvet.

Smiling

Happy girl!

Spa Day

Today was a spa day for Kali - mani-pedi, hair wash, and overall massage. I can't say it was her favorite thing, but she was nicely tolerant and her coat shines!

Charm School

Kali started a basic "clicker" obedience class last night. She was a rock star! While she already knew "sit" and to make eye contact with me (rather than nuzzle my hand) to ask for the food in my fist, during class she picked up "down" and learned to ask for the food in my open hand by making eye contact. Doesn't sound like much, but it's hard to not just take the treat in front of your nose, especially when you're surrounded by about 10 other dogs who (for all you know) similarly want the treat!

This week we're practicing these skills (as well as saying nonsense words before telling her it's "ok" to take the food in the outstretched hand so she learns to distinguish between words) and starting on walking nicely by being lured.

Now we're off to sit outside Ike & Jane's for a bit and practice "park & pay" (rewarding her for paying attention to me when she has a number of distractions) before she heads to daycare (click on "feisty fidos" this afternoon or tomorrow morning to watch her).

Kali's Superpower

Kali is amazing in her crate. She eagerly goes in when I ask her to, and waits patiently after I open the door until I tell her it's "ok" to come out. Most impressively, though, she's completely silent in the crate - even if I'm up and about and interacting with the other dogs for an extended period of time before I let her out.

She's a very good girl!

Leashes

When I first met her, Kali was terrified of leashes and didn't like having her collar touched. However, at this point she associates both with good things - walks, car rides or food always follow being leashed up, all of which she loves.

When she's scared, Kali "taps out" - rolls onto her back and shuts down, little tail firmly between her legs, pasted against her stomach. She looks terrified, the poor thing. It doesn't work to grab her collar and try to make her do whatever it is she needs to do because that just scares her more at that point, but if I go get her leash, she's a different dog - she flips right over onto her feet and happily goes with me.

Cuddletime with Willow

Kali's got a look like she can't believe she's getting away with cuddling with Willow in the good bed.

Etiquette

Kali has an amazing intuition with respect to other dogs. While she's unsure when stampeded by a pack of dogs (who wouldn't be), she acts appropriately, even if it takes her a few minutes to truly warm up. And 1-on-1, she shines.

She's a star at avoiding the...uncertainty...of not less-than-stable dogs. And with my friendly dog (Willow), she's charmingly enticing, drawing her into play several times each day. While it sounds ferocious when they're at it, they both end panting, happy, sated.

Car Rides

Initially Kali was skeptical of the car - I had to lift her in and be patient in convincing her to come out. Once she realized, though, that car rides were a good time to be close to me (she rides on the passenger seat floor, with her head next to my elbow) and there was (almost) always something fun on the other end, her whole attitude changed. Now she runs eagerly to her door when we go out the gate to the driveway, jumps in, rides quietly, then waits nicely on the other end until I tell her it's ok to come out. If you're looking for a companion for a road trip, Kali might be a good fit for you!

Joy!

About Kali

Kali is...desperate for love. I know that's not generally a great thing to say, but it's true.

She is guarded at first with people - when I first met her she wouldn't even let me touch her (!) - but she warms up quickly. At this point, I can do anything with her - roll her onto her back, chase her off furniture (she's still learning that furniture is by invitation only, and she's never invited), and tell her to wait for food.

I don't think she had much love in her prior home, and she doesn't get as much as she'd like here since she's competing with 3 other dogs for hands and cuddle space. She's looking for a family willing to put up with her initial outward bristle-y-ness in exchange for a deep capacity to love.

Leashwalking

Although she occasionally needs a reminder, for the most part Kali walks nicely next to me on a loose leash. But that's only true as long as she's wearing her harness - if I have the leash on her collar, she doesn't seem to recognize it's the same thing.

Kali's Favorite Position

Available for a belly rub!

Daycare

Kali will be at daycare today and tomorrow. To view her, click here, then follow the "watch the Fiesty Fidos" link. While initially at daycare she hung back and was a bit wary of the action, she now joins right in. (But still eagerly greets any person coming into the play area - she's always up for a belly rub!)

Dinner Time

This was Kali's dinner routine about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Since then, she's gotten better about waiting for "ok" once she's in her crate so I no longer hold my hand up and tell her to wait. Instead, she looks at me for guidance and waits (only a little impatiently).

Cuddlebug

Kali loves to cuddle close. While she takes a little bit of time to trust new people - it seems to take her 2-3 meetings to fully let her guard down - once she decides you're one of her people she's very affectionate. She loves to sleep right against her people, so she's do best with an adopter looking for an interactive dog, not a houseplant.

Enthusiasm Unbounded

In a lot of ways Kali is still very much a puppy. She has an enthusiasm she's slowly learning to contain (or at least restrain temporarily) - when there's the promise of something good, she pounces and twirls and flips on her back. After some encouragement, she's added sitting to her repertoire, but sometimes she needs to pirouette before settling back in.

Her current training task is improving her self-control - she sits at a slight distance when I bring her food into the room, then goes into her crate when I tell her to, then looks at me and waits for my "ok!" before diving into her meal. She's got a ways to go - she still can't help twirling a few times while I'm carrying her food bowl into the room (although she no longer charges or jumps up on me) and sometimes she prematurely runs into her crate - but she is working really hard to figure out what I expect of her and at this point doesn't try to start her meal early.

Kali's Home!

It's nice to have her back. She seemed to have a good time - she's nowhere near as anxious to be near me as the last time she came back from a week of boarding, just settled back into the house routine. She also bonded at daycare with Daisy, another Helping Paws pup who is also looking for a home, so if you're interested in a pair of pups who get along great, you should consider the two of them together!

Daycare

Kali spent this week playing with other pups at daycare. She's coming home tomorrow, but if you want to watch her during the day, click on the "feisty fidos" link here.

Play ball!

Kali loves playing ball - she'll pounce and chase and (sometimes) fetch it. When she does bring it back, she's sooo proud of herself so teaching her to consistently fetch shouldn't be hard.

Meet Kali!

Kali is a sweet young dog who is looking for her forever home. Brought into Athens-Clarke County Animal Control as a stray, it's obvious she previously had a family (because she was wearing a collar) but they don't seem to have spent much time with her.

Since coming into a foster home in late June, Kali has learned to sit and wait for her meals until she's told "okay", walk nicely on a leash, and meet new people without being frightened. Her foster sister is currently teaching her to play chase, and she's a pro at ball-chasing. Kali is housetrained and cratetrained, and starts a basic obedience class on August 13th at Pawtropolis (www.pawtropolis.com). She'd do great in a home with a family interested in continuing her training (and perhaps even advancing to agility - she's quite the athletic clown!).

Kali is approximately 2 years old,up-to-date on her shots, and spayed. She weighs 32 pounds and has a beautiful brindle coat. She is available for adoption through Helping Paws Rescue. If you'd be interested in meeting her, please leave a comment on this blog or contact Helping Paws (http://www.pawtropolis.com/dogs_adoption.html) today!