Blue

Blue, named for his big blue eyes, is a 2-year-old neutered GWP/GSP. Blue has a big loving heart and wants to love life, but going from an indoor concrete kennel from the house he was seized at to the shelter for 4 months didn't help his confidence in the outdoor world. He had no training, showed no signs of knowing basic commands, and almost everything was new to him. When he left the shelter to go to his foster, everything was new. Thankfully, his foster has been exposing him to all the good in life, and he is learning that things are not so scary.

Blue, or Blueberry as his foster has been calling him, is doing very well with his foster and his foster brother Beans, who is a middle-aged GSP.  He is remaining pretty easy to live with.  His two worst habits right now are barking at lots of sounds he doesn't recognize, but he will quit when redirected, and this is becoming less and less, but an apartment setting is still probably not the best fit for him.  He is very easy to walk on a leash, even a long leash.  No pulling and not that much stop and sniff.

He does have some resource guarding over specialty treats, so should be fed separately, otherwise doesn't seem to mind the company of another chill dog.   Blue probably would be best in a one dog home, but with slow introduction he would be fine in a home with another chill dog.  Not a dominant guy, just doesn't know too many doggy signals. When out on trails he tends to give other dogs a wide berth. He ahs met single dogs on trails and multiple dogs at a time. He and the other dog sniffed politely and ignored each other for most of the rest of the time.  He's almost dog neutral, but will move away from excited ones.  

In the house He does sneak things that he occasionally chews, so should be treated like a puppy in that sense and things should not be left out. I do not consider him much of a flight risk and he wouldn't need any special fencing in a good home.  He sleeps through the night, both in the bedroom with us and downstairs if that is where he chooses. NO counter surfing, NO jumping on people, NO begging at table (he has developed a taste for buttered popcorn!)  NOT really food motivated, but will do a lot for hot dogs!  And he is very patient about getting his nails trimmed and ears cleaned, I have not tried to brush his teeth but believe he wouldn't mind it much. 

He is very quiet, will enter strange homes and just lie or sit beside me.  He will sometimes bark if someone there makes very loud sounds or laughs loudly.  But just one or two woofs. 

He is slow to warm up to people, and if they come over, I just tell them to ignore him.  I have had several 6-8 person gatherings at my house, and after I take him on a leash to meet people, he is happy to lie on his cushy bed and observe.  He is getting a little braver walking around with strangers in his house or my mom's as long as they are calm.  I still have not had him around many kids, but he seems very suspicious of them, so kids 12 or kids that know to be calm.  

As far as obedience, he is not the sharpest tool in the shed since his upbringing was so irregular.  A good whistle usually brings the space cadet back to reality and he is doing very well with the e-collar training. At his last obedience class he learned a new command (UP!), but will need more practice with all of it.  He does really well with sit, down, place, stay (kind of) in the house, still working on it outside.  He was way too concerned to down stay most of the time in the park, but got quite good at sit stay....  looking everywhere but at me. He seems to love water, but I have not had him actually swimming yet.

Blue's exercise requirements are not too great.  He is good with about an hour a day total.  He does not seem to exhibit many traits of a bird dog. I have never seen him point, but he is interested in small animals like chipmunks and squirrels.  To go to a home with a cat, the cat would need to be dog savy and not run from him.

Oh, and car rides.  It took a month before he would jump in the car on his own and I still take him to it on a leash  He just curls up and is quiet riding, will wait for me to say "Break" before he gets out.  Not dog reactive in the car, and has waited in the car for me for up to three hours with no problems.  Not car protective either.

Blue's ideal home would be with someone who has had dogs, but perhaps is not prepared for the energy of a pup.  They will need to be a good leader as there is still so much for Blue to learn. He can be both cuddly and independent.   He does not mind being in a crate, but I have left him loose in the house and nothing has been touched.  He has NO separation anxiety, and I have tried to make sure he does not develop it. 

He is really a fairly easy dog to have around, and I think most anyone would be lucky to have him.  Blue is a lovey, affectionate fella who deserves to be loved back and shown that the world has fun wonderful things in it he could enjoy. With time, I am confident that Blue would really come out of his shell and be an

absolutely wonderful companion, he just needs a bit of extra help, and reassurance along his path there.

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