Just got back from the convention last night (at 11pm ZZZzzzzzz) after a 12 hour drive (8 hours there, 12 back....I hate New Jersey).

Ryuk was a model canine citizen the entire convention. He spent pretty much the entirely of the convention at my table due to some rooming issues (addition of a roommate with sever allergies) and slept with me in my car for two of the nights, under the table with me the third night then in the hotel room for the last night. The hotel and convention gave me permission (this hotel is INSANELY pet friendly) to have him tableside provided he behaved appropriately and was not distressed. Ryuk was perfect. Completely quiet, ignored people unless I gave him permission to greet them if they asked. There was a lot of "I had no idea there was even a dog there!" when I packed up after the convention. He was 100% okay with the convention and really seemed to enjoy it (he really does enjoy them at this point). Tail wagged the whole time, was alert but would "shut off" when told to go lay down and sleep. He slept a lot of time just hanging out at my feet playing with his toys or sleeping. His OB was spot on (yes, we did do some dancing behind the table to amuse some of our customers lol, we got tips for it, it was fun!).

I let him off leash out back away from the convention for daily frisbee to give him a chance to run and he was perfect even with the geese honking at him from the pond. He was polite to another dog who was also walking around at the convention (best behaved Shiba Inu I've ever seen actually) when she and her owner stopped at our table neither dog even payed attention to the other at all. There was a person there with a TERRIFIED cat in her arms. Ryuk immediatly went to his crate and laid down when told (I didn't want to freak this cat out anymore...it had no business being there, it repeated attacked its owner...cats are not like dogs, they don't do unfamiliar loud places well even with practice) Didn't blink with all of the people and funny costumes and noises. He amused the drunk people picking up their empty bottles and putting them in trashcans for them. He road the elevator like a champ (sat down politely and he's completely stopped trying to rush the door to get out after the doors open). He posed for pictures. It was suggested (and I'm totally doing it) that next year we both dress up for the convention. We got a few ideas from people I think I may try for dressing up like Alice from the resident evil movies and Ryuk will be a zombie dog (the other option was a Fallout themed costume with him as Dogmeat but I haven't played the game). I did dye him blue for the con and painted his nails.

One thing I thought was interesting was on the last night when our last roommate came in late. I hadn't bothered bringing the crate and instead had leashed him to my wrist for the night. When the last (unfamiliar) roommate came in he poked me awake and gave the scariest growl when the roommate staggered in. Didn't pull on the leash, didn't break his down, just a "I'm here and I don't know you" growl. All I had to say was "it's okay," and he was 100% fine with him. I was quite pleased with the perfectly controlled "warning" with no breaking his downstay and the immediate acceptance of the person in question with one command. I passively taught thing in our apartment with people coming to the door (he'll bark once, if I give him the all clear he's quiet, accepting, and calm)

Best part, he actually SLEPT IN THE CAR on the way back!!!!! I tried the stuff the vet recommended on the way there (herbal remedy). He wasn't particularly relaxed. He did sit down but he still panted (in his defense I wasn't relaxed...why do people in NYC not acknowledge yield signs and honk at you if you don't drive 40 miles over the speed limit?). On the way back I decided not to drug him. He panted for a bit but did lay down, then he laid down and stopped panting, then he actually fell asleep!!!! Curled in a ball and everything.

Over all I am SOOOO happy with my dog! It's always been my goal to have a dog that I can bring with me when I travel, who approaches new things with excitement, is completely stable and fearless, stayed obedient through all sorts of distraction and I think I've finally reached that point with Ryuk!

Yippeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What fantastic news!

Jamie, this is wonderful to hear. This didn't happen by accident; you have put an enormous amount of time into training this cool dog. Good on ya' both.

That sounds like the PERFECT dog! You know you have to post photos of Blue Ryuk!

Congrats, glad to hear he did so well!

You have spent a ton of quality time molding his personality and behavior and he has turned into a dog you can really be proud of. I bet people
got a kick out of him collecting beer cans. Plus, he's both company and protection.
I'm happy for you!
How did the dragons sell?

"It's always been my goal to have a dog that I can bring with me when I travel, who approaches new things with excitement, is completely stable and fearless, stayed obedient through all sorts of distraction and I think I've finally reached that point with Ryuk!"

This is the kind of post we love! We have followed the challenges and how you met them, and reading the results is just a fabulous thing!!!

How awesome!! Isn't is great to see all that hard work pay off?!?

Good job! I know it takes some work to make a real companion you can take practically anywhere

Congrats to both of you!!!!

--Kel