Beautiful dog! Glad you take him in!

just another update, luc is doing SO well! and the advice of everyone here is a big part of that!

this weekend we took part in an organized end-to-end of one of the sections of the bruce trail - 3 days, 22k, 25k, 24k. normally dogs aren't allowed on organized bruce trail hikes but they made an exception for luc as i vouched for his behaviour and hiking experience - and he did great, people just loved that he was there but never got in his face, it was really good socialization, and he managed to do 24k today in 28C weather (no idea what the humidity shot that up to, but it was brutal....and not normal thanksgiving/october weather).

on the first day, there was a terrible thunder/lightening storm just as we were getting towards the end. it was overhead. luc stayed totally calm with the loud thunder and the flashes of lightening. well, mostly totally calm. we turned into a forest from a road and myself and another woman were commenting on how the trees gave us a false sense of security when lightening literally hit the trail in front of us - less than 50M away. we could see the bolt come down, and then there were about 4 shots out - it looked like someone was shooting (i think) at us, and was very noisy. we all kind of ducked/hit the ground. it was scary. luc stayed pretty calm, even after that - sure, he walked faster, but we all did (none of us wanted to go past that spot, we went another way) and he only pulled to the side a couple of times. i was really impressed with him.

on the second day, we had a little section on road when a big black lab (always the labs!!!!) came barreling down a driveway, hackles raised, and heading aggressively right for us. i shouted no! and then when the dog got close enough i kicked it hard across the legs/chest to knock it off course (which was for me, since i was standing in front of luc). the owner came running down apologizing with this little flexi lead for a dog that looked about 80lbs....but what's with this? seriously, i never assaulted a dog before i got luc, now i've had to do it a couple of times. i wish people would pay more attention to their dogs. anyways, luc stayed totally calm

today luc survived me throwing him in the stream/river a few times (he doesn't like water that much, but seemed to not mind it/kind of enjoy it, probably b/c of the heat).

anyways, just thought i'd report! i was really happy w/how he handled the thunderstorm AND the lab, and that he made such a good impression (other than stealing a cookie at one of the checkpoints on the second day....what a brat! everyone thought it was cute though. he burped 5 minutes later after we left the checkpoint). and we met someone today who thought luc was part malinois b/c he is more narrow....they said his shape was similar to their malinois?????

here's a couple of pictures - the first one is of luc on day 1 on the bus, watching everyone get on....he also handled the bus well, to my relief....the second is luc and i after we finished the end-to-end today:

Jennifer, it is always awesome to hear when the children do well! I'm really jazzed for you. I know the feeling of accomplishment and the pride you have when your dog does well. It means the trainer is doing a good job too Congratulations, keep up the good work!

Jennifer, Luc actually sounds like an extraordinary dog, sound nerves. Wish you could put more photos of him in your photobucket album, cause from the pictures you just posted here, he looks like all GSD to me, not a cross at all. I'd like to see more pictures of him, standing full body picture. The pic on your sig line was taken at an angle that makes it hard to tell, accentuating his head at a closeup wide angle.

I managed to get to this picture on your album: http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/mitchthecat/?action=view&current=FuzzyLuc.jpg
and I don't see a mix of any dog on that picture either. The fact that he may look narrow to you doesn't make him a mix. I've seen lots of GSDs that look a bit narrow and they're all GSD.

thanks robbin and sandy.

sandy - i initially thought he probably had weak nerves, b/c he got startled so easily at every little thing. but he doesn't do that so much anymore, so now i wonder if it's just he's been massively underexposed, and as he gets exposed to different things, he steps up, so to speak. which isn't to say he never acts nervous, b/c he does, but that's getting less and less. i actually don't even worry about his confidence w/other dogs now, b/c he's done a complete 180 and is pretty confident around them, but i still handle all interactions as i think this is what is responsible for his change in confidence w/respect to other dogs.

i know our trainer thinks that when luc goes into avoidance (which doesn't happen all that often anymore) the biggest component of his behaviour is dominance, that luc wants to control what he and i are doing etc., and i think chris (our trainer) feels that way b/c of luc's ability to handle a greater variety of things now without shutting down or getting upset.

i have to admit, i didn't think luc looks all that malinois, and figured it was one of those 'i love my dog so your dog looks like my dog' moments. usually people think luc's a black lab, which i don't see physically or behaviourally (of course, i'm biased as we're always having labs come at us!).

i will try to put more pictures up - i'd be curious of your opinion on him. i just got a new camera so there'll be an flood of shots

That's exactly what I was thinking, that he had previously been underexposed. Exposure is everything.

I think about an alpha wolf, confident, self-assured, dominant, afraid of nothing...in it's own environment and to which there's been exposure to everything there. But take that alpha into the city where it's never seen cars, trucks, the roar of traffic, people, etc, and its confidence level is dramatically affected. That alpha would be doing its best to hide from all that (I try to hide too, but to no avail).

So yeah, exposure builds confidence.

are these good full body pictures (feel free to ignore my hair!)?

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/mitchthecat/Lake%20Superior%20PP%20Sept%2007/11240014.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/mitchthecat/Lake%20Superior%20PP%20Sept%2007/11240010.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/mitchthecat/Lake%20Superior%20PP%20Sept%2007/11170017.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/mitchthecat/Lake%20Superior%20PP%20Sept%2007/11170004.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/mitchthecat/Lake%20Superior%20PP%20Sept%2007/11170003.jpg

i do have more pics i need to upload.

Hi Jennifer -- congrats -- sounds like quite an accomplishment for you and Luc.

I agree with Sandy -- Luc looks all GSD to me -- and a fine looking one too.

That doesn't look like a pack he is wearing. Is is a harness vest?

Edited by Katie O'Connor (10/09/2007 10:38 AM)
Edit reason: spelling

thanks katie.

yup, he's wearing his hiking harness, not his backpack (all pics from day hikes). i like it b/c there is a handle i can use to lift him with (sometimes necessary climbing over stiles, which he sometimes will do on his own but generally needs some prompting). when i want him wearing a pack, i have one that is a standalone back w/no lead attachments, so he wears both.

hmm..looks like a german shepherd to me..