Hi folks,

It's approaching 3 months since we adopted Louie (5 yr old gsd/lab rescue "sato" dog from Puerto Rico) and he has made huge strides in gaining confidence and coming out of his shell. He has picked up on marker training (learned crate, come, mat) quite well over the last few weeks and has even showed flashes of a much improved food drive. Although he still doesn't wag his tail while outside on his walks, his tail wagging has increased ten fold in the apartment!

This took a lot of time and patience on our part, but more importantly we benefited from the HUGE amounts of GREAT advice from all the folks (too many to name, you know who you are!) on this board. Thinking back to 2-3 months ago, I felt so discouraged and lost at times when things weren't going accordingly to the training dvds or just what I had imagined in my head (ex. low food drive, fear pulling, staying in the crate all day, etc). And it was you folks that kept our spirits up with encouragements and sound advice to boot. So this is a big thank you from my wife, me, and Louie!

Next up: More marker training and switching to a raw diet!


http://www.rocafella.org/louie/louie-201009.jpg

Congratulations Simon on doing all that you have done to achieve where you are at now!
I have the most respect for people like yourself for taking on a rescue and for hanging in there and committing to doing right by
Louie! It may present challenges from time to time, but for hanging in there, it was so well worth it!
Great to hear about your progress, wishing you all the best to come!

Oh, Simon, you don't know know how valued such posts as this are.

Folks who rescue (particularly for the first time) often do become discouraged at slow progress. I know I did.

But there's nothing like the bond between the human and dog who have come through the process of building the confidence of both and creating a feeling of security, finally, in a thrown-away dog.

Your Louie, like my sister's Save-a-Sato dogs, are so incredibly fortunate to have found their real homes at last. And just as much, the owners are incredibly fortunate to have this experience.

Simon, How nice of you to let the "rescue experienced" folks who have helped you know this, and for the rest of us, it is just simply nice to hear how well things are going. Keep up the good work! Lucky pup...

Simon, This is so great to hear! Louie is such a lucky dog to have found you. I have two friends that adopted SATO dogs within the past two years, they are wonderful companions.

Keep us updated, and keep up the great work!

What is a SATO dog? (besides so cute...)

Street dogs from Puerto Rico.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u3zsBZ5sv4&feature=related

Congratulations, Simon. Proud of you, your wife, and handsome Louie.

Good job!