We’ve had Dasha now for a week and I must say that I’m embarrassed that I have yet to get some better pictures up of her!  I’ve taken a few, but with the holidays, we’ve been a bit busy.  I’ll try to get them up tonight though!

Dasha has been with us now for about a week.  We are serving only as her temporary foster home until her long term foster home is able to take her.  After only a week, we’re already getting sad about her leaving!!

The most important things:  HOUSEBROKEN AND CRATE TRAINED!!!! =)

This is a VERY sweet dog!  She is extremely timid and submissive, so she’ll need to go to a gentle home who can be patient with her as she gains confidence.  She currently lives with a dominant female and a goofy male, both around her age and gets along with them beautifully.  She doesn’t want to play too much, but once in a while she will jump up and down in her play bow trying to get another dog to play.  Often when they start to play back, she gets intimidated and tucks her tail, running back to her people.   She is more wary of dogs she doesn’t know and although she is frequenting the dog park, she stays very close to her people (sometimes climbing up on my lap!), but is starting to venture out further and further each time.  Although she does very well with other dogs, it appears she will protect her food from them if they approach.  We feed her in a crate, and when other dogs approach her crate while she’s eating, she does growl.  I’m not sure if it would go any further than that and I don’t care to find out . . . she should be fed separate from other dogs.   She does NOT growl when humans take food from her bowl, this is strictly towards other dogs. 

The big time positives:

1. This dog is already housebroken!!!  and to some degree I think trained to go potty right away.  It’s the first thing she does when she goes out, regardless if she’s been out an hour before, so it’s really nice that you don’t have to stand out there in the cold.   Speaking of cold - she HATES the cold.  She shivers after only about 15 mins outside and we’ve had to resort to sweaters when we go to the dog park.   She will whine if she’s cold.   She can go about 6 hours in the house without needing to go out; however, she doesn’t know how to signal you when she needs to go out . . .

2.  She’s crate trained, but prefers the bed.  She will go into her crate when you say ”crate” and enjoys being in there.  With the door left open, she will often lay in there, when we’re just hanging out in the room and will retreat there if the house becomes noisy or chaotic.

3. LOW exercise needs for a GSP.   She’s happy with running around at the dog park for 20 minutes or so or chasing birds in the back yard.  

4.  EXCELLENT recall.  I think with a bit of training, she’ll be great off leash.  We haven’t really pushed it, but at the dog park, she’ll come back even when in the midst of chasing birds. 

5.  People pleaser/cuddler:  This dog loves her people.  She is always snuggling up beside you, climbing on your lap, and sneaking into the bed.   She wants to be with her people at all times.  She is also VERY responsive to your voice and verbal correction even with a very simple “no.”

6.  LOVES to ride in the car.  Just open the front door and she’ll head straight there and jump in.  She doesn’t like her head out the window though . .. 

7.  She APPEARS to be good with kids.  Children have approached her at the park and she seems to enjoy the attention and isn’t fearful of them.  We don’t have any children of our own, so our experience is somewhat limited here . ..

8.  Cats are probably OK.   We don’t have a cat, but we have a rabbit and she’s afraid of it, so my guess is that a dog savvy cat and a good intro would be fine. 

9.  NO identified “issues”:  We haven’t heard her bark, she can be left out in the house without destroying anything, she doesn’t chew, she doesn’t dig, doesn’t bolt out the door,  she gets along with all other dogs and people.

The Cons: Very few actually . ..

1.  She’s definitely never had any leash training.  She zigzags all over the place and pulls intermittently.  She’s not too strong though, so she’s fairly easy to handle .  . .

2.  She’s never had any obedience training.   And she’s having a hard time learning any tricks because she’s a bit shy of people’s hands, so it becomes difficult to lure her into the positions you want.  I think with time and good treats, that will improve as she starts to really trust . . .

3.  She’s VERY VERY submissive, timid and shy.  While this has made integrating her into our pack, very easy,  it will mean that she needs someone with a light touch and a gentle voice to help her build confidence.  She is frightened of new sounds and new things and will lay down on the ground not moving when we go somewhere new, so she will need someone to help her through the socialization process . . .

I’ll update soon with some pictures!!  She’s a BEAUTIFUL dog with an adorable “puppy face!”   That shelter pic just isn’t doing her justice!