Blake is still mostly separated other than when I am there supervising, and even then he is on lead and "coached" by me. Flash and Jesse are still uncomfortable with him, so I make sure Blake doesn't bother them, especially with Jesse I am super careful as he doesn't always give a lot of warning before he "goes"... But for the last two weeks, we have not had any further incidents and all the dogs are getting used to the arrangements in place now.
Skye seems happier with Blake than the other two, and she actually goes and greets him too. She still doesn't like it if he spends too much time sniffing her, or when he tries to play (whilst he is on lead), but she is definitely quite relaxed around him (unless she has something to guard!).
Blake has made great progress with training, he now sits (after Louise Cooper, chiropractor, gave him a little bit of treatment) and lays down on cue (though not reliably yet always), we have started off with the food follow and statics for heelwork and he is doing fine for that, and he does a pretty good hand touch too. We have also started the muzzle training. whistle recall is getting really good! When he accidently slipped the lead out of my hand he returned on a six-pence to the whistle.
He has really come out of his shell and now enjoys his walks and rarely gets nervous. He still worries about dogs approaching him on lead, but is getting better with that. I also do livestock training with him, and he is actually very easily distracted around sheep etc. and he takes virtually no notice of horses. He does react to deer and rabbits, but he stands still rather than trying to go after them. Cats he is not too bothered if they sit still, but will react like to rabbits when they run. But he is overall making great progress.
At Knettishall Heath, with some WTDT members below.
His naughty and indeed cheeky side is coming out as well now... LOL He loves beheading flowers (just like Dylan did when he was a youngster... LOL), digging, has taken a couple of chomps out of my hallway telephone table and the TV cabinet and keeps trying to sling the dog beds around! On the other hand he has started to eat the stuffed kongs I leave him, so that's something that will keep him occupied. (He does apparently howl for about a quarter of an hour when I leave, but then settles).
So yes, things are still a little tense here with Flash, Jesse and Skye still, but there are promising steps that it'll all work out! Blake is an amazing dog, and just needs to learn a few more manners, most of all to leave the other dogs alone if they want to be left alone, e.g. they growl! He'll get there. I am also quite confident that neutering Blake will make a difference, once all that testosterone is gone. That will get done some time in the next couple of weeks.
Today, he had a play date with Melissa's Knox. I thought I'd best make sure to introduce him to plenty of lovely dogs and some that play with him. We went for a walk first, and then we popped over to Melissa's for a romp - and my, did they have a great time! He is fast, and he is mad, but he plays lovely!
Here are some pictures and a couple of videos:
And some pictures that Melissa took:
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