Dook Update

To think back that the expert dog behaviourists thought Dook would have to be killed now seems ludicrous. He had been ditched by his owners of four years, we were told because of a couples break up. But he was so thin he must have been starved prior to this. He found himself in Claverton dogs home which must be like dog jail. One ten minute walk a day. Other troubled dogs barking all around and the month he spent there was that period of vicious storms that began in mid December and straddled the Christmas period. So thin and scared of everything. He gave warning nips on several occasions and once bit and drew blood from over interested gypsy lads. My policy with dogs, and I believe it should be taught, is ignore the dog until he comes to introduce himself. Never approach or try touch a stranger dog. I had two female joggers try to smother him with their hands and he let out a warning bark saying,"who the fuck are you?". You are the dominant one so it is up to the dog to say hello to you and never be overfamiliar. Particularly, unless you know a dog don't touch him. You wouldn't want strangers in the street touching you. You would balk if strangers tried to touch your children. If he lets you fair play but all relationships take practice and learning about each other.
Dook is very playful with other dogs in the open field off leash and never fights. He can be a bit boystrous and clumsy which can freak out smaller dogs but generally you can trust him. Of course some dog owners have pretty weird ideas and some don't like to see them interact with their own species. This is just cruel and stupid.
He's getting much better with people if they approach slowly and keep their hands where he can see them. He has a tendency to jump up at people but I'm slowly helping him to control himself. His exuberance is loveable but needs refinement. When o think back to when tex was young he had many bad traits and was if anything wilder than Dook. Only thing with Dook is he's a little more fucked up. But the changes in him in this short time are unbelievable.
To be honest I see him picking up tex like traits. There is the conscious training we do but it's the unconscious way you are with them that developes their personality. They copy your habits. Ones you are not aware of. Dog training takes place despite your efforts rather than because of them.
I'm still a little wary of the inexperienced and over freindly types. Fools who approach dogs tied up outside shops where they are clearly vulnerable and you should keep clear unless you know them.
The biggest mistake with sled dog owners is under exercise. When you think they can do fifty miles in a pack pulling heavy weights a day on Arctic rescue missions you have to realise that the ten or twelve miles most working people can afford max, you're only touching the edge.
Their size and breed means they are not pets. They are as much an addition to your family as a foster child and often just as demanding. But the rewards are truly one of the wonders of existence. To be so close freinds with a beast of that size. A real honour. You'll have to sacrifice a whole bunch of stuff from festivals to parties. I had to give up lecturing because I could never find a dog sitter able to handle tex. Dook is coming along. A work in process but well on the way to being fully safe.