March 3, 2019

White Dog has the benefit of about a Harvard doctorate in schooling and can be counted on in every situation to know, or be able to figure out, how best to handle things. Zsofia was well schooled as a puppy and was instrumental in developing her trainer's program for pet parents with disabilities. But she IS a Sibe and in her genes is the "RUN!" command that prevents me from entirely trusting my overwrite command.

As for the others, each has had the benefit of home schooling and daily practice but came as adults and with lots of baggage and lacking the most basic skills (like even walking on a leash). They try very hard and have mastered the basics MOST times. I can count on "manners" and almost always, "drop it," but often recalls are dependent upon the distractions around them...and a whole host of ghosts I do not even know about until they appear...like men wearing plaid (Nuka).

Which brings us to Team Three of the Night Walkers: White Dog, Bailey, and Roman. In a situation, WD will dependably run to the front door from where ever she is if Steve drops her leash and gives the command. Bailey is an unknown; she IS a Sibe though mellow but is lazy even if I am at the door to recall her in the yard. Roman is totally unreliable. He does not fear being on his own and I am certain will run if he gets rattled and has no control. He wears his muzzle on walks but he can be verbally aggressive to other dogs or cats going by.

So Chaco, the huge 18month old malamute who is unsupervised and poorly secured (I also believe he is unneutered), deciding to step over his front patio picket fence and trot over to visit the WDA Team Three as they walked down our driveway at bedtime was NOT a happy social moment.

Bailey was thrilled at the big boy's attentions (she IS spayed) and encouraged him with wags and happy howls. WD moved out of the way, prepared to return to the door.

Roman went atomic. He snarled, He went into full PTSD mode. He dragged Steve who tried to block the two boys while screaming for Chaco to go home. The potential was ugly...and fortunately loud enough that the neighbor across the street came rushing out of their house to retrieve their dog.

While apologetic, they do not seem to get that a dog as big, as young, and as driven by hormones as Chaco is is not going to be constrained by a decorative 4' high picket fence. I fear someday this sweet boy will be hurt due to the lack of security.

We heard the noise from inside and were horrified as WD hurried in on the shortened walk to fill us in. Roman was still majorly rattled even though Steve did his best to make the continuation as routine as possible. To give our boy a sense of safety he went right into his kennel, got treats and was highly complimented on his good boy-ness. Steve took off his muzzle and tucked him in for the night; Roman happily went to the back of his bed and curled up tightly.

Roman struggles so hard to inch forward and make progress in just being socialized within the White Dog Army, an assault by someone else's pet seems like an unfair challenge. And with his muzzle, our boy would have been helpless had this "baby" decided to fight...and a 140lbs of writhing Malamute, Bailey AND Roman who have been a total failure.  It took Steve a long time after lights out to get past his trauma; it was in many ways a "worst nightmare." I hope the neighbors are smarter tonight; Steve has already decided to reconnoiter BEFORE walks and if Chaco is out, he is going to cross the street and ask for him to be taken inside. Just for the WDA's safety.