Hello again, it has been a while since the human has let me use the computer. If he doesn’t want the keys scratched up, he should be better about trimming my nails, though it does make it easer to hit the right keys.

Admittedly not much has happened this month. We have settled into a very comfortable routine. I know the human will eventually get up and let us outside, then take us for our walk and finally feed us. I no longer wake up the human at 4:30, actually I am quite content to just lay beside him in bed until he gets up. He’s a pretty decent snuggler and will often pet me while we're still both just lying there.

The walks have been a bit odd lately. The human complains that the city was slow to plow the walking paths, so instead of trudging through our normal paths he has been traipsing about the city streets. Granted, I enjoy getting to smell and mark all the different locations, but was quite happy to get back on our traditional morning and evening walk routes.

I managed to get away from him Friday evening. He slipped on the slush and started to fall. At the same time, I took off and the leash popped right off his arm, but he did ask nicely so I came right back to him.

The other day the resident, the human and I were playing outside. I tried to wrestle the human down by grabbing his vest. I don’t think he liked me playing that rough. I admit, I like this human and trust him quite a bit, but he does push his boundaries. He picked me up, which I didn’t much care for, but like I said I like this big ape. Initially I gave him the cold shoulder and looked away from him thinking he was mad, but he just hugged me, rubbed my back and told me he loves me, so I gave him a lick.

It’s kind of amazing what we are willing to put up with from the ones we care about…granted, not so much with strangers, but once you gain my trust I am one lovey dovey dog!
Be sure to put your application in for me, the sooner we get together the sooner I can start showing you the love!

It’s been a quiet couple of weeks.  The Master of the house, myself and the human have settled into a nice routine. 

We get up in the morning, granted I would like to get going a bit earlier, but trust me the human needs his beauty sleep!  The human snuggles with Koda for a bit.  I’ve been joining in just to show my appreciation for everything, then we go downstairs and the human lets us in the backyard to check for critters!  After we make sure the yard is secure we go for a walk, about 2.5 miles, then we come home and eat.  After that the human leaves us to lounge and watch TV.  Kind of wish he would get cable so we could watch Animal Planet.  When he comes back we all celebrate and hug each other, we do another yard patrol, then eat again, then go for a bit longer walk, ~3.5 miles.

The other day I ate too fast, then wrestled with the human...yep supper came back up, but the human was great about it, didn’t get upset, said it was his fault and cleaned it up. I think this guy really loves me!  I am really loving this “pet” life!

Heath, here!  I thought I would give you an update on my current living conditions.

The home owner (Koda) and I have been spending more and more time playing.  I really enjoy his company.  Admittedly, at first Koda was doing most of the initiation of play, but now I am happy to engage him, too.  It is much more fun to play now that I can roam the whole back yard.  His human is a bit surprised that I have not challenged the fence at all.  Granted, I can jump pretty high…but he feeds me well and regularly.  I do still like to hunt and chase the squirrels and rabbits.  I caught the human off guard one day and toppled him like a tree while on our morning walk...caught him mid-step and pulled him into the retaining wall I was walking on.  He says I’m good 99% of the time, but I can be a stinker if I want to be.

Koda also told the human to start giving me more free-roam time with him.  I really enjoy not being crated up all the time and it’s nice to stretch out on the couch!  I even got a half day by myself when Koda was at something called daycare! 

I’ve gotten more used to this human, too, and don’t need to tell him very often what I’m looking for, which is good because we both used to get exasperated with each other when I had to keep talking to him.  He even barked at me a couple of times, so now I just give him gentle reminders when I need to go outside or just want some loving.

Last week we went to a Meet and Greet down in Rochester and I got to visit with a bunch of my cousins and met some really nice humans, too.  I had a really good time!

Koda’s human thinks there is a family who is going to be very lucky to be owned by me.  I enjoy it here, but I really would like to have my own people!

Heath has moved to Rosemount now and is adjusting quite nicely.  He is living with his Foster Human’s resident Golden and they get along very well.  Admittedly, they both tested one another but both let the other know when they were pushing things a bit too far and each walked away with no more than a couple of “air snaps”.  I think he would be okay as an only dog, but having another confident dog with him is good, too.

Heath has been enjoying long walks both morning and night.  He is a phenomenal walker with the Gentle Leader on, and still really good without it.  He doesn’t react when other dogs are walking nearby or are barking at him from a yard.  He gets excited when he sees a critter like a rabbit or squirrel, but so far hasn’t attempted to chase them.  He is very content to walk on the path, but he loves to walk near the tall grass so he can sniff and hunt, and you can see how much it engages his mind. 

Heath is definitely a snuggler and likes to be close to his humans and loves getting attention.

Overall, this is one fantastic little guy!  The biggest negative I’ve seen from him is what some would call humping.  I think he is dancing, since he tends to bounce from back leg to back leg when he is really happy, like after a walk.

Heath has been a very busy boy and has moved to Minneapolis.  Being a city dog has taken a little adjustment.  However, Heath is really starting to enjoy the concept of the "pet life."  Heath is very happy to go on walks.  He walks like a well trained dog using a Gentle Leader.  In the beginning he wanted to run after every squirrel he saw.  He is learning that walks are for exercise, not for hunting.  Most things on walks do not bother Heath.  He ignores other dogs and people.  Fast moving bicycles and skateboards scare him.  We are training him to move away from distractions rather than lunging towards them.  He is smart and has begun to do this himself, even without the signal. 

Heath's perfect home will have a privacy fence at least 6 feet high with a wire around the bottom to keep him from digging out.  His yard will have some bushes and trees.  He loves his bushes and critters in the trees will entertain him, as well as the people who watch him.

Heath would really excel at "nose work" or tracking."  His people would have fun with him if they took him to training for this kind of activity.  Heath is extremely affectionate and can be quite a funny, silly boy.  He enjoys being touched and will lay his head in your lap for more.  Heath will do best in a home where his family has had some experience with previous dogs.