Logan

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Logan is a very good boy who is learning that he need not be afraid of humans. Indeed, he is beginning to get comfortable at his foster home. This little wiseacre is doing things that are calculated to get him in trouble. Things like tear his bedding, chew the couch throw, gnaw the throw rug, or pick up the water bowl. He only does such things when a person is around thus we say he is testing.

This testing is a good sign. He is learning what he can do with human acceptance. Logan is also watching to see how his foster reacts when he does really bad things. The foster's current Malamute places a few demands on him, talking at him when he resist. Logan expects such lectures and understands that the alpha Malamute is ready and able to enforce his will. A proper Alpha does not go for vengeance or retribution. Neither should a human alpha have an appetite for such things. Logan, like all dogs, expects to be corrected in a guiding, civil manner. His distrust says that he used to be corrected with vengeance.

What Logan has been getting when he does his tests are human snarls. To people these sound like a "no" with varying levels of firmness. If after a snarl he goes right back to the test he gets a much firmer snarl. With that, he tends to strike a pose that seems to say "I'd better think about doing this again". Of course, he will pick another time to do this test over. He is a teenager after all.

We expect Logan to fill out some now that he is getting good amounts or nutritious food. You may remember that he came to us very bony. It will take time for him to adjust to eating well. Why, he didn't understand that when he is tossed a bit of meat that it is for him to eat. His foster had to pick it up and urge him to eat it. He also didn't realize that a soda cracker could be eaten. So much he has yet to experience.

He has been getting walked downtown to expose him to lots of people. He accepts the people very well as they go past. When they stop to see him he is not entirely comfortable. He may pull his head back as they reach to scratch his ear. The important thing is that he is never upset or threatening. Indeed, he is learning to expect such things and that it is good. He is also getting use to that other 'dog' he sees as we walk past store windows. Logan has provided many people in stores entertainment as he investigates his reflection in the windows.

Logan is really a pleasant guy to walk with. He does so little pulling and he seldom tries to go after anything. This may be an element of him not yet being fully settled in. If this is the real 'Logan attitude' than he is a Malamute of low activity needs. Please understand, he does need lots of walks to keep his mind from mischief and to keep him healthy. He is just not at all hyperactive.

Foster Update 5/31/2006

Logan continues to be a good boy. He likes dogs really well. He has figured out that humans of all sizes are OK. Going for walks are big on his list of things to do. Failing walks, he will take all the petting a person can give.

A sure way to get Logan to perform his cute moves is to put down his feed bowl. He will squirm and wiggle till his person has assured him that the food really is for him. Very odd. Very cute. A good thing is that he shows no sign of food aggression toward humans.

In the couple of months that we have had Logan in our foster home he has had a lot of experiences. With his background seemingly being one full of fear, we have been very pleased. This guy has never offered a threat to a human. He started with us a bit unwilling to meet new humans. Now he enjoys meeting people.

Logan seems to be OK with cats. He would be glad to chase and play with them but he seems not inclined to eat them. He is also not inclined to go after horses or cattle. Indeed, he is a bit intimidated by them.

Logan tends to be his own guy while loose in a fenced yard. He will usually hang around with a person working in the yard. Sometimes he will try to get games of ‘chase me’ going. In the house Logan is ready and hoping to share lots of affection