Name: Graham

Estimated Age: 4-6

Sex: Neutered Male

Size:  70 lbs

General Health: Heartworm treated 9/19 7 9/20

Sponsored by: Susan Mills

Available Date: Currently

Graham needs sponsors!  Won't you consider donating toward his care?

UPDATE 4/15/08
We decided to put Graham in an obedience class to help socialize him to other dogs.  Here is his first report which is wonderful:

Graham has been to two obedience classes so far and he is doing great.  He is a very alert and active dog and incredibly quick at learning new commands, helped a long with a food reward of course.  I realized last night just how ball/toy focused he really is so instructor suggested that these could be used as the reward because when he sees a ball, food is no longer an interest for him.  So I tried this and he responded well but is a little fixated on toys at the minute but using it more should help.  As he will literally do anything asked of him if he likes the treat enough.  He takes corrections well and has been okay with the big dogs in class, he either just sniffs or ignores them and can meet them and walk past them without any signs of aggression.  He does have problems with small dogs though, he will lunge at them without warning but with a firm correction and then a reward he can be redirected, wouldn’t trust him with them for a minute though.  Its probably prey drive so cats would be out as well.  So I will keep taking him to classes, foster mom has been coming along to watch and she is repeating what she sees at home with him

Graham is incredibly strong on leash and very headstrong so for this last training class I used a pinch collar as a choke chain has no effect on him whatsoever.  I have never used a pinch before and would only do so in cases where it is used correctly.  I cannot believe the difference it makes. It was like someone had swapped dogs so this is what he needs for the time being until we can get his pulling and lurching under control. Foster mom tried walking Graham with the pinch and she was so impressed with how easy it was.

Just to say that I think Graham is a sweet sweet boy, he is great with people, really happy and just rolls on his back when you fuss over him.

 

UPDATE 3/1/08
Because Graham has had difficulty meeting other dogs, he was taken this last week to Dog's Rule, a doggie day care center in Memphis.  They are the best at evaluations and socialization.  Graham was accepted for 2-3 days in day care, so he will begin this month.  We are excited for him as he needed to learn to socialize with other dogs.  We will keep everyone posted.

FOSTER UPDATE 1/21/08
Graham is now healthy.  He had a terrible lung infection which delayed his neutering for quite a big as doctor wanted to make sure that he was completely well.  He was neutered a couple of weeks ago and is doing great.  Graham is dominant with other dogs so would most likely work better as an only dog; however, he could live with a submissive dog if the applicant is willing to introduce properly and work with the situation.  He loves his ball and is wonderful with people.  He is not as old as first thought so is probably closer to the 4 age than the 6.   He has now been cleared by the doctor and is ready to meet his new family.... 

Graham recently spent a week at the lake with another family.  His fosters had to move him for a week and these are pictures taken there.  He loves the lake!!!

      

FOSTER UPDATE 10/27/07
After I picked Graham up, he was my constant shadow.  He followed me everywhere.  When I had to leave the house, he would bark after me.  But in about a week he learned that I was coming back, so no more barking.
He is eating well and looks like he is putting on some weight, which he needed.  He is housebroken, and sleeps well through the night.  He sits for a treat every time, but does not sit on command without the treat.  He doesn't  know to walk with the leash.  He pulls.  We need to work on that.  Graham is a sweet dog with people but he doesn't like other dogs.  He will need to be an only dog.

Intake Report 9/19/07
Graham is a sweetheart -- very still and very gentle ... unless that was the after effects of the HW treatment.  I could climb all around inside his lips and touch his teeth.  He is the kind of dog that when you stroke his head or face he just sits there soaking it up, peeking out of little slits for eyes.  When I arrived, he was standing on a blanket in the office.  He wagged to greet me and took a step forward (it's a tiny office) and stood so still while I stroked and talked to him.  The lady in the office said that he bolted out the door earlier as someone else was leaving and they panicked thinking he was running away.  He just had to go potty so they think he might be housebroken.  He has lots of flea dirt and possibly some skin irritation.  A bath should make this boy feel much better.  More when he goes to his foster home.