I'm going to turn this into Ranger's Thread. That way I can post all of my "proud dad" pics and updates in one place. I'm going to send a PM, but if a mod strolls through, please change the thread name for me.
Ranger is seven months old now, and to me he is still just a goofy puppy. All he wants to do is play and get attention. He does have a serious side, though. While on our property, or inside the house, he turns into a protection dog at the first scent or sound of something out of place. When he does this, he is deadly serious about it. I make him go to his place and sit before I open the door for anyone. He remains on guard and aloof towards strangers, but makes no ill moves, as he did once a couple of months ago.
Let's just say that he read my body language, could tell I was upset, and the next guy through the door was (correctly) targeted as the reason for my bad vibes. I caught the by the collar, mid-air, and redirected him outside. I decided at that moment that the real training had to begin.
I've been relying on what little skills I have from training hunting dogs for many years (not much help), the book "Schutzhund Obedience, Training In Drive," and what I can pick up on the internet. He will be meeting the K9 Handler/Trainer soon, and the real work will begin then.
For what little skills I have, we already have the basics down, with and without verbal commands. I was able to get him to sit and stay with a 30 foot recall several times the other day. My wife and teenage son work with him some, but not to the degree that I do. He doesn't listen to them as well, either. I need to make myself out of sight when they are working him, because he wants to focus on me instead of them.
He's a very finicky eater. We had trouble in the very beginning transitioning him from the Puppy Chow/raw diet the breeder had him on to a better kibble. Eventually he ate Purina Pro Plan for Large Breed Puppies well, but recently he's been turning his nose up at it. I started mixing in a half a can of moist food, like Call of the Wild, etc, and now he gobbles it up. My wife laughs at me and says I spoil him. Maybe I do, but I have a bond with this dog like I've never had before. He is my 70 pound baby, and he is my "partner," even though I am not a first responder of any kind. It's weird, but true.
Surveying his domain
With "his" kitty
With "his" baby
He doesn't do well with car rides. Note the drool after a 3/4 mile trip.
Strangely enough, he loves riding in the back of the truck (tethered of course). He doesn't bound around and act crazy. He just sits there and looks all over the place.
