Sparky

Robin, i wanted to take the time to tell you how much i have come to love sparky. my vet puts his age at about 3 years old, which possibly explains why he was dumped at the shelter to begin with; they never taught/trained him to be the gentleman he is quickly becoming, and if you don't train a boston from day one, wellllll, you can get a sparky. he takes to the attention and training quickly; he loves the attention and is actually quite a bit smarter than my last two that came as pups from a champion breeder here in CT. he is a snuggly love bug, but i have had to draw the line with him as he would prefer being "pack leader", but to his dismay, it's me. i've been working on manners and obedience, and he does test me now and then, but i am firm with him and if he had a tail to go between his legs, that's what would happen, as he goes into his crate for a self-imposed time out when reprimanded.

we have no problems so far passing other dogs; he looks, but no barking or carrying on. i have a trainer that will be working with us starting next week regarding walking on leash without pulling, heeling and paying attention. he does have a short attention span right now, but i am working with him daily and he is getting so much better. he does sit, down, stay and leave it. he sits at his dinner bowl until i say he can have it. he's a great watch dog, and has learned to stop barking and sit when it is someone i know at the door. he is especially fond of the pizza guy; i wonder why? (cheese) he has learned that i go out the door and in the door before he does. kip told me he doesn't really know how to play, so we work on fetch and other fun games. i am not fond of tugging games, so we don't do any of that. my vet says it's not so much aggression as it is fear with him, which is why he reacts with a growl or bark. working on that also.

i! sparky & i would love to be on your website. i am so excited to let you know that sparky goes on walks with other dogs now (together w/one walker) and loves to run & play in the dog park (yes, they are all unleashed). no fighting whatsoever!!!!!!! he is in a 4 wk training program 2 hrs a day and is loving it. we are working primarily on the front door greeting; i need him to bark for my protection but NOT to go for my friends when they come in the front door. he needs to learn to back off & stay, so the trainer is working on that with me. not sure if i sent a picture; here are a couple just in case i did not. he is a wonderful dog and i feel truly blessed to have him in my life. one of the pics has him in his favorite window in the sun.


and goofy as it sounds, we do the "sparky dance" every night. he likes to walk on his hind legs, so when i say let's do the sparky dance, he dances on his hind legs, and yes, i dance with him. corny, but fun.

he lets me handle him anywhere (kip did a great job desensitizing him) and still gives me kisses, even though he can't always sit on the couch with me and must sleep in the crate at night (not in my bed where we would both prefer) so he understands he is the dog and i am the person (this per my vet's instructions for now). right now it's invitation only so he curls up in his wonderfully comfortable bed looking sad & pathetic (i tried it out) and loves to lie in the sun in the window seat all day.
i have him licensed in Avon, and you are not getting him back. he loves to ride in the car with me and get a plain munchkin from the girls at the dunkin donuts drive thru. i usually am not a people food for dogs person, but he loves it so it's a special treat for him when we go.

my vet says he's a wonderful dog but a handful, and that we should be perfect together as long as i am willing to put in the time with him, which of course i am. he's a wonderful, loving dog and i am so happy that i have the opportunity to get to keep him and love him.

kip is a gem, and did such a great job with him.

take care, and know that sparky is in loving hands. corinne freaney

-- contributed by Robin