Keena and Sheba - adopted
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April 6, 2011
Hi All, I'm sending you an update on how the 2 dogs I adopted from DPS are doing now, a year later.
Keena was originally named Keno from the Vegas litter. I received her at 12 weeks. I remember that no one had already spoken for her out of the litter so I zoomed down from Roseville to Campbell that very day I first saw her on your website. She was so easy to train I thought I'd get her a friend. When Keena was 5 months old I went back to your website and saw Shylow (now named Sheba). She was in need of a steady home and matched Keena's coloring, only with shorter hair. I again drove to Campbell to see if the 2 dogs would be compatible.
Sheba had temporarily been placed with a family who had 2 young boys. She was being returned due to herding and snapping at them. She did this behavior with dogs too. I (naively) thought I could redirect the behavior since she was only 5 months old. That has been our biggest hurdle.
I've spent lots and lots of time working with the dogs. Daily walks or bike rides, even in the rain. Socializing them at group events in my area. My goal has been to drain some energy every day. Luckily I have the acre backyard so, in a pinch for time, I can chuck them balls. They are something to watch. To curtail the barking I purchased a high-pitch barking system ($100) to keep them from barking at the gate and, it's even working with the fence fighting.
Last November I was so frustrated with them and was about to give up, but I finally found a real dog trainer (Performance Dogs In Action, Pleasant Grove, CA). Nola the owner/trainer has been in the business for years. Her personal dogs are Border Collies. She's the one who told me Keena was a cattle dog mixed with Border Collie vs. Aussie. She trains various disciplines, agility, herding, platform jumping, etc. Her facility offers play days and fun events on her 6 acres. Dogs like mine learn a lot from the old timer dogs who are well socialized and well trained.
Needless to say, my dogs love going there. Even thought it's a 45 min one-way drive and I've often gone twice a week. I don't plan on showing my dogs but with Nola's training and my perseverance I'm seeing the light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel to well-behaved dogs.
Thank you for providing a place where dogs can find owners and puppies have a home to grow up in.
Current pictures are attached.
Lynn
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