I'm still spending a small fortune on toys, to try keep Diesel occupied.
However, when I'm out at work during the day, the toys don't hold much interest and Diesel's boredom is resulting in quite a bit of destruction in the back yard - but that's a whole other story.
So, besides throwing the ball to try wear him out, I'm also trying to engage his mind on a regular basis. I've been teaching him a few more tricks - shake, high-five, touch, wait, settle. I'm trying to get him to put his toys back in the box, but he hasn't figured that out yet. I've also been doing a whole lot of research on dog mental exercises.
I came across the muffin tin game on this web page: http://3lostdogs.com/puzzle-toys-a-beginners-guide-to-the-most-useful-dog-toys-ever/ (scroll down). In that video it is taking some time for the dog to figure it out. The very clever Diesel has already aced the game, to the point where he now looks at me as if to say "is that all". Here he is on the third go at it:
I'm also trying to teach him the cup guessing game. I'm using some plastic bowls I had, and so far we are at the point where he can show me which bowl the treat is under. I'm now trying to get him to follow when I move the bowls around. On one day he'll have the patience and follow. On another day he just bulldozes both bowls. Here he is showing me which bowl the treat is under:
With Diesel in my life I have been going to Walkhaven again. It's bittersweet, reminding me of all the times I went with Titan and Asha. But with Diesel it's a completely different experience.
Titan and Asha used to stick with me, barely leaving my side, particularly Asha. They also used to look to me for guidance. Asha once hid behind me looking for my protection from a dog that had approached her aggressively. This stick by your side thing seems to be a Dane trait, as I've now observed others doing it.
Diesel does no such thing. He is a far more social being and is easily distracted. So instead of me walking the dog, he walks me. I find myself following Diesel around, and he goes with whatever takes his liking for that particular point in time. So, one minute we are following one group of people/ dogs and the next we could be going a completely different direction with the next group that has taken his fancy.
It certainly opens up conversation, mainly with me saying "I'm sorry to be following you, but Diesel has decided that you're interesting and he'd like to walk with you, for now."
I have met lots of people this way. And it was even because of this that we happened to bump into Diesel's litter brother, Harvey, the one day.
Diesel, green leash, and Harvey, blue leash
Diesel also has no separation anxiety. This is a good thing when I leave him at home alone for the day while I go to work. At the park, it means I have to look out for him, because I'm sure he'd happily go home with someone else.
He is so unfazed about being with me that he was able to follow some ladies and their girl Weimaraner around the dam while I waited at the restaurant. Thank goodness he was really keen on the Weimaraner, it kept him from being distracted until right at the end of their walk when another group of dogs took his interest. But by then they were close enough for me to go fetch him.
Here he is playing with the Weimaraner at the restaurant:
In March, I went to visit my parents in Howick. Diesel was really good in the car, he slept most of the way. At the one rest stop in Harrismith there are some animals. I took Diesel to go meet them. He was curious but didn't want to go too close, and got a fright when the pig made a noise. Here are the pictures from our road trip:
Diesel also learnt to swim while he was in Howick, since my parents have a swimming pool at their house. It was important to teach him while we were there, as he wasn't too sure in the water. During the first visit to Walkhaven, he was bouncing around in the water after other dogs. At one point he bounced in a bit too far and sank. He popped up, jumped around and came bounding out the water towards me with huge eyes. He got out, dropped at my feet a bit overwhelmed, but after two seconds realised he was fine and started dive bombing the mud because of the water in his ears. A few seconds later he was back in the water, so no harm there. But it made me realise that I needed to teach him to swim, and so that was the goal while we were in Howick.
My social dog also accompanies me to restaurants. While we were in Howick, we visited the Bierfassl on Nottingham Road. Diesel went with us and calmly lay down next to the table while we ate.
He and I also regularly visit Brightwater Commons because they allow dogs there. After a walk around we end up at McGinty's for a drink. Diesel is now well-known there and has the waitrons wrapped around his paw. While I have Gummy Berry Juice (an awesome cocktail of Vodka, Blue Curacao, Banana Liqueur, Grenadine, Lime and Lemonade), he gets served water in his bowl which I take with us, and this gets regularly topped up with ice, one of his favourite treats.
