Hondo Dog Park

So, since I got Elka I found out about Hondo Dog Park. I had been eagerly awaiting Elka's third set of vaccinations to go. Well, we've been there twice now (twice today) and it is everything that I dreamt it could be, and then some.

The first time was mid-afternoon, and there were 5 or 6 dogs there. Elka had a great time playing with a pit bull puppy and some others. This evening we went and there were over 20 dogs there. Including everything from a 6 week old puppy and upwards. There were two huskies and a malamute there. I don't see any resemblance between Elka and the huskies, either physical or temperament. But we'll see - she did gravitate to them (as did I) and had a great time playing. She also played for awhile with a golden retriever, which I had hoped would be my next dog come next summer.

She and I also went on two hour+ long walks today, so we're both pretty exhausted. Best Buy was here for a few hours, fixing up my home theatre, including hooking up two outdoor speakers. They'll be back in a few weeks to install in-wall rear speakers. Things are looking much better and really coming together.

I also joined the HOA, to help with the architectural approvals. We met last night and that was awesome, a great group of people that live right here in my neighborhood. I've met a lot of my neighbors while out walking Elka, as well, including some great folks in the neighborhood over (Orenco station). I'm happier and happier that I really pushed to be in this neighborhood, and was able to pay the premium for it. In the next few weeks I'll have a new fence (one side, anyway), and over the summer, new siding and windows. Then I'll have one major project: the master bathroom.

There's about 50 million other projects, but those are the the main 4 right now. Oh, those and new appliances for the kitchen.

Exciting times. A new house, a new puppy, the cats are doing great and I'm about 10x more active - both socially and physically - than I have been in years.

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She ain’t no german shepherd.

A few weeks ago I had blood drawn from Elka to test her DNA and see what breeds she had.

The shelter had marked her "German Shepherd mix" - everyone agreed, from her looks, that she had some shepherd.

Not even a trace.

She is primarily Siberian Husky (significant amount), then some English Cocker Spaniel (some) (!?!?!?!), then some Alaskaman Malamute and Rottweiler (traces).

So, this is how it broke down on the DNA analysis:

• You should see traits from Siberian Husky.
• You may see traits from English Cocker Spaniel.
• There is a chance of seeing traits from Alaskan Malamute and Rottweiler

Well, she most likely will not be much of a guard dog, she'll happily greet strangers and love them. She'll also have a strong prey drive. Now, I've done a lot of research and many people have happily raised pure-bred huskies with cats and they managed to be best friends. But huskies are predators of small animals. I don't feel a reason to worry about Elka - she's very, very gentle with the cats, though she wants to play with them. The only issue I do see if that she chases them. However, I've been at the end of the chase and she always stops and stops - she has never put her teeth on the cats.

Now - does that mean she's safe for all cats? No. A pup raised around cats may be ok, especially with the pack; but not ok with strange cats.

Huskies are also more independent (like Odin was) and more stubborn; and they're never off-leash dogs since they're runners. Her mix will definitely speak to how she gets trained, and I'll need to amend my own thinking on that a bit. But she's doing extraordinarily well to be honest, and I think she's just perfect.

The only real hitch this puts in my plans is that I expected her to become protective as she got older. Then next summer, I was going to get a golden retriever. However, I do feel more comfortable with a dog that has some guarding instinct, so the next dog probably will not be a golden, but will be shepherd or other working dog of some sort, with a history of guardianship. But, we'll see - perhaps that Rottweiler in her will come out if she suspects danger, eh?

I always wanted a husky but wouldn't have chosen one, due to the cats. However, she's doing great with the cats, and I'm confident that I can get her to be close to perfect (a running cat will likely always get chased, unfortunately, but the cats have been easily able to handle themselves).

Adventures ahead, eh?

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Elka and Mali, not quite snuggling yet…

When I first posted about the puppy, I saw a comment from someone how I was going to handle introductions. I had to restore from a backup and that comment was lost, however...

What I had done was to keep Elka on a leash around the cats until the chasing died down. Elka is actually very interested in the cats, and quite loving - but she also loves to chase. She doesn't want to eat the cats, just catch up to them for sniffs and playtime. The cats are not pleased about that. But, the chasing has died down to about every other day, and Elka just trots rapidly rather than a full out run. In other words: we're making progress. I do keep Elka on a short leash in the house so if I can catch her chasing, I step on the leash - but they're all usually too fast for that.

I also practice every day putting Mali on the ground, and treating Elka as long as she stays in one place, sitting or laying down. If I see the cats moving, I'll have Elka look at me when she gets too focused. It's working, but it's slow.

Proof it's working?

More over on Flickr.

As you can see, Mali isn't actually all that excited about the situation - but she is patient and putting up with it. Kayne still stays up high but it is now much more common to see him venturing on the floor. And he's snuck up on Elka for a quick sniff before hiding again.

Progress - small steps, but forward motion occurs.

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Dad visiting this weekend.

I won't be around much this weekend as dad is visiting. He arrives tonight at PDX around 10:30pm, so here around 11:30pm. I also remembered last night to ask him to bring his HD Video Cam. I'm going to get some high quality recordings of Hannah.

Time to clean, and then to relax. My li'l druid is up to level 21 and I've quit 3 or 4 times from PVP crap. I hate leveling, even moreso on a PVP server. I quit several times a day.

Oh, and the key to Elka's heart? I mean - attention? Chicken, of the sort I cook fresh for Mali. I can use that in the face of distractions. It rocks. Skinless, boneless chicken breast, cooked up and chopped into small bits. Yum!

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Promoted to Director of Community Services.

Great news has just been announced over at EllisLab - and that is about yours truly. I have been promoted to Director of Community Services.

When I first went full-time with EllisLab, it was after much soul-searching about using my degree in the publishing industry, or continuing on with a company and products that I loved. I decided to push forward with EllisLab and have not once looked back on that decision. With this promotion, that just proves to me that this was the Right Choice™.

I love my work, and I love the community that I work with. I could not be happier about this promotion and about my future with EllisLab.

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