Major 2

---

Update 7/28/04:

“Boys just wanna have fun!” is Major’s them song. He’s definitely a fun-loving boy who wants to play with other dogs and is just learning the difference between his foster family and a family of pooches. Major would do well in a family with another dog his size or one that can take him to the park to run off some of his energy. When Major’s tired he’s good about laying around and playing with his toys. Sometimes he even takes a nap and makes the cutest little noises when he’s dreaming.

Major just got a Kong toy which he had fun with and it seemed to keep him entertained for a while. He still takes his human foster sister’s toys when he wants to play. Interestingly, he never bothers the toys when he’s home alone – it’s only when there’s someone in the house to chase after him! It surprises his foster mom that the high pitched noise from the 8 year old chasing him doesn’t bother him! He seems to love it!

He also stays out of the trashcans and doesn’t take food from the table or counter when no one’s home with him. His foster mom was surprised to see him take a package of bologna off the counter but he was quick to show her what he took so she thinks he may have just wanted attention (and probably some of the bologna too!) He’s very well behaved at mealtime and spends a lot of it checking out the floor by his foster siblings places. His foster mom appreciates the help cleaning up the floor!

Major is a little better about not jumping on people to greet them – but still has a good amount of work to do in this area. He’s also made good progress walking on a leash. He barks when people are walking by the house if they have dogs with them – he seems much less interested if they’re dogless!

Major is fully house broken and will bark at the door when he wants to go out. He’s not afraid of thunder, lightening, or fireworks – all of which he experienced this weekend.

Major is so loveable! If his foster mom is sitting on the floor he’s in her lap – or more accurately – laying across her lap! He’ll sit calmly for hours if you’re petting him. He also has the very sweet habit of sitting on his foster mom’s foot or leaning on her leg when they’re just sitting together reading or watching TV. He’s not allowed on the furniture and doesn’t seem to have sneaked up on it when his foster family is gone. He will put his paws on the bed or sofa you’re sitting in when he wants to be petted. He’s a major sweetie!

Original:

Major is a major cutie! He’s a three year old, 58 pound, black and white altered male. He loves to be with his people and follows them from room to room. Once settled he’ll lay on the floor near his folks. He likes attention and will sit for hours if you’ll pet him and whisper sweet nothings in his ears.

Major is great with kids but should be around older children as he’s a strong dog and could easily knock down a toddler without meaning any harm. Major likes to play with his foster brother (9) and sister (8) and has started teasing them by bringing their toys to them and then running away with the toys in his mouth. He doesn’t take their toys when he’s left alone so it seems he’s only doing it to get them to play with him. He’s fully housebroken and usually runs to the door when he wants or needs to go outside. Other than marking a couple rooms the first night he hasn’t had any accidents.

Major doesn’t counter surf and doesn’t beg at the table. He doesn’t routinely go into trash cans although he once dug food out of the trash can after his foster mom threw away a wrapper from some beef. He does have big brown eyes and knows how to use them to make his point known.

Major is trying very hard to walk like a gentleman on a leash but still insists on pulling his foster mom so she’ll get to the next smell faster. He’s also working on not jumping when someone comes in the door. He’s making progress but sometimes is so happy to see his foster family that he forgets. His foster family is eager to work on this behavior as he tends to slobber when he gets excited. He will sit when told to and give you his paw when requested. Major will let you play with his paws, brush him, pet him all over, and put your hand in his mouth to see what’s in it. He does not like getting a bath as evidenced by his foster mom’s flooded bathroom! Since he still had soap on him when he decided he’d had a long enough bath his foster mom hosed him off outside. He seemed fine with that. He was never aggressive about getting in, or back in, the tub – just 58 pounds of stubbornness.

Major let his foster mom move his bowl when she wanted to see what he’d do. He pretty much just watched her like she was crazy. Once she stopped moving the bowl he went back to eating. Major doesn’t really fetch or retrieve anything. His foster mom threw and then retrieved a ball and then a bone several times trying to get Major to play – but she quickly got tired of the game and Major got bored watching. They both decided to settle down: she with a book and he with his bone. Major will play tug with his bone – but usually after it’s wet and slimy giving him a distinct advantage! Major chases cats although probably only because they run.

When his foster mom was holding the cat he was quite cautious – but once the cat ran he took off after it. Major doesn’t growl, snap or bite. He does bark when he sees a dog in the yard or across the street. His bark is more playful than aggressive. He played with the Yorkie near his foster family and then hid behind his foster mom when she, the Yorkie, barked at him. He’s just a major baby who just wants to be loved by his people.