Merry Christmas! We just wanted to drop you a few lines and update you on Radars progress. We are all thoroughly enjoying having him in our home. He's a great dog. I have taken him out to quite a few places. He's been to the vet to say Hi, and to my work (Mounds) many times to just get a treat. We even took him to the Parade and Christmas Tree lighting in Mt. Horeb. Radar did great! He walked through the crowds of people with minimal distractions and during the Parade, while the fire trucks were going past with their loud horns and sirens he never got up from his sit and never took his eyes off of me. I was amazed to say the least. He is a solid dog and has the best temperament. He has definitely come out of his shell now. For the most part he is well behaved, but some days he sure can be a handful. (In a good kind of way, he has somewhat of a funny personality.) The dogs are all getting along well, I am glad to say we have had no problems to date. Surprisingly he and Dakota play together, Barney just plain ignores him. Radar keeps trying to get Barney to play with him though, some time Barney forgets and will start to play with for a few minutes. One thing we have noticed is that he is starting to dominate. He was keeper of the water bucket for a while. He would keep the other dogs away from it until he decided he was done. He would also go running to it and get between it and the dog when he would hear one of the others drinking from it. I was surprised they would even let me get away with it, but he did. After I realized what was going on I put a stop to it. Now I am the keeper of the water bucket and he doesn't pay any attention to it anymore. He is also really starting to dominate over Dakota. He is about 4 inches taller than her already. And now that he knows it he is starting to push her around a little. She is either letting him get away with it or she is being submissive. There is no growling or biting or yelping so I have just let them go so far. The girls love having him around too. They have actually volunteered to take him out for breaks, and to play with him. He and Emma get along great. He doesn't chase her feet anymore and loves to lay beside her bed at night when she is getting ready for bed and in the morning when its time to get up. She wakes up to some slobbery kisses some mornings. Radar and I walk Emma and Erica to the bus stop most mornings. Radar loves to say hi to the other kids too. We try to pick them up at the bus stop after school too. I must say Al has surprised me the most. He immediately took over the feeding and the walking routine with him. Al never really did much with the other dogs unless I asked him. But the day Radar came to stay he took him for a walk. He gets up early before work and takes him for a walk or to the soccer field to play. He feeds him and at night he does the same. They have really bonded. Radar has also decided that he likes Snowflake (the white cat) he pays no attention to the others, but he really wants to play with the white one. Luckily he is the most mellow of the cats and has no front claws. I actually think the cat likes to sit on top of the couch and taunt him, because he knows Radar can't get to him. We survived Christmas without him knocking down the tree or having a potty break under it. Although there were a couple times I thought the tree was coming down, because Radar was chasing Snowflake. We are working on obedience with him, he is a very smart puppy but he has somewhat of an attitude. Similar to that of a teenager. (If and when he feels like it) He seems to listen to me a little more, I think because I don't let him get away with it. Al is somewhat of a softy with him and Radar has picked up on that. I am sort of training both of them. We start obedience classes soon. and he is also going to be going to some play sessions with some other puppies in the next few weeks. Again I can't say how much I, we love having him. I really think our meeting was meant to be. And that there was a reason I was in the store that day. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.
The Remondini's
