Haven't been around - Update!

[IceyBlueSibes]

Hey all! I haven't been on much lately. I've been sick AGAIN, within the past week... and am out of school until Monday. That's even if I'm better. On top of that, my boyfriend is sick too. We both got sick on Valentines Day... so we spent the entire day laying around and sleeping, making sure we were taking our medicine, etc. Sounds romantic doesn't it?

Anyways.. I just thought I woudl give a quick update to how Ikey-man is doing!

At first, my dad wasn't happy with the thought of bringing Ike here. He loves Ike, but since it wasn't his time to bring him here... he wasn't happy. SO, my dad has finally admitted to my mom, that he would like to keep him. He's such a moosh... he just won't admit/show it.
But Ike is doing WONDERFUL. He never really had to "settle in". He just made himself right at home. He has made NO attempts to get out, and if he happened to slip out of the door in front of us. He'd just turn right back around and come inside. He is trusted offleash too. I had him out with me in the front yard, playing with him. He never ran after anyone or anything. He stayed, and came when called.
The surprising thing is... he's actually been challenging Sheiba's role for alpha position. Or either he's taking on the alpha male. He and Sheiba MUST be supervised when there is food (especially), bones, and sometimes toys, around. Sheiba will go over and eat... and even though every other bowl is filled with food. He wants THAT bowl. Sheiba will sit and raise her lip at him, and he'll raise his back at her. Then he eventually lays down and just waits his turn. And it is vice versa when he is eating. I sit and watch them communicate to eachother... of course though I am always ready if something goes wrong and a fight breaks out. Neither of them are aggressive, and can pretty much get their point across. They both respect eachother when the other tells them to back off... Ike is kept in my dad's room while we are out.
He has learned to play nicely with the kitty. He doesn't chase her, or the other cats anymore.
Sarge has finally calmed down. He has actually started playing with Ike on a couple occassions. But every now and then he'll start to growl again... he's such an old man! But I'm very proud of how well he's learned to accept Ike!

I just find it so amazing how he didn't have any trouble trying to settle in. He just made himself right at home, and established himself right away. It's like he was trying to tell his previous owners "Look, I don't want to be here... I want to be with THEM! They have other dogs I can play with and they give me attention!" LOL

We went to the park the other day, and there is one guy who has a Staffordshire Terrier. BEAUTIFUL dog. He's unneutered.. and the guys knows what he's doing. Well, he said for some reason his dog, Max, LOVES to hump huskies. So Max picked out Ike. Ike really didn't give a hoot. Just stood there wondering what on earth this dog was doing. Well, out of NOWHERE, Sarge goes for the back of the neck of this dog. Max just bounced with his rear end towards him growling, and warning Sarge that he better not. I immediately call Sarge to me. I know Sarge may have been protecting his pack, but I know you can never doubt a staffy, pitty, or any bully, not to back down in a fight, and this dog is ROCK SOLID. I just didn't want a bloody battle. So, then Ike and Max start running around playing, and AGAIN, Sarge goes after him! This has been EXTREMELY out of the blue for Sarge. The guy as getting ready to take Max home, because all of the other dogs were getting riled up, and didn't want to start anything with others. My mom refused that he leave, and that we leave instead. After all, it was not his dogs fault. I know that the biggest thing was that his dog is not neutered and it was another male. I just have no idea why Sarge did this. After the first time, if his dog started humping... he took him for a "time out". Away from the other dogs, and just made him stay. After that he stopped.

Also got to see Lilly! Melissa brought her down for a "play date" and it was interesting to see how her and Denali interacted with eachother. Lilly was extremely on guard. Standing erect, hackles up... she didn't respond much to Nali until we took them to the park. Then they played together. It was nice to see her again... she's become very attached to Melissa.

And now I'm really afraid that Denali has HD. Her very first owners purchased her from a petshop. So I know her breeding was probably very poor. But after the trip to the park with Lilly... later that night she could barely get up to walk, and when she did, she walked with her back hunched up and was extremely stiff legged. And on two occassions she just snapped at the dogs for barely touching her and one time no one was around her, just went to turn around and yipped. So, now we have to get her hips checked. I've always had this thought in my mind... just because of the way she runs, and she "struggles" I guess you could say, when she gets up on the couch. She has to push real hard with her back legs. Her left hip is more sensitive than the other. We try massaging and she'll turn around an nip at your hand.

BUT anyways... wow sorry for rambling. So much has gone on... and being sick I haven't had the energy to come on the computer. You may not see me on for a couple days again but, just thought I would update you all on my crew!