Grendel Update

I just got this pic of Grendel, now Achilles, from his new mom, Robin. He has been keeping her on her toes. He's still a major brat, but she has worked hard to get a handle on him. He's taking classes now and as you can see, living like a king! She said he is up to 72 lbs now. He and his new brother, Bogey, just play and play. Achilles wears Bogey out, but Bogey has a new lease on life now.

Grendel Update

Here's an email from Grendel's new mom, relayed with permission. They have changed his name to Achilles, which I think is perfect for him!

Sorry I haven’t updated you soon, but have been extremely busy and then when I do have a moment I am exhausted. As you see, we re-named Grendel to “Achilles” as my husband wanted to have a Greek mythology name. We have had a Sampson, Toby & Thor all Greek mythology. Bogey, well he is Bogey.

To sum it all up, Achilles is a very loving and good boy. He does have some “issues” to work out, but I am confident over time he will. He does try to have his way at times, I think he is testing us, but I want him to know that he will not always get his way. He eats with Bogey @ 6:00 am and then again @ 6:00 pm after I get home from work. He goes in his crate around 7:45am and my husband gets home between 4:30 5:00 and lets him out. They both, Achilles and Bogey go outside to use the bathroom and usually end up playing outside until I get home, then they eat after they unwind a bit and then I usually make them wait about 45min after they eat to go back out to play.

Achilles prefers to sleep on the first level not upstairs. He loves the orthopedic beds that I have throughout the house. He does get on the bed with me @ times and he likes to suit on the couch sometimes (which is ok with us).

I am very happy that we had the opportunity to adopt him. I know he will turn out to be a wonderful boy (not that he isn’t already) he just tries to get away with as much as he can sometimes, but he is learning.

Sometimes when I am sitting on the couch watching TV, he comes up to me and puts his head on my lap and just looks up @ me with those sad eyes, how can anyone not love him????

I will forward some pics to you very soon. My husband has already taken him over to his parents house with Bogey and their dog, Sasha, Bogey and Achilles all play so nice. Bogey stops early, but the pother two go all over the back yard (they have around 4 acres fenced in).

Oh, by the way, Achilles does very well in the backyard, runs along the fence at times when cars go by, as I live on a corner, but then gets tired and stops. Cutting the grass, well I thought it would be a hassle, but he only tried to bite the tires once and then just ran around the yard with his toys when I was cutting. He was so tired Saturday night, he looked like a little angel!!

Thank you again for a wonderful & beautiful boy!

Grendel One-Ups Me

See that knowing look? (Is he WINKING?!) It's because Grendel is full well aware that he has finally REALLY impressed me.

When I pulled up the hill today, I was surprised to see a coyote duck into my garage as the door opened. Of course, it was no coyote. It was a German shepherd dog who had gotten loose. I was really surprised that Grendel was still in the yard. He hadn't gone to harass Ken's chickens or run back to Eddie's (as far as I know). He had stuck around. In fact, he let me pull right up to him without attacking the car. I rolled the window down and spoke to him, and he got very excited and dashed back and forth alongside as I pulled in, but he DID NOT TRY TO BITE THE TIRES. (I am thinking this might be due to some of my desensitizing work with the wheelbarrow?) He jumped up on the car door to see me through the window.

I opened the door and immediately gave him huge praise for leaving the car alone. He seemed very happy and very proud of himself. Rip was in the back seat and when she hopped out, he greeted her enthusiastically. (She remains unimpressed.) He was clearly relieved to see both of us.

He came inside and immediately stretched out on his side after eating a big meal.

I am astonished by this pup's rapid recovery. In about eight weeks' time, he has flourished with just a little TLC.

Surprisingly to me, but probably not to anyone else, now I'm starting to think up reasons to keep him. I have a very nice lady who is anxious to meet him and wants to take him on a trial basis. I really hate the thought of bouncing him around again. But at the same time, I can barely afford the house and I'm really living on the edge right now -- and probably will be for the next two years. I can't deprive him of a wonderful home when I don't have time or money.

I live by a strict code, and that is, if I can bear the thought of letting them go, I do it. It's the only reason I haven't been overrun by animals.

Boy, rescue can be a really bittersweet thing. I quit doing it some time ago because my heart couldn't take it anymore -- much less my pocketbook. I didn't want Grendel... He was sort of thrust upon me.

But I guess one never really does stop doing rescue, does one?!

A Milestone for Grendel

Tonight Grendel was romping around in the house with a rubber jingle ball. He let me reach into his mouth and take it away from him. He made no protest and showed no resentment at all, and I didn't even have anything to trade.

Here is a picture taken just before our walk this evening. He is roaming free around the yard with no longe line.

The heat and humidity has been my ally, I think, but he has calmed down immeasurably since his arrival here.

Grendel

Gren is doing much better. He's walking nicely on a leash. He's calm in the house. He's less defensive and a lot happier. He's even turning out to have a sense of humor! He still needs to put on some weight but it's nice to see his attitude improving.

He has the mentality of a much younger pup. I am also beginning to suspect that he's not so much high drive, as he was desperate. Anyway, he's definitely evolving.

Grendel Progress

Here is a pic of him playing today.

I make sure to always walk away from him, fast, and we moved over a big area all around the place. I even hid on him a couple of times and he always came directly to find me. Once I went out the back door of the garage and left him inside. Instead of taking off or going out the big front garage door, he went to the door to get into the house and was waiting there when I came in.

It is pretty hot out today and he wears out easily. He is still dragging the longe line but I think he is learning that I am someone to keep up with, instead of the other way around.

When we came inside, he did come trotting up to me when I said his new name. He knows it now. He is definitely more into play and pets than food.

We were just heading out on our leash walk (after the ball game and a short rest in the house) when we met neighbor Ken up by the mailbox. Ken was in his van. He shouted "Rocky!" I let Gren go up to him, and he put his hand out but pulled back saying, "I'm afraid he'll bite me." (He was always afraid of Cajun too.)

"He won't bite you," I said. "But he might jump up on your car."

We talked about him a little bit and Ken said Eddie was really happy that I have him. I said he just needed someone to play with him. Then he said, "Look at how he is just standing there! He would never do that before!"

He pointed and sure enough, Grendel was just standing quietly next to me waiting to continue the walk. I remembered how he used to go bananas on the leash with Eddie every time a vehicle came by.

As Ken started backing out, though, Grendel started a little bit of the lunging and squealing. "Here's the old stuff," I said to Ken. But I just turned and walked away from it and he came along.

When we got back from the walk, we got to the base of my hill and I took him off the leash. He ran free all the way back to the house.