[lopaayd]

Don't know if you remember him or not, but he wandered up a while back and it worked out that we could keep him. He has moved inside, and is doing fine. You can set your watch by his bathroom schedule. He has also gained a pound of two since being wormed. He has learnd to walk on a leash and has escaped me one time. He came back when called and all was well. The next step for Yankee is the crate. I think this will be difficult for him, as he has a real hard time with doorways. They just scare the crap out of him. He is just now at the point where you dont have to grab his collar and drag him through. Also, due to the fact that he is mostly white, he gets dirty and I cant stand it. It has stopped raining so he will get a bath here soon.

[mikelangr]

good for you guys. any new pictures?

you may want to enroll him in a puppy class though because they can usually help out with the crate training, his issues with the doorways and the recalls (Peanut has his down great but i still work with him on it daily because that is the one thing i want extrememly solid and reliable).

[lopaayd]

No new pics yet, but they are coming. He snuggled up to a rail road tie and is just filthy. We are going to take him to pet co obedience classes. He is good around other dogs to. He is defiantly NOT an alpha. When he meets up with other dogs, they do there but sniffing thing, and off they go. I think he is a lab trapped in a pits body.

[mikelangr]

it is good that you are going to start classes with him. once the puppy school is over you don't have to be finished with training. I still do training with Peanut he is 3.

[soitlyobserty]

start super slow with the crate!!!. Most people make the mistake of just forcing the dog in, closing the gate and leaving the house!!! which is a good way to ruin a dogs thoughts on crating. Put the crate in the main living area, keep the door open, toss in great treats one at a time or great toys/balls. You don't want to lock him in for about a month or so until he thinks the crate is a cool place that involves wonderful things. Then the first time you close the door have it be after a looooong walk/run or a big flirtpole work out. You want a tired dog!!! You will be home and*not* leave the room. Toss in a wonderful treat, have him go in and shut the door. He might go "Whaaaa?!!" Push a treat thru the door when he's busy eating it open the door and let him come out if he wants, if he stays in toss him another treat. I would do that three times a day for a week to start. Do not shut him in for a long time or walk away. You want to slowly condition him...
I'm going to look for a helpful video.

[lopaayd]

Today we (daughter and I) took our dog Yankee tho the folks house to meet there dogs. They are into Grey hounds and have three boys. All the dogs got along fine after they did there butt sniffing and all that so we took them all out to the field to let the hounds run. Yankee wanted to run with them so we let him off the leash to run with the hounds. He may not be full pit, but his heart sure is. He stayed about three dog lengths behind the hounds even though he was running full tilt. Poor little fellow didn't stand a chance. As for the grate, a piece of cooked hamburger sits in there and he wont even stick his head in there.