07/18/04
I thought you might like an update.? I still don't have any photos for your collection, but I will send one as soon as I do.
Sitka and I are doing great. We do a four to five mile walk daily, and we visit his buddy, Beau on weekends which gets him some run and play time. They have really become great friends. He passed one tremendous challenge at Beau's about three weeks ago. The fence there is only five feet high, and despite the presence of horses, cows, chickens, two more dogs and rabbits on the other side of the fence, Sitka made no attempt to go over! He failed a couple of other challenges however. Someone opened the gate at Beau's the following week, and Sitka blitzed out of it and ran, ignoring all manner of commands to come back.
I went after him in my truck, but he caught sight of a deer and disappeared into the woods after it. I drove home, thinking he would be most likely to return there. The folks at Beau's saw him about an hour later returning down the lane, but as soon as they went out to call him he was off and running again. The kids gave chase on foot, and I picked them up in my truck. Sitka stayed on the lane this time but was running all out up the lane into the hills. I caught up with him, carefully passed him, and stopped about 100 feet ahead of him. He came up to the truck stopped, and laid down on the ground panting. Poor guy was run out!? He jumped in the truck on command and was pretty subdued for the remainder of the day.
Runaway number two came just last Thursday night. I was sitting in the living room reading a magazine with the front and back doors open for ventilation (it was a very warm day). The screen doors were closed of course, but that didn't matter. Sitka was lying down at the front door. He barked, sat up, flipped the screen door latch open with his paw and was off and running before I could even call his name. I ran out after him in time to see his tail disappearing up the hill behind the house in hot pursuit of the deer that had gotten his attention. I went back in the house for my glasses, but by the time I went back out again, Sitka was nowhere to be seen or heard. I whistled and called for a bit, though it was pretty clear to me that he wasn't going to respond.
At that point it was dark out, and there didn't seem to be any point in trying to find him. I went back in the house and went to work in the office for awhile. About an hour later there was a knock at the front door. My immediate thought was, "Oh, God, Sitka's gotten into a neighbor's chickens or something." There was another "knock-knock-knock" at the door, and I went to see who it was. As I walked through the house there was a third "knock-knock-knock" at the door. It was Sitka!? He was sitting there, panting like crazy. He reached up and knocked on the door one more time with his paw, "Come on, Dad, let me in. I need a drink of water!"
What can you do?? He ran off, but he came home too. I gave him hugs, tummy rubs and a couple of biscuits and went to bed (with the doors closed!).
One final note. Sitka has this wonderful habit at bed time. He takes a final drink of water as soon as I start turning the lights off in the house. Then, when I get into bed, he jumps up and snuggles for about three or four minutes before jumping down, curling up on the floor by the bed, and settling down for the night.
All-in-all, I think we're making a great team.
P.S. Sitka really despises guns and fireworks. He doesn't seem to be afraid of them, but he gets agitated and barks a lot. We stayed home for July 4th.

07/07/04
Just thought I would drop you a little note, wishing everyone a great summer.  School is going well.  I graduate Sept. 3rd.  Yipppeeee....technically I can't start practicing until November (when I get my license).  I will be practicing in Beaverton at a lovely clinic, which I am excited to be a part of.  There are two other N.D.'s there.  A husband and wife team that are so funny.  I think we'll all get along great.
I will be doing teacher training soon to teach Yoga and Water Aerobics.  I started doing water aerobics when I noticed how it improved my sense of balance with dance and my posture.  I love the water and I enjoy exercising, so its a good fit for me.  I have my high school reunion coming up, which should be fun, and I'm finishing my research paper for school.  Also, I'm excited at a few guest teaching opportunities that have come my way at P.C.C.  Erik and I are going on a cruise in the fall down to Mexico.  A cruise hasn't really been my thing in the past. This is all new for me. 
Typically my "vacations" have consisted of sitting in cow-dung infested 3rd class trains through India's deserts, or getting eaten alive by huge mosquitos in some jungle.  I'll admit, I'm kind of excited to have a vacation where I'm not roughing it all the time, and where I can just sit and do nothing.  I know it sounds lazy, but I'm into being pampered for a week.  Also, I think its funny that my  "vacations" end up in hot parts of the world, when there is nothing I would rather do than take a trip to Iceland, Norway, or Alaska (funny).
I couldn't help but send this picture of Sierra.  It cracks me up.  Her doggy day-care took it over the holiday.  She looks as if it is her epiphany moment in front of the camera.  The one she's been waiting for.......(smile).
I apologize for the mass email, but know that you are all in my heart.....

06/27/04
SHEBA HAS BEEN A GREAT DOG FROM THE DAY WE BROUGHT HER HOME. SHE LOVES HER WALKS, RUNNING IN THE BACK YARD, SLEEPING AT THE END OF THE BED & GIVING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE TO EVERYONE. SHE HAS MADE FRIENDS WITH THE PARROTS & KOI IN THE BACK YARD POND. WE ARE NOT SURE IF SHE GETS EXCITED WHEN MEETING OTHER DOGS OR WANTS TO EAT THEM. WE WILL TRY SOME DOG SOCIALIZING SOON. SHEBA SPENT FIVE DAYS BOARDED AT OUR VET WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION & SHE ADJUSTED WELL. (PROBABLY BETTER THEN US LEAVING HER). YOUR GROUP WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK. THE PERSON THAT GAVE UP SHEBA MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE LOVED BY AN OUTSTANDING COMPANION. THANKS AGAIN FOR BRINGING SHEBA & US TOGETHER.

06/16/04
      I think we can make it official; Sitka has found his new home for sure!  Feel free to submit the check for processing. I have submitted the paperwork to shift the microchip registration.
      Sitka has been with me 24/7 since I picked him up, and he has bonded strongly.   He gets a little anxious when I get out of sight of him on the jobsite.  When we get home he heads to the back door and waits for me to open it for him.  So, at this point, he knows who Dad is, and he knows where home is, and he seems very content with both!
      I can report that he has some serious issues with horses.  It doesn't seem to be aggressive; he has had close contact with a couple on the lane.  But he gets agitated when he sees them.  He even got agitated in the house last Saturday when someone drove by in front pulling an empty horse trailer.  It leads me to believe his first owner had horses.  It also leads me to believe they drove off and abandoned him, possibly after a trail ride somewhere. 
      He is a joy.  He socializes well with other people without being a nuisance (okay, he's a little pushy when there's food involved). And Cindy K will be interested to know that he is developing a more alpha stance.  He hasn't got in any fights, but he definitely lets other dogs know who is going to be in charge, and it is he, not them.
      My thanks again for all your help.

06/06/04
      Sitka and I had an uneventful run home Friday.  He rides well in the truck and seems to enjoy it. We went for a walk that evening and met most of the neighbors.  I wanted everyone to know him in case he gets away from me.  After introductions (and adorations from all) we completed a three-mile hike down the trail nearby. After a late dinner and a last minute toilet walk, he crashed by the bed and slept till I awoke in the morning.
      Yesterday was a wonderful time for us.  A neighbor about a quarter mile away had asked me to do some tractor-work for him, so Sitka and I went over late in the morning.  The neighbor has a male golden-retriever/golden lab mix about Sitka's age, and a 1/3 acre backyard completely surrounded with a 5-foot cyclone fence.  The challenge lay in the height of the fence and what lives on the other side.  A horse and a dog on one side, a dog, chickens and three cows on the other, and a cow behind!  Sitka showed strong interest in all of it, but he never attempted to jump the fence.  After awhile he settled in to playing with his new-found friend, Beau, and they chased each other around for hours.  He slept like a log last night!
      We started the day out with a walk this morning, but have stuck around home, as I was waiting for Sally to show up. She was here a couple of hours ago and nodded approvingly at his kennel.
      It has been interesting to observe the differences between Sitka and Dar.  Sitka communicates with his body less than his voice.  He is also less obedient, but I suspect that part of that is confusion. When he does come to the "come" command (which is not often), he does so submissively with his ears flat and head down.  I suspect he came reluctantly or late for his first owner, and got scolded for poor performance, which left him anticipating the scold with that command.  I think he may have confusion with his name and the "sit" command also.  I am either going to change the "sit" command or his name, I haven't decided which yet. Lots of biscuits too!  I think he needs a lot of positive reinforcement, and as Cindy has noted, he's a sucker for snacks.
      I can't thank you all enough for making this happen and for the incredible job you've done for Sitka and the other Malamutes that have come through your services.  I will keep in touch on Sitka's progress. Take care for now.