dogs: he fits, he sits

[kellan_the_tabby]

[ Remy, a big black dog, is standing in the back of the van, his hindlegs in a wide, shallow box, his forepaws up on a box next to the window. He’s looking out the window, tail wagging, ears tucked back. ]

So what with one thing & another, I wound up in the back of the van with Remy while Morgyn was in the drivers seat, & Remy had the MOST amazing time sniffing EVERYTHING & occasionally knocking over boxes of stuff we STILL need to donate (it all needs washed AGAIN, alas), & somewhere in the process I realized that there was the PERFECT size box for Remy to sits in, because I was pretty sure he would fits. So I set about making happen.

The first attempt he walked right through it, which was pretty damn good for a first try, so I praised him lavishly & let him look out the window for a while. He liked that VERY MUCH.

[ He’s turned just a bit to look out to the right; his ears are on alert, and he’s straightened up his stance. ]

I have NO idea what was so awesome, but it was, apparently, awesome.

I let him run around more — he squeezed his way between his crate & the cat stroller to sit in the passenger seat, & was VERY smug about being able to Sit Like A Human & also lick Morgyn a couple times (they were unamused but tolerated it). When he came back, tail wagging, I figured he’d calmed down enough to give it another shot, & guess what happened!

[ Remy is standing with three paws in the box, the fourth still in the air but looking to land next to the rest. His head is down, his tail up; I’m kneeling next to him, one hand on his leash, looking pleased and slightly surprised. ]

& then EVEN BETTER

[ Remy’s sitting in the box, head tilted up towards my hand, which is held above his head; his tail trails over the edge of the box on the other side. He’s visibly gnawing on my wrist, and I’m looking pretty surprised about it. ]

He fit! He sat!

I hadn’t brought any treats along, but getting my wrist in his mouth was plenty of reward for him. Worry not — he’s got the German shedder mouthiness, but also the lab soft mouth. He’s never in his life drawn blood, & I’m not exaggerating when I say that sometimes when he’s anxious, I simply shove my arm in his mouth. I don’t love it — I do NOT deal well with dog slobber — but it’s better than many of the alternatives, most of which involve screaming. Apparently what he got from the malamute side is double dewclaws & drama. Mostly drama.

[ Remy’s lowered his head to face me directly; I’m holding his leash with one hand, petting him with the other, and leaning back just a bit in the hopes of avoiding that tongue. He looks appallingly happy. ]

& then more reward! He, like Loiosh, does love a love, & he got PLENTY of love for his achievement. For he is a very good boy, & when he fits, he sits!

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Comments

[chanter1944]

Awwwww! Also yay! *pets Remy*

Remy got the lab happiness, clearly. XD Also the lovebug nature, although shepherds can be sweeties too - I know zilch about malamutes.

[kellan_the_tabby]

Malamutes are lap dogs, ask any malamute. Also the MOST DRAMATICALEST. Also don't let them get bored, they'll eat the house. I wish I were kidding.

[chanter1944]

Awwwww, yay lap dogs! Malamute+labby=expert lap snuggler! As to eating the house - oh dear! A bored lab will get into mischief, that I do know.

[kellan_the_tabby]

Also they like running running running, but not like sight hounds do; they're ready to PULL. Which is great once they're old enough to pull things, but that's, like, when they're two. Those first couple years are a LOT.

[siliconshaman]

Remy clearly has been taking lessons from his feline sibs!

[kellan_the_tabby]

He is SUCH a cat. He drinks from his bowl like a cat (spilling water EVERYWHERE, because he's too big for it to work right). He meatloafs like a cat, forepaws tucked in & everything; we have a couple pictures, but none of them are very good. & much to the regret of Loiosh & a corgi we ran into at the vet, he punches like a cat, except he can't do the sideways swing like cats can, so he just brings his paw down like the hammer of the gods, THUD (Loiosh was fine other than being VERY offended, the corgi was incredibly confused).

[danabren]

Mostly drama. HA!

[kellan_the_tabby]

SO DRAMA OMG

[retrowaverecluse]

[this was an emotional rollercoaster i was blessed to take <3 good dog ]

[kellan_the_tabby]

he is the GOODEST

[meridian_rose]

Such cute pics!
I didn't know he was part malamute! My sister's first dog with her husband was Mara, a labrador/malamute cross and my gosh she was a slobbery and stubborn dog! The only time she ever drew blood was when she broke a puppy tooth trying to gnaw a bone and the jagged remnant kept catching everyone until it finally fell out.
She had a bad habit of getting under your elbow at the dinner table and lifting her head so you'd spill a drink.
The latest puppy is a labrador and it's interesting how much we thought was malamute is actually lab behaviour :) Sadly his worst quality is he can't stand being in the car like Remy. Either/both ends protest. Hoping he'll outgrow out!

[kellan_the_tabby]

*snort* okay the drinks thing is HILARIOUS, if only because it never happened to ME

Remy is, fortunately, only slightly slobbery, & actually understands that I don't LIKE dog spit; he licks me a lot less than he licks everyone else. Alaso, he makes up for it with the jumping, but that's a dog for ya.

& oh nooooooooo, poor baby! Poor everyone involved, tbh, I shall hope he does outgrow it, & quickly!