[Eremite]

Baltic Winters Sled Dog Association: Rescue Round Up

This boy was saved from a puppy mill. This mill was breeding "rare purebred merle Baltic Huskies" which aren't a thing. Although we don't know what he is mixed with we defiantly know he isn't purebred! Due to spending all of his life in a cage he doesn't know how to act around people, dogs, or in any situation and will need lots of socializing.

owner;; iStarz
full name;; ÇwÇ Believe It Or Not
call name;; Ripley
age;; 6 years
gender;; neutered male
colour;; Copper merle
genotype;; kk/Ayaw/bb/EE/gg/II/SiSm/tt/MM (M stands for the merle gene which is found in Baltic mixes but not purebred Baltics)
have all the tasks been completed?;; Complete
Stats;
speed- 16
stamina- 22
strength- 23

No posting until iStarz has posted their claim! You have until 8th April 2016.

[iStarz & Everly]

* hes so dark! I love the curled tail*

I honestly have no name right now... got one

I am claiming my Baltic Husky!
full name;; ÇwÇ Believe It Or Not
call name;; Ripley
tasks;;

Task 1 - Welcoming your new dog home - Complete

When we got the call from the vets office, we didn't know what to expect. When we first saw him, he was scrawny, dehydrated, scared, and matted. His coat was greasy and it stunk of urine. He had sores on his skin from the mats of fur. A few bites and scratches were present on his face, some scared, others just scabed, some were new. He knew nothing of the outside world. He had never seen or felt grass, only the hard concrete and chain link fence of the cage he and four other dogs shared. He competed with the others in his cage for any bit of food they received, usually being the last to get even the tiniest scrap.
We were shocked to see him. He knew no kindness of humans, but didn't seem to be overly adverse to us. He didn't great us like most other dogs we recieved. He was edgy and frightened. He would come close to snatch food from our hands, then run off to eat it by himself, guarding it with his life. We were careful to insure that he didn't feel threatened around us.
When we brought him home two days after seeing him, he looked better. The vets took care of him well, they had hydrated him and shaved his body, removing the mat, revealing the terrible sores and the marks on his body from competing with others. They had tested him for numerous diseases, parasites, and viruses, and luckily for him, he was in the clear. The trauma he endured took its toll on him, he became even more frightened of us.
We gave him his own kennel and run. Usually used for females about to whelp. It was secluded, away from other dogs and it was large, to make him feel safe. He settled in quickly. No longer did he have concrete under his feet. He had straw in his hut and grass in his run instead. For the first time, we saw him relax a bit, and the fear melt away. Just for a minute. From that moment, we knew he was home.

Task 2 - Bonding - Complete

We were surprised to see this new dog start to relax. Though he wasn't fully confident, he was definitely bonding with us. Every feeding and cleaning of his kennel brought him closer. Soon, he was coming close enough for us to be able to pet him. He would allow us to do so, but only a stroke or two before he would back away or sneak back into his house. It was progress none the less.
One day, a few weeks after bringing him home, we introduced him to the brush and comb. Initially he would only let us use the brush once down the back before he would run off. But day after day of one quick brush down the back, he began to come back minutes later for a second stroke, then a third, until we could almost completely brush him down. He began to look for us. When we would enter his run, he would still hide, but quickly came out for a brushing. When y was over he would sit down and watch us or go over and eat. Soon, he was eager to see us, wagging his talk and barking. Ready for his brushing and food.
We began to visit him multiple times a day, each time spending longer periods in the kennel with him, bonding. We would just sit there, talk to him. He would come up and nudge us or beg to be petted. Soon he began lying down next to us, relaxing into the stroke of our hand on his fur. It had begun to grow back again. Thickening with each passing week.
Now that he was bonded and comfortable with us, we would begin working on his confidence with other dogs.

Task 3 - Gaining Confidence - Complete

A month had passed since we first set eyes on Ripley. That's what we had decided to call him. Today we would introduce him to other dogs. We knew he had been around other dogs, but fighting against them for survival had burned the bridges of his social being.
We brought a female dog out, letting her sniff at him from the other side of the fence. Ripley was dominant over her, but still he cowered. She whined to him, wagging her tail, but he backed away from her in fear and submission.
Day after day, we brought the female to Ripley's kennel. Slowly, he began to look at her for longer periods of time. One day, he came to the fence and sniffed her before running back to the safety of his hut.
We began to encourage him. Tossing him treats near the fence in front of her. He at first, stared at them hungrily. Waiting for her to snatch them up. When he realize she couldn't, he would crawl forward and lick them up. His confidence blossomed after that, he began walking up to get the treats. He would stand there and watch her. She would yip at him and play bow.
He seemed confused at first, but he barked back and she darted at him and darted back. He then play bowed back at her and barked.
The next day, we took him out on a leash and walked the pair together. They were quick to play with each other and became fast friends.

Task 4 - Training - Complete

Ripley's training was set to begin. With Hus friend by his side, we started to teach him the basic commands. Sit came to him easily. When we started getting to ones like stay and heal, we used his friend. He tended to copy her. He was eager to please, making it a simple task to train him.
On days his friend couldn't help him, however, he struggled at first, seemingly lost.
One day though, we were teaching him to fetch. He loved this activity. He would chase after the balls and bring them back, almost faster than I could throw them. Sometimes he wouldn't drop the ball and would run after the second one and come back with both in his mouth.
He would chase after more than tennis balls though. Birds also caught his attention and we worked hard to train him to ignore the birds. It would still take daily work to break him from chasing birds, but we didn't want to give up.

Task 5 - Your choice [optional] - Incomplete/Complete
[your task 5 goes here]

[Eremite]

What color would you like his harness to be?

[iStarz & Everly]

Leather with silver bucklea

[Eremite]

Updated