Meet the Gang: Ridley

Ridley's first day of daycare

I met Ridley the week before Daphne, when he was 4 months old.  You could say he's one of my first "big" clients.  Ridley spends 4 days with me every other week and 2-3 days on the opposite weeks for daycare and training.  His owners have big jobs that keep them away for long hours that sometimes involves traveling. 

At 4 months old, Ridley was Skye size.  Now, at 8 months, he is an absolute beast.  He comes from top breeding lines and his owners have always considered showing him.  Sadly, that means he has balls.  However, due to some humping problems at home I have finally convinced them that Ridley will be best as a pet dog minus his man parts and they plan to neuter him at 10 months old.

Overall Ridley is a great dog- he genuinely loves everyone and everything that he meets.  He loves to know he is doing something right and is always the first to sit and stay for a group picture.  I take him walking with a friend and her young children, and he is always gentle and sweet to them as well.

But then there are his less attractive qualities.  Ridley is very good off leash with the other dogs, but has been known to ignore his recall word if he spots a dog he recognizes at the park.  He is also a fan of keep away when he knows he didn't listen, since ignoring a recall means going on leash for a time out.  We've been training through this over the past 2 weeks with high value rewards for listening and sit/stay for ignoring instead of the leash.  So far, so good.  Otherwise, Ridley will occasionally hump at the park, which is an immediate time out, and he is a lab.  So all food is good food is foodfoodfood for Ridley.

Foodfoodfood for me?

By way of updates:

-Skye not only passed her CGC, but we were warmly welcomed into Paws for Friendship, a therapy dog program with chapters all over the US! 
-Daphne has been diagnosed with Elbow Dysplasia, a genetic condition where her elbows are not properly formed (similar to hip dysplasia in the rear legs).  She is most likely going to have corrective surgery on the worse of the two legs to give her the best chance of a normal, happy life.  Her owners have high hopes that she will still be able to join us for half days of fun, but I have to say I'm devastated.  Daphne was (don't tell) my favorite daycare dog, so not seeing her 3 days a week will be awful.