I have had a day dog for a relatively long time. This spring, that dog was relocated for various striped and checkered reasons. During the summer and autumn we have met some potential day dogs, And I have totally got to re -evaluate my own dog which has been a very interesting experience. 😀
You yourself already that my perception of Boyo is that compared to Ella he is like melted milk chocolate. That has been my firm belief since I brought it home to him 12 February 2020. To my enormous fascination, now that we have met a number of other dogs, is that if I ignore the comparison with Ella, Boyo is very far from molten milk chocolate.
In comparison with basically every single dog we met, Boyo is extremely forward, burdus, he has high expectations of the other dogs, he takes care of himself and has been perceived by the majority of dogs as overwhelming. This is insanely interesting from my perspective – especially since it doesn't just say anything about Boyo, but also about other dogs and how their people handle them.
With that said; we have been lucky enough to find two dogs, one of which will hang out here full time (8h/day) for a few weeks, and the other will be here some day of the week to come. Both are young dogs of exactly one year, so Boyo becomes the oldest in the gang. I can say that just for the moment I am very grateful that Boyo and I had so much time on our own that he understood the canter about how to behave both at home and on walks.
Last week we had the one dog here – a giant German Shepherd mix, only, for a couple of days, and on Monday the other dog started being here with us, a male amstaff. Tomorrow, Thursday, they will both be here for the first time. I expect an intense and fast-paced day, for better or worse. 😀
Under these the months that Boyo has been the only dog at home, he has gotten used to our routines. Not much happens, and it is extra traditional because of Covid. I am very good at isolating myself, so we don't meet very many people.
So now all of a sudden a dog comes here with a very, very high energy and there will be mischief and play more or less non-stop all day, so Boyo is completely exhausted when the day dog's human comes here and picks up his dog. Both Monday and Tuesday evening he has been completely knocked out and could hardly lift an eyelid. He's usually a couch potato, so this is almost getting a little ridiculous. 😀
I am myself most happy that we got hold of dogs that can measure up to Boyo. The dog who is here full time beats Boyo's energy level by horse lengths. It is a very intense young dog that is not very used to socializing with other dogs. But now he has the opportunity to learn it – especially when the bitch comes here too. It will be interesting to see how it will work.
What I can do state for my very personal part is that I will never get myself an amstaff or similar. It's way too much energy for me, although I appreciate the tough psyche and resistance it provides. This is the first breed typical amstaff I have had close contact with, and I can really understand why this type of dog is not recommended as a first dog, or to persons who are of the softer kind.
After having lived for ten years with a German Shepherd from the Armed Forces, it is extremely interesting to see and experience “normal” dogs. I notice that most (at least of the ones we met) seems to be extremely soft and in my eyes quite boring. Cool and cozy, but boring. I'd like to have some resistance.
But as said our; with all this socializing, both me and Boyo will be quite tender in the future. But it doesn't matter. I like hanging out with dogs, and can I learn something from it – the better.