Here are some things I've learned about Rondo- first, he hates baths, but is very stoic, and just gives me a "do ya really have to?" look- nails are a different story- he ran and hid when he just SAW the nail cutter! He looked so scruffy after his bath, but after drying off he settled right into a warm and cozy spot. He'll be seeing the vet for a re-check this week, so I'll get his nails done there- I don't have the heart to chase him and hold him down for a nail trim.

Also, he's a picky eater- he won't eat a bowl of dry dog food unless I doctor it up with some wet food too. However, he ALWAYS has room for treats and "people food". He needs to gain weight, so I'm cooking ground chicken mixed with rice, with a little fish oil to get his skin in better shape and he LOVES it and gobbles it right down.

And his separation anxiety is much worse when he's crated, so I'm letting him have the run of the house- he's not at all destructive and is fully house trained so I can trust him. I'll work with him around making his crate a safe and comfortable place for him to be, but I know it will take some time- so I'm not going to force him into his crate if it increases his fear.

Dogs like Rondo are such a pleasure to work with! I really get the feeling that this is all new to him, that his previous life was not stable or consistent. Seeing him make progress has been a great feeling.