Canine Entropy

Last night, while Marie and I were both gone for a couple hours, Kona transformed a number of objects in the house from a high state of order and cohesion to a state of low order, bordering on atomic-level. This would be of considerable economic interest if I were in the recycling business. He’s on the right track at least… he considers all object made-of or containing cardboard subject to the process. We’re going to have to work on timing and discrimination, I think. Additionally, I need to do a bit of drywall repair.
And there are what appear to be teeth marks on my door handle.

Marie is not entirely impressed with his newly-discovered talent.

But he is eating more now, and his energy level appears to be increasing, given the above.

Kona update

Three days have passed since we introduced Kona to his new home. I’ve just uploaded a pic that I took while the three of us were outside gathering wood this afternoon. Marie and I actually did all the work… Kona is still very tenative about picking up anything with his mouth and still refuses to chase sticks, balls, etc. Fortunately, he also does not chase cats, horses, cars, or other dogs. Oh yeah… and he did his best to help me change the oil in Marie’s car this morning, crawing under the car with me (as I did my best from letting the oil actually drain onto him.) He is finally eating a little more at each feeding, so I’m feeling a bit more comfortable about things. Cage training is progressing as well, with us being able to lock him in for longer and longer periods without him trying to dig his way out.

So, we’re still trying to figure each other out, and I’m still nervous and hopeful that this will all progress in a positive way. It definitely put a smile on my face to get up this morning and be met by a dog in the living room… without any mess!

New addition to the family

Yesterday, after Tios, Marie and I went over the the Humane Society shelter and looked at the dogs that were up for adoption. There were quite a few more that had been added since I had walked through there a few days ago. However the only one that really stood out to me was still there (due to being held as a stray for owner claim until monday.) Based on the staff’s reaction, I can’t say we “saved” him. It sounds like he wouldn’t have been in the shelter 24 hours more before someone else adopted him.

Since the shelter did not know his original name, we renamed him “Kona”, for no particular reason other than that’s where we spent our honeymoon… and he looks like a sandy beach. And Sandy just isn’t a good name for Shepherd/Husky male. Of course, Kona has no beaches… and the few beaches on the Big Island aren’t yelllow and tan and brown… they’re black or grey. Anyhow, Kona is a gentle giant. His previous owner took very good care of him and has done a ton of work training him.

We took him shopping at the pet store and bought food, bowls, bed, cage, and a couple toys. The bed was the best idea as he immediately went and curled up in it as soon as he got in the car, and then again when we got home.

Will try to get a better picture of him this afternoon when there’s better lighting outside.

New year, new helmet.

After completing the interview part of the sergeant’s exam last night, I found out that I ended up with the highest score of the three remaining applicants. So now I have a considerable amount of work to do, very little increase in authority, no increase in pay, and not a few fears about what I may or may not screw up.

Oh, and I get a red helmet now.