With his new found self confidence Marco has started showing his true personality. He acts like a little, bitty puppy in a big dog body. I think it's because he was chained in a storage shed for the first two years of his life and never allowed to be a puppy. He did have phenomenal foster care before he came to us but I think he knows he's finally at his "forever home." He runs, romps, bounces, pounces, and wags his tail constantly. What a difference from just a couple of weeks ago when we adopted him.

He has recently started what I call little "love nips" which we are discouraging. They're little nips that actually pinch the skin which he does all over us and the cats. I even have some tiny bruises on my arms from him. One of my friends who owns a standard poodle told me that this is a sign of affection. He still isn't totally responsive when we tell him "STOP". My sister recommended we use a spray bottle of water and it is working nicely. He is so smart and hates to be spritzed. After just a few days we can now tell him "stop" and pick the spray bottle up and he instantly stops the nipping......

I'm really focused on transitioning Marco slowly and being patient but my next project is training him to use the doggy door. I have been getting up during the night and coming home at lunch to let him out. He will come inside easily but seems to be hesitant to go out the door. I can have the door wide open and try to call him out and he won't budge. If I gently take his collar and lead him then he will go out. He still won't do his business unless I'm standing in the yard next to him.....I'm not complaining because at least he's house trained, he's just very picky about his elimination habits......