3/25/11From Glenn who has Elka, a Drago/Kindra puppy 2010

Hi Elizabeth!

Just wanted to drop you a quick note on how much we are enjoying the gift of having Elka.

It’s hard to believe it’s only been about 3 months since she has joined our family … seems like she has been with us forever.

She is growing every day and is over 40 lbs now!

It’s amazing to see how much she grows intellectually and emotionally each week as well. This week we opened the rest of the house to her and she has adapted so quickly. She loves to “herd” the three cats and the couch is now her favorite spot to go after a long walk. She is really starting to respond to our commands when we have her outside off leash. We take her for a walk in the woods daily and she never wanders more than a dozen yards away and comes each time when we call her … yesterday she even did this when we saw deer in the woods … although she does love to chase squirrels.

Besides the usual commands, her “stay” is coming along amazingly well … she will sit stay and down stay outdoors while I walk away about 100 yards and will come when I call her after about 5 minutes …. Cheese is her favorite treat in training …we have a saying, that she should have a sign around her neck that says “I work for food”.

She is becoming a cuddle bug even! … while still aloof at times and definitely her own dog, she is starting to enjoy those special times of curling up on the floor on top of our feet or on the couch … we love our little girl!

She definitely has drive … and agility seems to be her forte. This weekend I had her down at the pond playing in the water. We have a large dead tree about 50 feet long that spans one end of the pond … she climbed up on one end and walked all the way across to the other end on her own!. Every time we come to a downed tree on our walks, she loves to start a trot and jump over the fallen tree.

Thanks for selecting this special girl for us. When we have her out in the city, everyone stops to look at her and comment on how gorgeous she is and wants to pet her. Of course being the natural protector she is already becoming, she gives each of them a few warning woofs 1st before letting them near.

Hope all is well w/ you!

Glenn, New York