09/03/2026
Throwback to Harley, my first project dog who crossed over last summer. 🌈
I learned a lot about building trust with a dog, losing it, and spending a decade rebuilding it while he lived with my folks instead. Also the value of conditioning basket muzzles.
I also got a taste of the Belgian fever - Harley was something like a Malinois X Greyhound and could literally do it all. Treibball, RallyO, lure coursing, cross country, bike joring, agility, nose work, bite work, obedience, SAR style air scenting, crazy ball drive, frisbee, tricks, and the hardest thing for him to accomplish was a CGC and succeeding at the standard ‘life exercises’ of the Schutzhund BH.
He’d redirect and give category 4 bites and needed behavior rehabilitation at a year old. No one could touch him.
I brought him home to my folks house, just a young trainer-pup myself and said “just 3 days, Dad! Also don’t look him in the eye!!” To my surprise Harley played ball with my dad that day instead of biting him, and he ended up adopting my mom and dad and stayed back at home after I moved out on my own a year later and lived out his days there. 🩷
