Dijon has come such a long way from being a dog that was scared of the world, one that didn’t want to walk on a leash and would pancake frequently. The dog he was is just a faint memory now.
Things you should know about Dijon:
He is house trained, knows basic commands, and walks pretty nicely on a leash. He’s great about making eye contact, and is very much motivated by food and play. He does have a naughty streak when it comes to food, and cannot be left alone with temptations on counters within his reach.
He is basically a perfect passenger in the car. He’s quiet and calm, and sometimes does a few back rolls when we get close to our walking destination.
He loves other dogs. He is a solid 70 lbs. and doesn’t have a whole lot of finesse, but he is getting better when it comes to running and playing with minimal contact. He has some friends that like to wrestle, and he’s perfectly happy to do that as well. He does get vocal sometimes with other dogs, but a simple “quiet” will dial him down a notch. He takes correction well from other dogs; he’s still learning when it comes to recognizing and respecting avoidance cues. He loves to play and wants to skip the formalities and is good about just coexisting with small and older dogs, but he will play with anyone who initiates it. That includes people who try to fuss with him, and his manners can quickly escape him in that case.
At home he is a quiet and calm presence 99.9% of the time. He has never barked at anything from inside the house. Toys can bring out the sass, particularly squeaky toys which he ironically tries not to squeak.
He approaches just about everyone in a calm and unassuming manner. There are quite a few people who he immediately greets every time he sees them. It’s always the same, he just sits there calmly making soft eye contact and soaking up the attention and pets for as long as they want to give it to him. You don’t have to try and make friends with him, he is just drawn to people who are calm and gentle with him. It’s hard to imagine a dog that would be much better visiting a nursing home.
Given his size, propensity for play, and tendency to match the energy of those around him, he is probably not suitable for a home with younger children. He’s a big softy in the presence of calm adults.