It feels good to be back in my own home. I am grateful that I have the kind of life that let me spend six months helping my father with things following my mother’s passing but I am so happy to be back in my own space!

Beau has been here a week tomorrow and seems to be settling in fabulously. He was a very good boy on the drive up, not fussing against the seat belt and watching the world go by for most of the trip. He took to the elevator like a champ. His favorite thing may be looking out the 6th floor windows at passers by. He isn’t allowed to bark and has been surprisingly good, but I do have to be at the ready with a correction. I think it will be a constant exercise in reminding him what is acceptable. We have it down to soft ‘burf’ noises in all but the most extreme sightings out the windows.

We have stayed close to the building so he can get used to the sights, sounds, and smells of his block expanding that radius a bit each day. He loves his coat and sits calmly to get it put on and snapped. He has charmed the front desk, maintenance, and management staff and is in love with my friends and their pug. He has seen a few of the other dogs in the building and said ”hello” but I am doing my usual “stay at a distance” which he seems fine to do. 

I am surprised at how well his training has stuck. He was not perfect, by any means, but seems to have retained most commands, even in the face of all the newness he encounters whenever we leave apartment. He has no qualms about the trash trucks, the sirens, the helicopters, etc. – just looks intently and then, looks at me. Oddly, he is unfazed by the squirrels. 

As president of the Board of Owners, I have a reputation of having a well-behaved dog and so far, Beau has been helping me retain that BUT I know that 7 months is still prime puppy punkiness so I have contacted a trainer locally to continue the work I started in NC. Hopefully, we will start back up soon. 

I am looking for a veterinarian cardiologist in the DMV in anticipation of Beau beginning annual heart testing (in about 18 months) and welcome any advice. Also, if there is a vet that knows (like, really knows) Dobermans I welcome the recommendation. I plan to use Friendship Animal Hospital because they have all the diagnostic and imaging stuff you can imagine, have a decent reputation for continuing their own education, and are close by. That noted, any DMV peeps on the forum, do let me know your vet choices.

Here are some recent photos of the boy settling into city life.