diff --git a/examples/dock/dock_item/dock_item.ui b/examples/dock/dock_item/dock_item.ui
index 230ac8c..7dfa41b 100644
--- a/examples/dock/dock_item/dock_item.ui
+++ b/examples/dock/dock_item/dock_item.ui
@@ -2,14 +2,20 @@
 <interface>
   <template class="DockItem" parent="GtkBox">
     <property name="orientation">vertical</property>
-    <property name="spacing">4</property>
-   <child>
-      <object class="GtkImage" id="image">
-        <property name="margin-start">4</property>
-        <property name="margin-end">4</property>
-        <property name="margin-top">4</property>
-        <property name="margin-bottom">4</property>
-        <property name="pixel-size">48</property>
+    <child>
+       <object class="GtkImage" id="image">
+         <property name="margin-start">4</property>
+         <property name="margin-end">4</property>
+         <property name="margin-top">4</property>
+         <property name="pixel-size">48</property>
+       </object>
+    </child>
+    <child>
+      <object class="GtkBox" id="dots">
+        <property name="orientation">horizontal</property>
+        <property name="spacing">4</property>
+        <property name="hexpand">true</property>
+        <property name="halign">center</property>
       </object>
     </child>
   </template>
diff --git a/examples/dock/dock_item/imp.rs b/examples/dock/dock_item/imp.rs
index 0b75264..1d6f1c3 100644
--- a/examples/dock/dock_item/imp.rs
+++ b/examples/dock/dock_item/imp.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ use gtk::CompositeTemplate;
 pub struct DockItem {
     #[template_child]
     pub image: TemplateChild<gtk::Image>,
+    #[template_child]
+    pub dots: TemplateChild<gtk::Box>,
     pub drag_controller: OnceCell<DragSource>,
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/dock/dock_item/mod.rs b/examples/dock/dock_item/mod.rs
index 284d5f1..ff98ccb 100644
--- a/examples/dock/dock_item/mod.rs
+++ b/examples/dock/dock_item/mod.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use crate::BoxedSearchResults;
 use gdk4::ContentProvider;
 use gdk4::Display;
 use gio::DesktopAppInfo;
@@ -6,6 +7,7 @@ use gio::ListStore;
 use gtk4 as gtk;
 use gtk4::DragSource;
 use gtk4::IconTheme;
+use gtk4::Label;
 mod imp;
 
 use gtk::glib;
@@ -51,10 +53,10 @@ impl DockItem {
     // TODO current method seems very messy...
     // refactor to emit event for removing the item?
     pub fn set_app_info(&self, app_info: &DockObject, i: u32, saved_app_model: &ListStore) {
+        let self_ = imp::DockItem::from_instance(self);
         if let Ok(app_info_value) = app_info.property("appinfo") {
             if let Ok(Some(app_info)) = app_info_value.get::<Option<DesktopAppInfo>>() {
                 println!("setting app info {}", &app_info.name());
-                let self_ = imp::DockItem::from_instance(self);
                 self_.image.set_tooltip_text(Some(&app_info.name()));
 
                 let icon = app_info.icon().unwrap_or(
@@ -117,5 +119,12 @@ impl DockItem {
         } else {
             println!("initializing dock item failed...");
         }
+        if let Ok(active_value) = app_info.property("active") {
+            if let Ok(active) = active_value.get::<BoxedSearchResults>() {
+                for _ in active.0 {
+                    self_.dots.append(&Label::new(Some("·")));
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/examples/dock/main.rs b/examples/dock/main.rs
index c32211c..18cadf0 100644
--- a/examples/dock/main.rs
+++ b/examples/dock/main.rs
@@ -167,7 +167,8 @@ fn main() {
                                         if let Some((i, s)) = stack_active.iter().enumerate().find(|(_i, s)| s.0[0].description == cur_app_info.name()) {
                                             println!("found active saved app {} at {}", s.0[0].name, i);
                                             let active = stack_active.remove(i);
-                                            dock_obj.set_property("active", active.to_value()).expect("failed to update dock active apps")
+                                            dock_obj.set_property("active", active.to_value()).expect("failed to update dock active apps");
+                                            saved_app_model.items_changed(i.try_into().unwrap(), 0, 0);
                                         }
                                     }