Jake 8

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Update 03/31/03:

Jake is UTD on shots and has been neutered. He is crate-trained and will spend time there just to find a quiet spot, especially if foster mom is vacuuming. Although ball is still not his game, he has invented a wonderful game for us to play with his squeaky toy. Time at the dog park is spent greeting all of the arriving humans. True to his interest in track and field, he does like to do sprints, running from one end of the dog park to within just a few feet of his stopping point and then slides to a halt at your feet. Jake is quick, smart and willing to please. Intuitively, Jake will stand very still to observe ducks or geese, head still and flag up. His poise reminds me of a Nigel Hemming print.

He no longer marks in the house and is still a package of affection. Most of the kids in the neighborhood have had a “hug” from Jake and are delighted to see us on our morning walk past their bus stop.

Original:

Jake is a 4-5 year old intact male brought to the Heritage Humane Society in Williamsburg, VA, as a stray. After two weeks unclaimed, HHS contacted MAESSR. Jake now has been microchipped. He is very strong and has beautiful light-oak colored eyes that never miss a detail. He tolerated the 2.5 hour drive from Williamsburg to Ashburn, VA quite well, though he could not decide whether he wanted to navigate from the front seat or do his driving from the back seat. On subsequent car outings, he finally has decided that he prefers to sit on the floor of the car behind the passenger seat (a much safer place to be for both of us). Once the car stops and the driver is out taking care of some type of business, he jumps up on the backseat so he can do a little people watching.

Somewhere a long the line, there must have been a conflict of interest during spring training for Jake. Instead of going out for ball as an outfielder, he excels at Track and Field. Working very well on a lead and after marking the trail so we did not get lost on our return trip, Jake kept pace as we went into a trot on the jogging trail. He would have been happy going into a full run, but I am a little more out of shape than he is. He greeted everyone on the trail with tail wagging and the same “Hi, I am new in the neighborhood. Let’s check each other out.” So far, it seems he might play well with others dogs while he is on a leash.

Just in case he may have a change of heart on the ball thing, I’ll keep throwing and do my own fetching for a while. Jake’s first day was a lot more relaxing than expected. He enjoyed lounging in front of the glass front door, watching people, people with dogs and kids playing. We did have a bit of excitement on Sunday morning. A fire truck with flashing lights and horn blasts (no siren) pulled up across the street. Jake took particular interest in the excitement and sat very still with back straight until the fire truck left. I haven’t heard Jake bark yet, but he did let out a little yelp when he and a rabbit surprised each other under the back deck. Each made their exit in opposite directions.

While Jake may like the outdoors very well, he also enjoys nesting indoors. He prefers the floor to the furniture and if you are sitting in the floor, he will come over and lay by your side. Probably due to the absence of a good salon or barber in his former life, a good bushing works well for his dry skin. With time and attention to this grooming process, he will soon grow out of this somewhat unkempt exterior. Brushing means an opportunity to be close and the attention and closeness is what he loves. 

Jake is alert and attentive. His vocabulary is growing (or remembered). He responds to “sit”, “come” and “NO”.  The only annoying tendency is the “marking” thing. So far, every room in the house has had at least one piece of furniture picked out and identified as his. A sharp “NO” is working well. Jake now drops his leg mid-stream and seems quite grateful that you reminded him of his manners. Thank goodness for Kids N Pets cleaning solution. This area is improving by the hour. Either because there is nothing left to mark or he is finally catching on, Jake now sits very proudly at the front door and waits patiently for you to put on the leash so he can take care of business outside.

Could Jake be the Springer for you?

Update 4/29/03:

Jake is now with his new adopted family, and he and the family are very pleased!