Jake is new but he’s obviously not a puppy, he’s five-and-a-half. He has spent three months with me which means he spent 63 months someplace else. Rescue groups can only tell you so much about a dog, some of it you learn as you go.
In his previous life, Jake had access to a doggy-door. This I knew but I was not sure what that meant for us. When dogs can use a doggy-door they don’t have to learn to hold it. So when Jake became part of our family, although one could argue he was housebroken, I treated him as if he was not. I had hoped he would at least go to the door, any door and look for a doggy door which would then indicate that he had to go out and I could praise him and start associating a word or action with that need. Nope. He would just walk and then pee. The key was catching him mid act (which finally happened) and escorting him outside (check, check) and praise the be-Jesus out of him (and then some!). We are one month without an accident. Ah, baby steps!
Another fun fact (not really) is that I’m pretty sure Jake got fed human food. I’m not talking about approved human food that can also be bought for the dog, but more like pizza, and sandwiches and whatnot. This is a no, no in our house mostly because Melvin cannot have anything so it wouldn’t be right to feed Jake when I can’t verbally explain to Melvin why he’s being denied the joys of plate food. But also, Jake and Melvin eat well. Really well. Sometimes they eat better than the humans. They get veggies and fruit and much wholesome goodness. I spent a long time training Melvin to not beg. He might stare you down from the required distance he must be when someone is eating, but what perpetually hungry creature wouldn’t do that? Jake on the other hand will climb onto you when you are eating and try to take food off your fork. Not aggressively, it’s more much more adorable than that. If only it was acceptable. Or permitted. He’s slowly learning boundaries with food, having Melvin helps a ton with this one, but I still get up about twenty times during each meal to push him back into the acceptable ‘perimeter of gawking’.
One last thing that I didn’t know before I got him, that NO ONE who knew him well bothered to mention, is that dude can snore. I mean all 31 pounds of him could out-snore Godzilla. I’m 100% sure of this. The negative issue you can’t change, you just gotta learn to love!
He looks so handsome in that collar!! Our pittie girl snores, but only when she is totally exhausted (usually after a long walk)…I think it is cute more than it is annoying 🙂
I only find it less than endearing while trying to fall asleep myself!
Love the picture! It’s interesting to watch shelter/rescue dogs personalities unfold as they become comfortable in their new homes 🙂
Oh the unexpected things we learn about rescue dogs after they’re adopted! I touched on this a little bit in my post from yesterday: http://ofbarksandbones.blogspot.com/2013/03/when-lily-was-adoptable.html
Lily also snores to a degree that you’d think would be impossible given her petite 25 pound size, but I’ve actually come to like it– this is going to sound nuts, but I find it comforting and soothing, like her relaxation rubs off onto me, especially when my husband is out of town and I’m feeling more jumpy. Hubby, on the other hand, thinks the snoring is a pain in the ass 😉
The funny thing is that while I’m laying there, trying to fall asleep, it’s all I can hear. If I wake up and don’t hear him snoring, i run to his bed to see if he is OK (despite that fact that he is perfectly healthy!)!
I once heard an old man say that his wife was a snore-er and for the first couple years of his marriage they tried all sorts of things to get her to stop because it was driving him nuts. Now, after 30+ years of marriage, he can’t fall asleep without it!!
Your pooches are too cute!!
My little toy rat terrier can snore like no one’s business but my hubs is still far worse, HA! This where pretty pink ear plugs come in! Rescue dogs are wonderful!