An e-mail I sent to my cousin. It's pretty much all about Jake's first 24 hours home:
When I got to the shelter on Tuesday morning they took him out and said the computer was wrong and the “she” turned out to be a “he”. He was the coolest dog but was so wound up and mouthy and jumping everywhere. My arms were covered in red, sloppy welts from him mouthing me (he was gentle but still!) and he wouldn’t hold still for a second. I talked to three people about him and each one said they saw him they day he came in and think he’s the coolest dog. I asked the handler if they ever let them out in the dog run and she said no…so I decided most of the hyper attitude was due to the fact that there’s this 8-month old puppy (known to be a hyper breed too) stuck for 3-4 days without exercise. I had to either keep him there or take the chance that he’s a good dog after he gets a good dose of exercise. After seeing how he was stuck in a cell with four other dogs, I decided to take him.
I saw him at 11 am but wasn’t allowed to pick him up until 4:30 that afternoon. I was actually supposed to pick him up the next day, but because he was already neutered and microchipped they snuck him in for vaccinations that day. So, I spent the day shopping at Petsmart and Target and napping in my car. When I finally got him he was a bundle of energy so we ran around and around the parking lot until he was a panting, slobbery, happy mess. It seems like his past owners didn’t teach him anything…he doesn’t know how to walk on a leash or any basic commands. Green as green can be. He knows what a car is though and as soon as I opened the door he jumped right in. By the time we were on the freeway he already learned to stay laying down in his seat. As soon as he’d try to get up I’d just snap my finger by his paws and say down and he’d lay back down. By the end of the ride home I’d just say “AH” when he’d try to move around and he’d instantly lay back down. SMART SMART dog.
When we got home I discovered not only does he not know any basic commands, but he was also not taught that jumping up and snapping is not allowed. I have a pretty sore spot on my chin from him jumping up and mouthing at my face in excitement. By the end of the evening he already knows that’s not acceptable. Like I said, incredibly smart dog! He’s learning SO fast! He’s crate trained and LOVES to play fetch. He’s even getting good enough to sometimes catch his flying-squirrel Frisbee in mid air. I can’t wait to take him to dog beach. I took him to my Mom’s last night and he is great with kids and other dogs. Rocky growled and bit and him and Jake could have cared less. He’s calm around the kids after he gets a good run, so that’s great. He even leaves my cats alone (supervised…not ready to let him alone with them, if ever).
He's a good dog.
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Favorite Quotes
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!” - Jack Kerouac
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." - Mother Teresa
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls." - Mother Teresa
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