Probably at some point sooner or later I’m going to get another dog. For 12 years we had a family dog Jake, not the world’s smartest beagle but we made room for him in our house. Jake came from a local shelter, he was abandoned out in the fields by hunters along with two other more gregarious young hunting dogs. Every year the shelters get dogs that either ran away, got lost or were abandoned by hunters when they left. It’s sad that they just run around lost until picked up and taken off to the shelter.
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Jake was skitterish but had big brown eyes and obviously mistreated by his previous owner. He spent a bit of time getting used to the family. He hid under the table for a month, then slowly he came out to play with the kids when they were young. He hated pick up trucks, UPS trucks and any men in uniforms. For the first year he was afraid of loud noises, and barked and cowered if you picked up a broom, rake or anything remotely like that. He had scars from being beaten and a general distrust of people. Early on if the kids got loud he would hide. Despite all his odd behaviors he wasn’t aggressive with us at all and loved the kids attention the most. He trusted them before any “adults.”
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We almost got rid of Jake because when we “rescued” him he was two to three years old and very hard to train with all his quirks. Most things were ok and he learned but you couldn’t leave him overnight because he would eat anything he could wrap his teeth around. The hard part was that he also wouldn’t hold his water/other overnight. I tried everything gently with him, did everything the vet suggested to no avail. At one point I asked advice from the shelter I got him from and they said “gee we don’t know what you can do but we certainly won’t take him back because it sounds like he’s unacceptable for adoption and they’d have to have him put to sleep.” Yea, so thanks for the help and all your great advice, no, I don’t want Jake put to sleep I just wanted some help or advice.
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My family was starting to get tired of hiding all belongings so their favorite things didn’t get chewed to pieces overnight. I was also tired of trying to gate the kitchen every night so we only had to watch our step in the morning in one room instead of throughout the house. Jake didn’t like being in the kitchen alone and away from the kids. Frantically I spoke to the vet again at a checkup for Jake. We all are attached to the dog (my husband perhaps not as much) what are we to do? We’d tried almost everything. The vet said one very simple thing- get a dog crate and put it where he’s nearby overnight. He said many dogs won’t mess where they sleep, give him a cushion and see if it works. Well, I didn’t really like the idea of confining a dog even if it was for overnight but I thought at least I’d try it.
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We got the proper size crate that the vet recommended for him and the weirdest thing happened. I had dreaded the thought of getting poor Jake in a “cage” but to my surprise after we assembled it he went in it on his own. Every night after that he slept in the crate (though we had to give up on soft or puffy cushions because he tore them to shreds) a floor mat worked and he didn’t seem to mind. Problem solved. Twelve years later he got very sick and had to be put to sleep and I went with him and stayed with him. His ashes are scattered out back in the fields we walked along. Now the kids are all grown up and for the most part off on their own and Jakes been gone for 5 years now and I keep telling myself I don’t want the responsibility of another dog, but…
Sawyer aka Freckles
Which brings me to Freckles… he’s not really my dog, though I wish he was for sure. He’s a friend of my son’s dog and shares their apt. Actually his name is Sawyer, not Freckles, I just call him that because he’s got light tan spots all over on his coat. At any rate, he’s such a cute, smart, and well behaved dog that I’m crazy about him. He’s a beagle/dachshund mix (I think) and he makes me miss having the friendship and love of a dog. I’ve always been a dog person and every time I visit my son or he brings Sawyer for a visit, I spend a number of days wishing I had such a good companion as Sawyer to take walks with and share my life.
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Last night my son came here to work on his car outside and brought Sawyer with him. I got to take him for a long walk where we chased some rabbits around and he was barking and excited by 10 deer in the back field. It made me smile and remember all those walks with Jake over the years. Though I do have to admit Sawyer is far better behaved to walk with.
G’night,
Laura
