Puppy School Week 1 - Nobody said it would be easy!

Hi

Sorry I have not written in a while...it's a dog's life. Well my new people are keeping me really busy between walks and all of the parties and company. Katie and Nole were here the week of the 4th. I was sorry to see them go back to New York...they were a lot of fun. Those Memphis people were a lot of fun too. John and Sally really like big guys like me! After everyone left...I had to start puppy school. Sam offered to write about some of my new adventures. While he is doing that I'll grab a quick nap in the rocker in the office!
Later
Jax

Sam's Perspective...
Well let me just say that our boy Jackson is a hoot! It is always an adventure with him. He has some wonderfully amusing idiosyncrasies. One of the funniest ones (if you haven't worked real hard potting a lot of plants) is his penchant for hiding things. Now I know that most dogs will occasionally hide a bone. Jax is more like the dog from the Travelers Insurance commercial.




These first few weeks with Jackson remind me of why God gives us children as babies so that we can learn to love them before they become gangly and annoying teenagers. Like most big dogs at 1 1/2 years old Jackson has a few issues. So we signed him up for Puppy School.

Jackson is a very smart boy. When he is in a quiet place he can do an array of tricks that are amazing.

HOWEVER...the boy has a few socialization issues. He is excited to see everybody. He is sure that every dog wants to romp and play with him.

His means of expressing this excitement is to begin to leap...and let me tell you that is no small thing. The boy has quite a "wing span". When he stretches his front and back legs out he must be over 6' long. From a sitting position he has a vertical leap of 6+ feet.

I am not sure if it was nervousness or the joy of being with other dogs but when the instructor the first week of the class told us to take them around the ring...my boy did a "wheelie" all the way around...makes you proud to be a new "dad"...LOL!

There were a number of other problems not the least of which was the reaction of the instructor. I am not positive, but I would bet a lot of money that she was either a Marine Drill Instructor or Gunnery Sergent. To say that she was not amused with either Jackson or me is truly an understatement.

Even I found some humor in his "fly by." I was sure that we were going to take the class clown honors...I was sure we were the worst until I noticed Cujo. I should probably mention that unlike Stephen King's version of Cujo...this one was one of those really ugly Mexican Hairless variations on a chihuahua. While Jax and I were the first to catch the wrath of the instructor, she zeroed in on Cujo quickly...he made an even better 1st impression than Jax and me...he immediately tried to bite Sarge...and had he succeeded I am 99% sure she would have bit him back.

Oh by the way Sarge's dog is an AKC champion Rottweiler. He is so big that he makes Hooch from Turner and Hooch look like a lap dog. He was quite impressive...but when she brought him to the center of the ring to do some demonstrations he shook his head and slobber flew 4 feet in either direction. She didn't even correct him for his poor oral hygiene...LOL.

It could be a long 6 weeks. When we got to the end of the class both Jax and I were exhausted and a nervous wreck. Jax finally got quiet and lay on the floor panting. I wanted to join him but I was already in too much trouble with the instructor. I wasn't sure what the puppy school equivalent of detention was...but I knew I was a strong candidate for it.

I am sure week 2 will be an adventure.

Have a great week!
Sam

Katie and Cousin Nole come to visit

It has been a pretty wild week. These new people walk...a lot...they have been taking me about 6 miles a day. When is a guy suppose to take a nap?

I was kind of beginning to settle in when Sam and Patti got all excited about this car in the driveway. It turns out it was Katie who is pretty cool and likes to wrestle on the floor with big dogs and her dog Nole. Nole is her 13 year old Lab. She is okay but doesn't want to play and seems pretty possessive of her chewy bones...heck all I wanted to do was help her hide them...well at least that is my story.

I have been sleeping in my crate and when Sam comes down to get me in the morning I am always awake and quiet. We go out in the cool back yard. Me and Nole found some places to dig for chipmunks...judging from some of the holes back here we are not the first ones to dig here. After I take care of business I love to go dive bomb Patti and give her lots of sloppy wet kisses. I don't mess around up there too long because Sam leaves early for his walk and I don't want to get left behind.

Sam got me a new harness that keeps me from tugging on the lead. Most of the time I do very well walking on a loose lead. Most times I can walk past other dogs with out a problem...today I wanted to be social with everybody and Sam did not think that was a good idea. Gosh I hope he is trainable.

Oh yeah...I got accepted to the Winston Salem Dog Training Academy. I am going to be in a Beginner II class every Tuesday night. That will give me a chance to make some new friends.

I like the routine around the house. Usually some one is home. Sam and Patti share an office and I sleep in a rocking chair where I can keep an eye on my people. Things are busy enough around here I don't get a chance to sleep much. Gotta run...Patti is ready for her walk!!!

My First cockTAIL Party

Patti wanted to see my social graces last night... She invited the Millars and the Clapps to come over and meet me.

I was really excited to see them. I think everyone needs sloppy wet puppy kisses. Patti explained to me that most of our guests had a shower before they got here and did not need another one. When the Millars arrived they rang the door bell. Everyone kind of held their breath...because I guess some of my predecessors got kind of nutty when the door bell rang. Not me...I know that means new people and I strolled calmly down the hall to meet John and Pat.

I can be a party animal (see my picture from last Christmas).

Party or not, it has been a really long day. Heck I forgot to mention that we went to the pet store after the vet. When all of the people settled in to serious blah...blah...blah..., I went over and curled up in my bed in front of the fireplace and had a nice snooze...I was tired!!!

First Trip to My New Vet

Danielle told Patti and Sam that I love to go to the vet. I am not sure they completely believed her...but I showed them! I have to greet everybody...my tail is going a million miles an hour. Sam said I acted like the mayor. I guess I am going to have to work on shaking hands if I am going into politics.

Reynolda Veterinary Clinic rocks...there sure were lots of new staff people that needed big sloppy kisses. I like Eric Taylor, my new vet, a lot. I didn't even mind that huge needle he stuck me with for the microchip...what ever that is...

I have some skin issues so Eric did some tests and decided I should take some antibiotics and he gave Sam a tube of cream for me...something for Jock Itch. Sam was so proud. He has never had a boy with Jock Itch. It was like a rite of passage for us...LOL

Two 3 Mile Walks...I need a nap!

Wow...Patti and Sam each took me for a 3 mile walk. I am one mellow dude right now...and if you'll excuse me I am going to the nice cool guest room bed next to the office and take a quick snooze. I don't want you to think that I am not on the job. I can look out the window and survey the front yard and the road...Oh by the way there is the cutest bassinet in this room filled with babies...and one hand puppet I am told is named Lammie. Sam and Patti were surprised that Lammie kept moving around the house the past two days...as if by magic...I dunno!

There were a lot of stories about Lammie when friends came over last night. It seems that Lammie shows up a lot when the cork has been out of the bottle for a while...and Lammie has a Jersey accent. I didn't understand why, but Sam said for a small bribe Lammie could be stuffed with cheese...What do you think that was all about??? I don't know but there seemed to be a lot of excitement about the idea.

Me and My New Home

Hi...My Name Is Jackson!

6/24/10 My first full day

Hi...I am Jackson and I am a Vizsla/Lab mix. I am 1 1/2 years old and I am from Florida. My mom Danielle worried that with her schedule that I was going to have to spend too many hours a day in a crate. Danielle called Barbara Yeatman to see if she knew of a home where people understood guys like me...you know Vizsla/Lab kind of guys. Mom wanted folks that would be around a lot...like work from home...nice back yard...lots of walks...and willing to train an energetic boy. Barbara thought that I might fill a big hole that Charlee left in Sam and Patti's life when she died.

I got kind of upset when Mom drove off with out me. Sam and Patti took me inside and we played fetch for a while. The house is so cool...two sets of stairs and lots to see and smell. I curled up in my bed in front of the fireplace and snoozed most of the evening. It had been a busy day.

We were all pretty sleepy so Patti took me out one last time and then I went in my crate. Not my first choice for sleeping accommodations...but it had my comforter... so it was cool. I slept good all night.

I think I have dazzled Sam and Patti with how well I sit, lie down and play fetch. Humans are pretty easy to please.

This new place rocks.

Patti let me out this morning...love the back yard...lots of bugs and chipmunks to chase. Patti has this blue pot on the deck where the chipmunks hang out that needed a little digging last night and again this morning. I am not sure that was totally appreciated...

Sam took me for my first neighborhood walk this morning. Lots of things to see and smell. Sam seemed to think walking on a short lead was a good idea...me...well not so much! That was when we met a Black Lab named Escoban who was about my age and more unruly than me. Our Dads talked about a war of wills and how a play date that involved running until we dropped might be a good idea. I showed Sam a glimpse or two of how I could walk on a short loose lead...but there were just so many things that needed to be checked out.

We passed by Escoban again and Sam took me across the street to say Hi!...Escoban is a pretty cool guy. We nuzzled and bumped chests a few times. I think we could have a big time in the back yard...not sure what would be left when we got done...but hey...I'm a fun guy. As we started walking again I heard some deep kind of mean barks coming up behind us...we headed around the corner quick. Dad looked back and saw that it was Max and Jack (Koontz) two Golden Retrievers. Carrie their Mom apologized for their Hound of the Baskervilles impression. Max and Me hit it off right away. It could be another play date and they have a pool and a pond...very cool!

Mom is taking me for my second walk of the morning. I am probably going to need a serious nap after that while they do some work. Then we are off to see my new vet Eric Taylor at Reynolda Veterinary Hospital. I heard them talking about a trip to PetSmart...maybe they'll get me some more of those good chewy bones. Sam said we should go to Home Depot too...it seems I had a small run in with the screen door...yup walked through it like it wasn't even there...LOL...gotta love me...I'm a mess!