Story of Jack's Adoption Continues ...
Tom pets Jack as Abby watches. So far no jealousy. Pat holds Jack's collar as Jason stands next to his dad getting closer to having contact with Jack. With small children you must be absolutely sure the new dog is not going to be at all hostile.
We left the dogs in the yard and went inside to give Jack's new family his medical records and other papers. Almost immediately Jack found the door and stared at us till he was let in the house.
Jack leans against Rhonda and seeks affection from Tom. Inside the house Jack immediately began to act like a normal, trained house dog, which indicates he had probably once been a house dog. When rescued a year ago, Jack had not yet been neutered, which is most likely why he had strayed from his former home winding up lost and homeless.
Jason offered Jack a dog biscuit, and Jack got up from beside Tom and gently took the biscuit from Jason's hand. We all felt very comfortable now, and Jason gave Jack another biscuit. Jack behaved beautifully!
No more biscuits? Jack's hoping one will drop to the floor.
The last step in Jack's "interview" was to meet the 12-year-old, declawed family cat, who was sleeping under the glass table at the lower right-hand corner of the left-hand photo. The cat showed no fear of or interest in Jack, but Jack seemed a bit eager to investigate further, which is why he wound up back on the porch area that opens onto the fenced back yard.
Rhonda called Sunday night at six to report that everything was going well. Jack and the cat had not yet agreed to mutually coexist, but they would keep them separate at least temporarily and would work on their becoming acquainted.
Now a week has passed, and everything's still fine. Here's an e-mail we just got today (Sunday, September 12, 1999) from Rhonda:
Hi guys!! Just a quick update: Jack is doing wonderful! He is very happy and has adjusted so well you would think that he has lived here his whole life. A few minutes ago I was feeding the cat, and I forgot about Jack and put the dish down right in front of him, and he didn't bother the cat at all. He is letting Dusty eat his food. I have now moved Jack in with me to the study, just to let Dusty eat in peace. He is so smart. He listens and seems to do what we ask. He really likes when I take him on the lease up to the barn when I feed the horses, and then I walk him around the property. He gets really frisky and wants to run. Abbey is still trying desperately to get him to play, but he won't; hopefully that will come in time. Abbey is starting to show a few signs of jealously, but we are giving her a lot of attention to help. She growled at Jason last night and she has NEVER done that. I believe she was just playing, but we are going to watch. It has probably been more of an adjustment for her than we realized. Jack is asleep now under the ceiling fan! He is so funny and so sweet. I'm already very attached to him. I'll write more later. Hope all is well with you.
Rhonda.
Subject: Jack (Another E-Mail from Rhonda)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 08:27:04 -0500
Hi! Wanted to send you a quick update so that Pat won't worry! (smile) Jack is doing just great!!!! He has truly settled in so wonderfully! I can't believe that we haven't had him forever. We will definitely be keeping Jack without question. Tom says that he is my dog. He likes Tom and Jason too, but he does follow me around everywhere! He also protects me.
The other day we were outside and the Fed Ex man came up and Jack really gave him a good scary growl and bark until I told him that it was okay. Tom really likes that he does that, especially when he's not home.
Jack is out with us all of the time now when we are out front, with no problems. He follows me up to the barn when I feed the horses, and he never gets in the horses' stalls or too close, and he never goes in the street. If someone is walking by with their dog, we just tell Jack no and he listens. He is just so smart. But don't worry, I watch him like a hawk, and Tom and I always make sure that one of us has him by our side. He doesn't want to wander, he likes to stay close.
He likes to sniff around the ponds, and I let him do that, but when I feel that he's wandering too far, I just say, "Come on Jack," and he comes tearing around that pond to me.
He does not want me to go anywhere without him! When I came home the other day, Tom had him out with him, and when he saw my car come down the driveway, he got sooo excited and came running along side my car until I got out. (Of course I only drove 2 mph because he was there!) And whenever I open my car door, he jumps in like he is going too!!
He is running a lot now too. I had Jason, Abbey and Jack down in the bottom pasture last night playing, and Jack just ran and ran. He is even running along side Abbey some now. Tom and I laugh though; Abbey will chase the ball all day long, but Jack will run right past it, and he's afraid of water! He's the only Lab we have ever known that doesn't like to retrieve and get in the water!!!
Jack just wants to be cuddled! Pat was right, at night when I sit on the couch, Jack will always be right there on the couch with me with his head or whole body laying on me! He's a sweetie! Well, my quick note ended up a long note. As you can probably tell, I am already very attached to Jack! Thank you for the wonder newsletters that you sent that enabled me to learn about Jack. Hope that all is well with you. Love, Rhonda.
Subject: Jack
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 21:04:56 -0500
To: <straydog@straydog.org>
Dear Pat and Bill,
Just thought that I'd send you a quick update. Everything is just great here. Jack really is doing just great. He is soooo smart. If he does something wrong once, we just tell him, "No Jack," and he doesn't do it again. He is always looking to me to see if something is okay or not.
Tonight we went out to eat, and when we came home, he just barked up a storm at the gate and wagged his tail, he was so excited to see us.
He isn't playing with Abbey, and Tom doesn't think that he ever will. It's just not his way, but they seem attached to one another. They are always looking for each other, and Jack takes Abbey's lead around the property. Jack loves to run around the property now and has a fit if we are out without him.
We have taught him not to cross the fence at the front of the property. If we are up there, he knows the line that he can not cross. He always sits behind it. It's amazing; he is so smart.
Jack loves to go to the ponds now and put his feet in the water. He isn't swimming with Abbey yet, but he wants to. He cries when she is in the water.
Jack barked at Jason the other night when Jason was chasing Abbey. He doesn't understand the quick and loud movements and motions of a child. I was a little worried, but Jason was hugging Jack around the neck today and laying his head on Jack, and Jack seemed relaxed. I was there though; I'm not leaving them in the room alone yet.
Besides that, everything is about the same. Just wanted to let you know that things are fine. We really love him to death. We were just saying tonight how well he has adjusted. We couldn't ask for more. I love his affectionate way, he just wants love (and table scrapes (smile)). He eats it up and he gets a LOT here--I must kiss him a thousand times a day, as his 85 pound body is sitting on mine!!!!
Hope all is well with you. We loved the newsletter from Friends of Straydog. Love, Rhonda.
Updates to come as things develop.