Dog Days In The Household - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

GAC · 08-09-2008, 07:11 AM

I was always raised around dogs as household pets. I've always been a dog lover, yet in my 26 years of marriage (and 3 kids now teenagers) we were never allowed to have a family pet (other then a goldfish) due to one family member whose identity shall be protected.

Just didn't like animals in the house.

We could have had a strictly outside dog; but then I had issues with that because I'd really be conflicted inwardly looking out that kitchen window on those cold, blistering winter mornings and seeing that poor animal locked up in a pen outside.

Anyway - my daughter, who attends a local JVS here and will be a senior in the Animal Management program, has to do a senior project. She's a big animal lover. In her junior year her room was like a pet store with cages lined along the walls with such animals as gerbals, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, some type of bird whose name I can't pronounce (and it would never shut up), and a rat.

My daughter is a regular Ellie Mae Clampett.

So for her senior project my daughter wanted to do the Pilot Dog program. This is where they give you a puppy for the year because they want the dog in a social atmosphere and learn to be comfortable around people (family). That is the main objective. She also has to track it's progress, send in monthly reports, take it to the vet for scheduled checkups, shots, etc., and begin to train it to accept certain commands, all in preparation for the dog then entering the service dog field to help the blind and handicapped. It's a very worthwhile cause.

So we got the pup last Friday. It's an 11 week old brindle boxer, and she named him Jack.

So far it has been a lot of fun. Of course puppies are. The first few days he was rather uneasy due to unfamiliarity with the surroundings. But he is slowly getting comfortable and making our home his home.

On the next day after we got him the family was going to a local water park. Well, you can't leave a NEW puppy home alone, so I "sacrificed" and said I'd stay home with him (I didn't want to go anyway, and Jack was my excuse). And rfs sent me up some baseball DVDs, so I laid on the couch, with Jack on the floor next to me, and we watched them.

And I took him outside frequently so as to avoid (or minimize) any accidents. And he did really well. We only had one when I saw him get up and start to wander around. When he went around the corner into the dining room I knew to follow him because I figured he was looking for a spot. Yep - there he was squatting. I yelled "NO!" and literally scared the crap right out of the dog.

When the family got home, Jack got excited and was chasing the kids down the hallway. And we all know what puppies do when they get excited. Thank God for hardwood floors. But no one noticed it at the time. That is until that family member whose name shall remain protected came walking in in bare feet and stepped in it. All I heard was "Oh Man! This is the kind of crap I can't handle!"

Me, being humorous, responded "That's pee honey, not crap".

But all is going well. Here are some pics.....

Joseph · 08-09-2008, 08:52 AM

Adorable dog and for a great and worthwhile cause too.

Maybe next year the person who shall remain unnamed will have fallen in love enough with Jack that she'll let you get one of your own.

UKFlounder · 08-09-2008, 09:06 AM

Good cause, and funny story, but giving up that little pup in a year will be awfully tough to do, I fear.

TeamCasey · 08-09-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKFlounder

Good cause, and funny story, but giving up that little pup in a year will be awfully tough to do, I fear.

That's what I was thinking!

Absolutely beautiful pup!

RedFanAlways1966 · 08-09-2008, 05:36 PM

Nice pup, GAC. I am a dog type too.

MrCinatit · 08-09-2008, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKFlounder

Good cause, and funny story, but giving up that little pup in a year will be awfully tough to do, I fear.

That is the beauty of GAC's plan! Get dog for school project. Keep dog for year. Entire family becomes very attached to dog.
Entire family wants a dog!
Seriously, looking at the pup's soulful eyes - there is no way this plan can fail.

The Baumer · 08-09-2008, 06:57 PM

I love dogs. My yellow lab just had a second litter and they are the craziest newborn pups I've ever seen. They are only a few days old and already crawling out of the pen we built for them. We have to check on them every 10 minutes just to make sure they haven't made too far of a getaway.

RBA · 08-09-2008, 07:28 PM

After living with a dog for a year, no one could give up a dog.

GAC · 08-10-2008, 06:32 AM

It's obvious we will form some sort of emotional attachment to the dog. It's already starting to happen. Even with my wife.

He is also trying to attach himself to us (if you get my drift). He is definitely not "master of his own domain".

Highlifeman21 · 08-10-2008, 10:55 AM

That is one freakin' cute boxer!

I grew up with a brindle Boxer named Chubbs. He didn't have as much white as your pup, but did have a perfect 5 point white star on his chest.

But yeah, you won't wanna give Jack back after a year. He'll be a full member of your family!

GAC · 08-10-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highlifeman21

But yeah, you won't wanna give Jack back after a year. He'll be a full member of your family!

We have no choice in the matter. He is basically "on loan" from Pilot Dog for 13 months, who in turn have it on loan from a breeder, with the objective in that first year of putting the dog into a social environment and getting use to be around people. My daughter also has to begin to teach it very basic commands. Once the dog goes back, it then enters into more advanced training to become a service dog. At some point though that breeder is going to get their money for that dog.

The only way we have a chance of getting the dog offered back to us (at cost) is if it somehow is disqualified from the program (washes out).

Highlifeman21 · 08-10-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAC

We have no choice in the matter. He is basically "on loan" from Pilot Dog for 13 months, who in turn have it on loan from a breeder, with the objective in that first year of putting the dog into a social environment and getting use to be around people. My daughter also has to begin to teach it very basic commands. Once the dog goes back, it then enters into more advanced training to become a service dog. At some point though that breeder is going to get their money for that dog.

The only way we have a chance of getting the dog offered back to us (at cost) is if it somehow is disqualified from the program (washes out).

Gotta train the dog to wash out of the program then! Problem solved!

GAC · 08-10-2008, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highlifeman21

Gotta train the dog to wash out of the program then! Problem solved!

Maybe we should have named him Gomer instead of Jack then.

08-09-2008, 07:11 AM	#1
GAC What Me Worry? Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bellefontaine, Ohio Posts: 26,420	Dog Days In The Household I was always raised around dogs as household pets. I've always been a dog lover, yet in my 26 years of marriage (and 3 kids now teenagers) we were never allowed to have a family pet (other then a goldfish) due to one family member whose identity shall be protected. Just didn't like animals in the house. We could have had a strictly outside dog; but then I had issues with that because I'd really be conflicted inwardly looking out that kitchen window on those cold, blistering winter mornings and seeing that poor animal locked up in a pen outside. Anyway - my daughter, who attends a local JVS here and will be a senior in the Animal Management program, has to do a senior project. She's a big animal lover. In her junior year her room was like a pet store with cages lined along the walls with such animals as gerbals, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, some type of bird whose name I can't pronounce (and it would never shut up), and a rat. My daughter is a regular Ellie Mae Clampett. So for her senior project my daughter wanted to do the Pilot Dog program. This is where they give you a puppy for the year because they want the dog in a social atmosphere and learn to be comfortable around people (family). That is the main objective. She also has to track it's progress, send in monthly reports, take it to the vet for scheduled checkups, shots, etc., and begin to train it to accept certain commands, all in preparation for the dog then entering the service dog field to help the blind and handicapped. It's a very worthwhile cause. So we got the pup last Friday. It's an 11 week old brindle boxer, and she named him Jack. So far it has been a lot of fun. Of course puppies are. The first few days he was rather uneasy due to unfamiliarity with the surroundings. But he is slowly getting comfortable and making our home his home. On the next day after we got him the family was going to a local water park. Well, you can't leave a NEW puppy home alone, so I "sacrificed" and said I'd stay home with him (I didn't want to go anyway, and Jack was my excuse). And rfs sent me up some baseball DVDs, so I laid on the couch, with Jack on the floor next to me, and we watched them. And I took him outside frequently so as to avoid (or minimize) any accidents. And he did really well. We only had one when I saw him get up and start to wander around. When he went around the corner into the dining room I knew to follow him because I figured he was looking for a spot. Yep - there he was squatting. I yelled "NO!" and literally scared the crap right out of the dog. When the family got home, Jack got excited and was chasing the kids down the hallway. And we all know what puppies do when they get excited. Thank God for hardwood floors. But no one noticed it at the time. That is until that family member whose name shall remain protected came walking in in bare feet and stepped in it. All I heard was "Oh Man! This is the kind of crap I can't handle!" Me, being humorous, responded "That's pee honey, not crap". But all is going well. Here are some pics..... Attached Thumbnails __________________ "panic" only comes from having real expectations Last edited by GAC; 08-09-2008 at 07:15 AM.

08-09-2008, 08:52 AM	#2
Joseph Tired of talk. Win! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 8,125	Re: Dog Days In The Household Adorable dog and for a great and worthwhile cause too. Maybe next year the person who shall remain unnamed will have fallen in love enough with Jack that she'll let you get one of your own. __________________ Championships for MY teams in my lifetime: Cincinnati Reds - 75, 76, 90 Chicago Blackhawks - 10 University of Kentucky - 78, 96, 98, 12 Cincinnati Bengals - None Chicago Bulls - 91, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98

08-09-2008, 09:06 AM	#3
UKFlounder Go Reds Go! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Northern KY Posts: 1,825	Re: Dog Days In The Household Good cause, and funny story, but giving up that little pup in a year will be awfully tough to do, I fear.

08-09-2008, 05:36 PM	#5
RedFanAlways1966 For a Level Playing Field Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Oakwood, OH Posts: 11,248	Re: Dog Days In The Household Nice pup, GAC. I am a dog type too. __________________ Small market fan... always hoping, but never expecting.

08-09-2008, 06:57 PM	#7
The Baumer Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,295	Re: Dog Days In The Household I love dogs. My yellow lab just had a second litter and they are the craziest newborn pups I've ever seen. They are only a few days old and already crawling out of the pen we built for them. We have to check on them every 10 minutes just to make sure they haven't made too far of a getaway.

08-09-2008, 07:28 PM	#8
RBA CELEBRATION TIME Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 13,939	Re: Dog Days In The Household After living with a dog for a year, no one could give up a dog.

08-10-2008, 06:32 AM	#9
GAC What Me Worry? Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Bellefontaine, Ohio Posts: 26,420	Re: Dog Days In The Household It's obvious we will form some sort of emotional attachment to the dog. It's already starting to happen. Even with my wife. He is also trying to attach himself to us (if you get my drift). He is definitely not "master of his own domain". __________________ "panic" only comes from having real expectations

08-10-2008, 10:55 AM	#10
Highlifeman21 Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bristol, just around the corner from ESPN Posts: 8,694	Re: Dog Days In The Household That is one freakin' cute boxer! I grew up with a brindle Boxer named Chubbs. He didn't have as much white as your pup, but did have a perfect 5 point white star on his chest. But yeah, you won't wanna give Jack back after a year. He'll be a full member of your family!

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