I'm Alright Jack

Meet Jack.

Jack is the newest occupant of the dog house. He just kind of fell into my lap. He's a 40 odd lb, full blooded Blue Heeler (cattle dog).

He was a surrender dog at the Bastrop County Animal Shelter. In other words he had a woman who told him she loved him, then couldn't handle the commitment that went along with that and dumped him.

I wonder what that's like.

Jack has some issues. Heelers are descendants of Austrailian Dingos so they are strong willed pack animals to start with.

He is a little over a year old, and the word "no" to him has always been a mild suggestion. We'll have to work on that.

He is also a shadow dog, and when I first brought him home he was rarely more than three feet from me... That's already getting better.
He's a high energy beastie too. I've never seen a dog vibrate before. As many times as I've heard the phrase "quivering with anticipation" I never knew it to be so apt. Everything has to be now... How about now? Now? How about... NOW? He did my four mile loop with me, no sweat, although he did have to rest for a while (10 mins) after.

He is super friendly with people, but has some animal aggression... Especially animals that run from him. Probably from his shelter experience. We'll have to work on that as well.

He is really intellegent and eager to please, but his ADD slows his progress. He understands sit and down, but can't seem to stay put, so it's sit, down, up, sit, down, up, ad infinitum. Maybe after he settles in he'll calm down some. I'd hate to put him on doggie downers.

He seems to be housebroken, and only chews things he's supposed to chew. I did catch him with a pair of my socks, but I scolded him and traded for a rawhide toy... He seemed to get the picture.

He seems to enjoy riding in the Jeep, but that may be just because we use it to go to the park... It is still taking some convincing that he belongs in the back and not in the passenger side.

He's a good dog, but we have a long row to hoe.