We Figured It Out

This little mutt is a Schipperke mix...

Their small, pointed ears are erect atop the head. Schipperkes are double coated with a soft, fluffy undercoat that is covered by a harsher-feeling and longer outer coat. One of the breed characteristics is a long ruff that surrounds the neck and then a strip trails down towards the rear of the dog. They also have longer coat on their hind legs called culottes.

Dogs of this breed usually weigh between 3 and 9 kg (7 to 20 lb). In countries that have bans on docking, Schipperkes display their natural tails which curve over the back of the dog (if the dog is happy and the tail is long enough).

It has been suggested that the idea of "little sailor" was an invention of the English, who mistook the Schipperke for a Dutch barge dog. With Belgium too often being mistaken for Holland which is in the Netherlands, not Belgium, some reports say they were found frequently as working dogs aboard barges in the canals, with three jobs onboard: security (barking vigorously when anyone approached the barge), keeping the barges free of vermin, and nipping at the towing horses' heels to get them moving to tow the barge. Due to their bravery and adventurous character, not to mention low center of gravity, Schipperkes are to this day known as excellent boat dogs, and are often found cruising the world aboard sailing yachts and powerboats. They are not prone to seasickness.

Known for a stubborn, mischievous and headstrong temperament, the Schipperke is sometimes referred to as the "little black fox", the "Tasmanian black devil", or the "little black devil." They are naturally curious and high-energy dogs, and require ample exercise and supervision. Schipperkes are very smart and independent, and sometimes debate listening to owners, instead choosing to do whatever benefits them the most. First-time dog owners would be well-advised to familiarize themselves with the breed prior to purchase. Schipperkes require training and a secure, fenced-in space to run.

Great. Just what we need...another Tasmanian Devil. Let's see. Today alone, he has pooped in the house, escaped outside and ran across the creek to pester the neighbor's dogs twice. For some strange reason he does not like to go potty outside. What kind of life did this little dog have before us? He is spoiled rotten with people food wants to sit in your lap and jump on the furniture but can't figure out he needs to go potty outside. Now I am going to be potty training two little devils.

A Boy and His (Almost) Dog

Decisions. Decisions.

I've been thinking, maybe when they told us this dog was house trained, they meant he would only go potty in the house.

Jesse's Home

Big day today. Jesse came home all neutered and vaccinated and rabies free. He was so happy to see us, I couldn't help but feel bad for him after all, getting his nuts removed. It must have been traumatic.

The theory that he would stop lifting his leg every five seconds went out the door when the Vet handed me Jesse on his leash and he immediately walked over to the couch in the waiting room and peed on it.

Hopefully he's trainable. We still don't know how old he really is. He could be 1 or 2 or 10. The vet didn't know.

He's pretty mellow and calm; the opposite of a puppy. Who the heck knows. I'm hoping the old saying isn't actually true, you can't teach an old dog new tricks...

Still Here

We still have the little black foster dog, Jesse, and he's making himself quite at home. He is defiitely a love bug. He would sit in your lap all day and night if you let him. He loves to go outside but we can't let him off his leash for very long or he takes off across the creek to the neighbors to bother their dogs. He's a four legged contradiction. He hates to go outside in the rain and get his his feet wet but he will swim through a flowing creek in order to make a new doggie friend. He is really submissive and shy which I thought might have meant that he might have been abused but he is so friendly and happy and good with people that I don't know what to think. He is really well trained when walking with you and comes when called (for the most part) but still poops and pees in the house. He's super picky and only wants people food. He is completely great around the cat and leaves her alone yet chases birds. He goes from depressed and sad to happy in seconds.

He's been a little under the weather. He hasn't had much of an appetite and he threw up today. He's also had kennel cough and some pooping issues.

The Rescue people swore he was housebroken. He has to be on a leash while in the house or he lifts his leg on anything and he's pooped inside twice. Ick. He has an appointment this week to get fixed so I am hoping that will take care of the lifting his leg thing. I thought only cats marked their territory...

For the most part, he is the best dog we have ever had. Super loyal. Friendly. I love to take him for a walk to get the paper or the mail, even off the leash he stays at your heels. He's so quiet that sometimes I think he took off and I turn around to look for him and I almost step on him. He's got some great qualities and he's getting cuter to me every day. We haven't been forced to make a decision yet because no one else has shown interest in adopting him...but I know that moment is coming. I think, as a family, it's unanimous. We want to keep him.

Jesse

Day 3. The phone's not exactly ringing off the hook for someone to adopt this little dog we've been fostering now for a few days. He is still up on the Rescue Center's website and shows as available and adoptable. Jim's been home from work this week (and the last few weeks) so he's getting a little uptight about the dog. If he was at work, it would be much more of a non-issue.

Jim never really wanted a dog but succumbed to the pressure from Jimmy. So many people grow up with pets, including Jim--he grew up with a family dog, so I'm not sure where all the resistance is coming from. How did their family of five kids and two parents get by with a dog? I can't imagine Jim's parents fighting over a dog or about getting a dog or about taking care of a dog, it was just something everyone did. And it wasn't such a big deal.

Besides companionship, there's a lot of good lessons for a little boy to learn from having a dog of his own. Caregiving. Ownership. Loyalty. Responsibility. Kindness. Patience. Unconditional love.

Me? I could take it or leave it. The dog has had a couple of accidents in the house. He pooped on the floor twice and peed on the wall which grossed Jim out. But, it's still a new environment and for some reason it takes a lot to get this dog to bark, so it's not like he lets us know when he has to do his business. We were told explicitly how the dog was potty trained and crate trained. Uhm. No. I would have to say no on both of those. I have to physically force the dog to go into the crate, and so far, that is the only time I've heard it bark. And the pooping indoors, that's not my idea of potty trained.

Other than that, the dog has been pretty good. Really good. He did chew through his leash but once he got off the leash outside, he stuck around. He definitely likes us. Oh and he ran into the creek today and got all wet and muddy too. But, he's a very sweet, calm dog. Very well behaved and I think he will only get better with time so part of me wants to adopt him. The other part of me remembers what it is was like to not have a dog and worry about what it's doing and what it's peeing on.

So if the phone rang tomorrow, and someone wanted to adopt little Jesse, I have no idea how I will feel but I think I know pretty well how Jim will feel.