As I gave
you Jasper's antecedents a couple of weeks ago, it follows that I ought to tell
about Jade's family tree. It is not so
clear however, in spite of a chance meeting with the mother. That was one of those flukes of timing that
have one wondering.
On her
purchase papers it stated Rhodesian Ridgeback x English Staffordshire. Certainly I could see both of those in
her. The latter was mostly hidden except
on occasions of "I didn't do it mum!", when the goggle-eyed sideways
look of 'should I run now?' was pure and true Staffy. But the tail.
The tail never fit the picture.
Plus a few behavioural patterns.
Just every now and then I would swear there was a bit of German Shepherd
in there somewhere. Then at the vet's on
a vaccination visit, she got all excited around an absolutely beautiful Ridgeback female waiting beside us.
Conversation struck up as it must.
Sure enough, this was the mother!
The lady was a breeder and had been quite taken aback at her prize bitch
succumbing to the wiles of a neighbour's dog - which she swore to me was
English Staffordshire.
Anyone
who knows anything about the size difference we are talking here is going to
question mark this. Not impossible I
suppose. Apparently he was of brindle
colouring hence the black flecking in Jade's tan. Aha. ' Could have been from the GSD in the male's gene-pool also', thinks
YAM. I wasn't there to debate heritage. Seeing the stunning mother was enough for
me. It also explained why the pet shop
sale and not through usual breeder's channels.
Seeing for myself the credentials on that side at least, relieved me of
any lurking concern regarding inappropriate breed-for-greed activity.
For the
first 6 weeks of her presence at No. 36, Jade was kept (when not with Jasper in
the back yard) in the sunroom , newspapers underfoot, toys, bedding, the
lot. This was useful in training as she
learned the words "guard the house" meant she was being left alone
for a while. Only five minutes to start
with, then extending that so she would learn there was always going to be
a return of the care-giver, regardless how long.
This
large, enclosed verandah extended off the two front bedrooms and each had a
door leading onto it… only one door was ever used for Jade access as, later, I
wanted to surprise her with the other.
There was a bit of crying, but not so horrible as to tear the
heart. She was showing her smarts very
early. At week 4 though, the whining
started to take hold, mainly because she was really bonding and wanted to be
with me - or Jasper. "Why be in
when I can be out?" She was
asking. A factor in this was I needed
her to grow to a size where she wouldn't follow Jasper through the wrought iron
gates! I also intended that she be an
in-house guard dog during the times I had to be absent. Therefore it was essential this started from
day one. Peeking round the second,
unfamiliar, door during one of the whine times I watched her standing staring
at the handle of the used door with a laser-like gaze. It was a precious moment for, as she made a
leap for the lever-style catch then landed heavily without success, she let out
her first bark!
Oh, the
expression on her face was priceless.
Who did that?!
Of course
I couldn't contain myself, I was so excited that it was deep and clear, not a
yippy squeaky sound at all. So within seconds of astonishment at her own voice,
Jade also had to deal with me appearing like some kind of magic from another
place. Watching the workings going on
behind those eyes, I realised I had a thinking dog on my hands.
Sure
enough, the next day, she was waiting by the second door, fully expecting I'd
be peeking again. To circumvent this,
after the fourth day of being second-guessed, I waited and re-entered by the
original door. ...that only lasted the
once. Next day she had settled directly
in the middle and was surveying both doors!
Thus began a life-long love of hide and seek with mum.
though, this is where I also became aware that I was receiving some training in my own turn. During that final 6th week of 'incarceration' I knew she had to graduate for two reasons. One was that she had learned to toilet properly and mostly on command. She was, after all, now into her fourth month of life. Second was that when I entered to release her on what would be her last full day in the sunroom, she wasn't there. That is to say, she couldn't be seen. Walking further in I saw straight away that the other door was open. She had grown sufficiently long in body and leg to reach the lever. Not only that, she snuck round the other room, up behind me and barked!!!
Now who
was surprised?
I was
grateful that every other room in the house had knobs and not lever
handles. I could have spent my days in
anticipation of ambush.
Next week - Mum Jade learns how to walk...
That's where I met you first at number 36 and the amazing J's. would not change a thing. My best friend and sister,, and I loved Jade dog as much as you did.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteIt was, they were and you did. &>