One day after Luke’s. Maybe I’ll remember Luke’s next year too.
Chapo’s 3. He’s had a pretty interesting few years and has developed into quite a little pup:
- A lot of the reason we got him has to do with a jewelry company mixing up an order for me on Valentine’s Day. They didn’t get the order to me in time, got mixed up about how much to charge me, and so when I went back the next day, I was only charged about half price. I was ready to argue with them about being late and then trying to double (aka – fix or set to the original price) the price on me and me not having the doubled price but instead, only the halved price in cash on me at the time. But they didn’t even try to raise it. So I put the gift on a credit card. And was walking around with some extra cash on me.
- I think I went to a hockey game or something like that next. Maybe AFL? Or something. I ended up getting home a little under the influence. Catherine said – let’s go look at puppies. As long as she was driving, I’d go. She drove.
- He was the last one left. The runt of the litter. He had a bad eyelash and got a little scab on his eye from it. We had to medicate his eye. He was a little more than the rest of the pups they were selling, cause, well, he came with medical bills (and medicine). But I had enough cash on me. We bought him some food and a food bowl at a Safeway on the way home. Within a week though, he was doing taste tests on healthier food brands.
- This picture above is one of my favorites. He’s tiny. He was hungry. But nervous. And the little white in his eye captures it. Also, he doesn’t have that eye really anymore. So this picture is more special that way.
- He was crate trained. Lots of crying. It was good practice for Sal. Nothing of the same caliber, but just good practice. Like playing the JV team…it has worked well – and he’s able to roam freely with his doggy door and is trusted at other people’s houses. But he’d blush if he knew how much I was typing about this topic.
- We didn’t understand crate training completely at first – sometimes we left him in there too long. He’d get frantic. And puke all over the place. And be a ragged wreck when we got home. We got in sync quickly though. He uses his crate now as the launching pad for getting into bed. I said he couldn’t sleep on the bed till he could jump up onto it. Catherine helped him out by putting the crate as a step to the bed. But, I’ve done my own experiments and he can jump onto the bed without the crate. Just not with as much reliability. It’s kind of funny – cause you’d wonder where he is, then you hear a thump-thump as he’s launching himself off the crate…then presto – instant little dog in your face blocking the TV…
- He did great in puppy classes. Doesn’t quite “heel” but that’s more my fault than his. I don’t want him getting used to walking next to my legs anyway. He gets kicked and stepped on enough as it is. He’s got quite a few tricks up his sleeve. And is addicted to fetch.
- Catherine wanted a lap dog. I didn’t want a fussy little ankle biter. He walks most places now (he’s outgrown his purse). He can jump in the vette. He loves drive thru’s and knows that if he sits in the back, he’ll get to share whatever we’re getting to eat.
- He lost his right eye. He got attacked while at the dog sitters. A Collie – Starboy. They were buds all weekend. Then Sunday morning, something wasn’t quite right and Sarboy shook Chapo – death shake. But Chapo’s neck didn’t break. But his eye popped out. Dog sitter got a friend to drive her to the vet – she was in shock. Chapo was whimpering. But she said he still wanted to look out the window on the way to the vet.
- Well – we had more eye medicine to give Chapo. For a few months. His vision is a bit worse, but not that bad. A bit easier to sneak up on him. And he fell off the curb once while we were walking shortly after the surgery. Then a couple days later, I fell off the curb. He didn’t need to be treated any differently.
- It makes his “playing dead” much more effective. He lays down on his left side and his right eye is all freaky looking and since we never got him to close his eyes while playing dead, this is the next best thing. Some kids will meet him and say “Cool – he’s got one brown eye and one blue-ish purple eye!”
- We still goto the same dog sitter. She loves him as much as we do.
- Chapo lost his nuts too – all the vets were teaming up with Catherine and against me and they were talking about how he’s got too much attitude and needs to be toned down – in the next attack he could lose the other eye. I argued, he could just lose the same eye twice – which would mean nothing would be lost. He lost his nuts.
- Chapo will bring his fetch balls to bed. You like pillows? He likes having a few squeaky balls nearby. He won’t wake you up in the morning – but once you wake up, get ready to be walked all over.
- He holds his own in the dog park. He’s chased a Great Dane puppy (who’s head was bigger than all of Chapo). He’s been pee’d on by other dogs; though karma balanced things out when the other dog’s owner’s girlfriend ran over and petted Chapo. She was a little surprised how wet he was. That was fun. The owner knew it was his dog that “marked” Chapo too…girlfriend wasn’t too happy in general. Karma’s fun.
- He doesn’t like baths. Start the bathtub, you’ll see a little dust cloud and hear the doggy door swinging. His groomers put bows in his hair. That’s crazy. Though, right after he’s been groomed and his legs are trimmed nicely and stuff – in the morning, when he’s doing his stretches, you can see him spread his toes out. Pretty cute.
- You can hide his treats and he’ll spend 15 minutes searching for them. He’s got a serious one track mind. It used to be more fun when it involved humping too – but those days are over for the most part.
We’re copying the Webbs – and letting Chapo have an In-N-Out cheeseburger for his birthday. Maybe this weekend we’ll share a beer…
So, yeah, he’s a fun little guy and he’s helped us in lots of ways – Sal doesn’t have any idea how much he owes to the furry little dude that is fun to grab…
