Jake is tuckered out. New canine member

We now have a new pack member at our house, a miniature Australian shepherd named Jake. After not having a puppy in the house for 11 years, we had forgotten how high energy and maintenance intensive a puppy could be. As we are getting used to constantly being herded, dealing with the various puppyrelated smells, and the removal of an amazing array of objects from his gator- like jaws, Jake is settling in nicely.

A Lesson In the

pecking order

Like most puppies Jake is bouncy and friendly to a fault. The Chi, long accustomed to normal sedentary pack operations was mightily offended when an upstart puppy burst noisily into her domain.

The puppy for his part quickly learned that sticking his nose where it did not belong resulted in a scratched and bloody muzzle. He is approaching the realm of the Chi with much more caution these days.

Although Jake sits back and allows the Chi to eat first from his bowl, a growing puppy needs sustenance. He has developed a few savvy techniques for acquiring his share. Jake has taken to sneaking up to his bowl, eating his fill and then dropping his squeaky ball on top of the food to protect it from the Chi. I don't know whether she thinks the bowl is empty or if she believes that touching a slobber- covered squeaky ball is beneath her. Either way it works quite well.

Jake watches over his bowl. Gator

Having been used to small older dogs with small mouths and few or well worn teeth, we were not quite prepared for life with the canine version of an alligator. Jake has an arsenal of many small, sharp teeth which he uses with impunity. Not that he wishes to hurt you but, having no thumbs, he has limited options for grasping things and bending them to his will.

If he wishes you to move along he snaps mightily at your heels and pants legs and herds you in the direction he wants you to go. If he craves sustenance he grabs his dish and drops it on the nearest pair of human feet he can find.

One must be careful after a raucous wrestling match with the Aussie Terror or fun with his favorite hand puppet (a frog with no eyes) lest his vice- like jaws clamp down uncomfortably on tender flesh. As he is learning the meaning of the word "no" we are learning to choose our battles.

Puppy Peccadilloes

Jake does the things all puppies do like lying on his stomach like a frog and exposing his stomach for a good rub.We have already established he is good at getting into things. Still we have discovered he has some odd habits and peculiar preferences. He will pick up his water dish, dump it on the floor, and lie in the puddle resulting in one thirsty, stinky dog.

Though he likes to chew shoes, in his mind the true prize is the innersole, the nastier the better. I imagine by now he has relieved half the shoes in the house of their innersoles.

He has many odd sleeping positions and we sometimes think he has a future as a circus contortionist. Normal creatures just don't bend that way.

Interesting Aussie Facts

Jake has extremely soft fur that appears to be self-cleaning. He does not even smell like a dog until wet and then he reeks until he is dry and the smell disappears. He has his own unique brand of mess making that stems from the fact he will chew or shred anything within reach when he is bored. Our house is a great source of entertainment because we didn't think to puppy proof it beforehand. One thing's for sure: with Jake in the house our house doesn't seem empty anymore.