Jake

This is Jake, our chocolate lab. We were at the Feed Barn a few weeks ago and they had volunteers walking dogs from the shelter in the parking lot. Scott spotted this guy as soon as we pulled up. He made the mistake of asking the kids if they liked the dog before he fully decided if he even wanted to add another dog to the family. Done deal.

He was given up by his owners because he barked too much. That was a worry. Since we brought him home we've only heard him bark a few times. His previous owners would leave him for days at a time with a bag of dog food. He was lonely and fat.

He and Oliver get along great. They play tug of war and hold one toy between them as they run around the lawn. Oliver's new name is "no bite". He bites Jake constantly, not trying to fight but play. Jake just needs to haul off and bite him back. Jake would win.

A customer at the Feed Barn said he raised chocolate labs and thought Jake was a pure breed. He could tell by his huge block head. I was worried he had some pit in him but apparently he's a block head.

He is very smart, so smart he has already learned some really bad habits. He jumps up on the counter and eats what he can reach before anyone notices. He loves to fetch, swim and unfortunately visit the neighbors. We really need some gates soon. Oliver has grown out of following us to town when we drive off. On Easter Sunday Jake spent the entire day in Fiddletown chained up to a tree in someones yard. He must have followed us while Oliver turned back. Oliver, however, chases the neighbor's llama and cows but when we call the dogs Jake will return and Oliver will run circles making us look like fools as we try to catch him. I don't know who's smarter. Is it the dog who obeys simple commands immediately or the dog who ignores simple commands to keep doing what he wants? Well we have one of each now.