Another extended family member is White Dog. White Dog is owned by an older gentleman that lives down the road from us. This story goes back a ways. A year or so ago, White Dog's owner, Michael, spoke to Jamie and said that someone told him that I was good at finding homes for dogs. So, I spoke to Michael on the phone and he told me about this dog that belonged to his neighbors, who had lost their house and left the dog behind when they moved. He's been taking care of the dog, but he's a big puppy and he really didn't want a dog. So I put the word out, Michael came down and we took some pictures of "the puppy" but he was SO big! We're thinking Shepard lab mix. Weight 80+ pounds, and really thinks he should be a lap dog. Well months went by and we had still not found White Dog, which was the puppy's name after it had been so long, a home. One night we got a call that maybe White Dog didn't need a home, that he (White Dog) had decided his forever home was with Michael. Now Michael works for a company that requires him to travel around the world on short notice. So when Michael has to go out of town White Dog comes and stays with us. He really has become a member of the family. He has learned all about crate training, and walking on a leash without pulling me down. I worry because Michael isn't getting any younger and I don't want White Dog to unintentionally hurt him! Not that he uses these manners when he's at home, he pretty much rules the roost! Michael has had cats for YEARS, and White Dog is his first dog. He's doing well, learning what he should and shouldn't feed him, and he really cares.
Michael does not have air conditioning in his house, by choice, but he did put the window air conditioner in White Dog's room for the summers so it's nice and cool when White Dog goes to bed. ;-) Now when Michael's lady friend comes over, she has to sleep in the hot bedroom, but White Dog's got the air on. Love it! It really is the perfect home for him, and I'm glad that Michael came to love him.
This winter Michael asked me to take a Christmas card photo of White Dog. I'd previously taken the one at the beginning of the post, but the Christmas one turned out perfect. It really does capture his personality! When White Dog is at our house he's very attentive and I can tell him to sit and the bottom his the floor. Since White Dog had been at home he was not as in tune to me, so getting him to sit in front of the tree was touch and go. Michael was telling him sit, sit, sit, White Dog sit, sit, (various hand movements are thrown in there). White Dog was doing anything but sitting. He was looking for Casper (since they are bffs!), barking at the cows, wondering were the little dogs were. I was just taking pictures hoping something would turn out. Well finally he got board, and s-l-o-w-l-y sat, and sighed. SNAP! Got it! He's done! It was almost like, fine is this what you want? (pose) Everyone loved Michael's Christmas card, and more over, everyone wanted prints of the picture to hang on their refrigerators. Michael complained "my picture" was costing him tons of money but he loves showing off his boy. In a few weeks Michael has to go to Pakistan and White Dog will come visit. These longer trips are good for manner reminders, but really I just like snuggling up to him and laying on the couch.
