Vinnie
Friday, May 9, 2008
I think I like my dog again.
Three years and three months ago Vinnie came into our lives with the intention of becoming a golf course dog. A golf course dog is usually a hunter/herder type of canine used to establish a presence on a property to dissuade pests such as geese and varmints from taking up residence.
He started out at two months old riding in the front seat of not only my truck, but a golf cart as well. It took him three jumps off a moving golf cart before he learned he really shouldn't do that.
The first season with Vin at work was great. He bounced around the clubhouse as a puppy, made everyone who walked through the place smile (the ladies leagues LOVED him), and he did his best impression of a full grown dog when he caught site of geese on the course.
The second season was a pain in the butt. My plan had been to have the greatest, best looking, superbly trained golf course dog in the area. pfft... He's a lab. He was between year one and two. He could sit, shake and lay down like all the rest. He also couldn't help putting his nose on customers tables while they ate our famous Rush Lake hot dogs. He also couldn't stop himself from jumping on people as they came from the front door, especially women and children.
The third season Vinnie stayed home most of the time.
And now this fourth season things have changed a bit. Number one he's 3 1/2 now and THANK GOD that's when everyone tells you they start calming down. And he has. Vinnie now doesn't whine and beg to go outside every fifteen minutes. He calmly sits a few feet away and watches people eat their famous Rush Lake hot dogs. The only people he jumps on coming through the door now are the ones who (oh SO naive...!) bring treats for him.
I actually watched Vin start running for the door the other day, mistaking a new customer for one of his 'treat-bringers' only to pull up short when he recognized it wasn't who he though it was. I really think it was because both gentlemen wear bucket hats.
Vinnie loves riding on the golf cart just about as much as running at 3/4 speed, on cruise control, with his nose to the ground searching for the latest ground squirrel, goose, deer or rabbit. I rarely have to chase him down anymore if he takes off on a scent. After he's had a good run, you're liable to find him sleeping with his chin on his paws in the clubhouse -- a far cry from previous year's constant pacing and whining to go back out.
All in all, he's slowly becoming the dog I always wanted him to be. He just needed his own time to do it. Patience doesn't come from my side of the family, but Vinnie has taught me a few things about it.
Just a forewarning: Vin might be featured a bit more on this site than in the past. He's earned it.
I can't wait for Max to realize how good of a best friend Vinnie is and will be.
Three years and three months ago Vinnie came into our lives with the intention of becoming a golf course dog. A golf course dog is usually a hunter/herder type of canine used to establish a presence on a property to dissuade pests such as geese and varmints from taking up residence.
He started out at two months old riding in the front seat of not only my truck, but a golf cart as well. It took him three jumps off a moving golf cart before he learned he really shouldn't do that.
The first season with Vin at work was great. He bounced around the clubhouse as a puppy, made everyone who walked through the place smile (the ladies leagues LOVED him), and he did his best impression of a full grown dog when he caught site of geese on the course.
The second season was a pain in the butt. My plan had been to have the greatest, best looking, superbly trained golf course dog in the area. pfft... He's a lab. He was between year one and two. He could sit, shake and lay down like all the rest. He also couldn't help putting his nose on customers tables while they ate our famous Rush Lake hot dogs. He also couldn't stop himself from jumping on people as they came from the front door, especially women and children.
The third season Vinnie stayed home most of the time.
And now this fourth season things have changed a bit. Number one he's 3 1/2 now and THANK GOD that's when everyone tells you they start calming down. And he has. Vinnie now doesn't whine and beg to go outside every fifteen minutes. He calmly sits a few feet away and watches people eat their famous Rush Lake hot dogs. The only people he jumps on coming through the door now are the ones who (oh SO naive...!) bring treats for him.
I actually watched Vin start running for the door the other day, mistaking a new customer for one of his 'treat-bringers' only to pull up short when he recognized it wasn't who he though it was. I really think it was because both gentlemen wear bucket hats.
Vinnie loves riding on the golf cart just about as much as running at 3/4 speed, on cruise control, with his nose to the ground searching for the latest ground squirrel, goose, deer or rabbit. I rarely have to chase him down anymore if he takes off on a scent. After he's had a good run, you're liable to find him sleeping with his chin on his paws in the clubhouse -- a far cry from previous year's constant pacing and whining to go back out.
All in all, he's slowly becoming the dog I always wanted him to be. He just needed his own time to do it. Patience doesn't come from my side of the family, but Vinnie has taught me a few things about it.
Just a forewarning: Vin might be featured a bit more on this site than in the past. He's earned it.
I can't wait for Max to realize how good of a best friend Vinnie is and will be.
~Vinnie waiting not-so-patiently on a frosty morning~
posted by Corey at 7:33 PM
2 Comments:
See, Nanny KNEW that precious little 6 week old puppy that was afraid to jump off the bench, would eventually live up to the title of "man's best friend" --- it just took a little longer than anticipated. YOU GO VIN! You're loved more than you know.
xoxo
You have no idea how much of a friend Vinnie will be to Max and to any other kids you may have. We're currently living with our third and fourth labs and you can't ask for a better family dog. They know when to be gentle around the little ones, let them pull tails and ears without getting pissy about it. They'll lie in one place as long as a child wants to nap on them and they'll protect your family from anything from a blowing leaf to an actual intruder. I absolutely LOVE the pictures that you post of Max with Vinnie. They're going to be best friends.
Hugs, Susan in MN
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