11/27/2007

Profile:

Jimbo is a purebred 2 ½ yr old Vizsla who was surrendered by his owner because he was gun shy and an escape artist. His four 9 month old daughters were also surrendered with him because the owner couldn’t sell them. Jimbo is really a delight to have around. I call him Jimbo Underfoot. As everyone knows, Vs tend to want to lead their leader around. To which I reply: "IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, DON'T TRY TO LEAD ME!! Jimbo doesn't try to lead, he just gets in front and stops resulting in either getting stepped on or tripped over.

When he came to our home, he didn't know how to inneract with us nor with our Vizsla, Rozsda. It was obvious that he hadn't been in a family situation, he had been a kennel dog. He did all the things dogs who haven't been in a family situation try to do. He wasn't even sure of his name. Some of the time it was “Jimbo? Jimbo who? Oh are you talking to me?” When I got him his ribs and backbone was showing, he was severely underweight. He would push his way out the door if given half a chance but never ran off. He came with the reputation of being an escape artist. And he ate like it was his first and last meal.

All of that has changed. He plays with Roz; with our daughter's two males, and noses through the fence with the neighbor's female. Has yet to meet someone he didn't like including our 11 year grandson. As for the escaping, after trying it twice he hasn't since. I made the necessary adjustments. He has good recall on his name and will go back in the back yard at the end of our morning walk abouts off lead, on his own. He has become very comfortable here even to the point where he has decided that the sofa is more comfortable than his dog bed on the floor. When told to go to bed he will go up to bed and into his crate without any argument. He first has to go running across the bedroom (we have a large bedroom so he can get up a full head of steam) and leaps on to the bed to greet Charlene who is by this time sitting up ready to get pounced on. He will come to one of us to be petted and usually lays down beside either one’s chair rather than being on the bed or by the wood stove where Roz usually lays. And he still eats as though it were his first and last meal but his bones aren't showing and there is now some muscle definition taking place. All in all he'll make a very good companion for some lucky family. Respectfully submitted, Jerry