A Letter to Ace

Dear Ace,

Today is your first birthday. I made you a "cake" of raw hamburger, chicken leg quarter, cream cheese and green beans - your favorites. You meticulously licked the cheese off of EVERYTHING before going for the proteins. When I put down the leg quarter to go get something from the kitchen, you stopped eating and tagged along. What progress you've done! Before I worked on your resource guarding, you were liable to growl if my hand came near your food, or if any of the cats approached. Now, I can ask you to drop your raw dinner and you will. I'll ask you to not pay mind to the cats walking in front of your dish, and you will. You've come such a long way, my boy!

We went to the nearby park earlier where you encountered over six dogs in succession. I used a recall on you from each and every one of them, and you answered flawlessly. You came running, I rewarded you generously, and sent you off with your favorite release cue - GO PLAY! A crabby old Golden Retriever snapped at you, but all you did was give her some space and look at me for directions. I told you to leave her alone, and you did. Some days I feel like all the impulse control and recall training I do with you just goes in one ear and out the other. But today was nothing like that. Today you were a model citizen. An elderly man with his 5 month old Field Spaniel came up to us and marveled at how well behaved you were, how trained you acted. I was beaming with pride.

So thank you, Ace, for being here with me on your first birthday. I hope we celebrate many more, together. You are my favorite little potato, and I know you love me, even if you don't really show it in the most obvious ways. Daddy says he's proud of having such a gentleman dog. You done good, kid!

Love,

Mommy :)

4 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Priscilla, CARLY, and Frankie on May 7, 2012 at 2:10pm

wow!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ..he is a very good boy!

Wish i knew how to train the recall like that..

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ludi on May 7, 2012 at 2:37pm

Thank you all so much for your replies. Ace says he can feel the love all the way over here in France!

I had a dog before Ace, a Basenji named Paha (Ch. No Ka Oi's Jar-Lani Paha). She was my heart dog, and I think she always will be, no matter how many pets I may end up having over the course of my lifetime. But I was a busy, overachieving kid in school, so I didn't spend half the time I wish I could have, with her. When I got Ace, I vowed to never make that mistake with him. So even though he's not the most loving, affectionate dog and I am sometimes frustrated by his independent nature, I make it a point to spend very full days with him.

Give all your dogs a hug and kiss from me and Ace tonight! :)