First Day of School

I attended my first "training" class tonight at a local pet store. My classmates are Gunther, a 4-month-old Rottweiler and Hercules, a tan dachsund. The "training" involved a lot of bits of sausage treats while sitting on a concrete floor or looking at desired places, i.e. Diane's eyes. Apparently I'm supposed to sit "square" but it's difficult for my back legs to not slide apart. Who invented the idea of sitting squarely on a slippery concrete floor?

I realize I didn't tell much about my own background, most of which is sort of fuzzy to Diane and Mike. I was probably born around November 22, 2007--Diane arbitrarily places my birth date on Thanksgiving Day.

According to the veterinarian, I'm an Australian Red Heeler, which is a type of Australian Cattle Dog. Many people are more familiar with my cousin, the Blue Heeler. Diane and Mike thought I had some Jack Russell Terrier in my pedigree, since my face looked that way when I was younger. It's difficult for them to know.

On January 29, 2008, Mike came home from work and I was in the middle of the street, near his driveway. He was sure I would get hit, so he called me over into the driveway. Eventually, I walked over to where he had been standing. Then Mike called me into the fenced yard. Since I was kinda hungry and bewildered, I followed the water and enticement. Mike says that my mom was with me, but that she got hit by a vehicle or something and was dead on the side of the road, down the street a little way. Ok, stop the Bambi-sympathy violin music! I'm a survivor!

Mike put some boxes out for me to sleep in. It was kinda cold (for San Antonio) a few of those first couple nights--like around freezing temperature! But, with some t-shirts and towels, I kept warm enough.

I guess Diane and Mike discussed taking me to the shelter, since they didn't really know much about having a dog around. They're more used to cats. One night, Mike said he would take me to the Animal Shelter for adoption, but by the end of the week, I had worked my charms and there was no way that Mike and Diane were going to put me up for adoption. I had found a home.

I have a large yard to run around in, and I've strewn many make-shift toys, e.g., old milk jugs, plastic plant pots, balls I've found, etc., around the yard.

Here are a couple more photos from when I was younger on March 29, 2008: