I can’t claim to have the best dog in the world, but that’s only because that would be a bit like saying you have the best kids– sure, everyone thinks it, but you don’t go around saying it.
But seriously. My dog? He’s awesome.
Outstanding in his field. Or my in-laws’ lawn, whatever.
I can’t take credit for it. My husband did most of Jack’s training, but I don’t think he can even take credit for most of it. Sure, me walking him for an hour almost every day probably helps with his good behaviour, especially since Jack is a high-energy breed. We play with him, we shower him with affection, we let him join in on conversations (dude sounds like a wookiee, how could we not?)
But really, I think we just got lucky.
I mean, he basically trained himself not to poop while we’re out on walks (I can’t deal with dog poop, so this is a very good thing for me. And for our neighbours’ lawns). He’s always been gentle with the kids, changing the way he plays with people depending on how big or young they are. He loves our cats. He doesn’t wander off. He behaves himself at other people’s houses. He sings along with outdoor church services when he hears them, which is hilarious.
He chills with me when I’m working.
Jack is by no means a perfect dog…
…but he’s a pretty darned good one. 🙂
More good stuff this way in the A-Z blogging challenge!
disregard the prologue 
April 11th, 2014 at 8:10 am
I love your dog. He has the best face ever!!!
April 11th, 2014 at 8:12 am
If only his breath didn’t smell like the run-off from a tuna factory.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:15 am
Sushi’s breath usually smells like cat litter. And dog breath. It’s a pretty volatile combination.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:16 am
Does Sushi enjoy snacking from the litter buffet, or is that just the way it smells?
(PS- this is just one of the reasons I never let dogs lick my face. BLEH!)
April 11th, 2014 at 8:17 am
His favourite food is Kitty Crunchies. I love when his nose is encrusted with litter and he’s trying to look innocent. “I didn’t eat poo. What are you talking about? Crunch crunch”
April 11th, 2014 at 8:18 am
DOGS ARE SO GROSS!
We keep our litter boxes in the basement, where Jack doesn’t usually go. I have to keep an eye on him if I’m down in my office, though.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:19 am
I have tried a million ways to keep him out of the litter. The next plan is to build a box over the boxes so he can’t reach. Lipstick won’t use a covered litter pan. But I think if the litter box is just inside something, she would be okay with it.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:46 am
Kitty Crunchies, yeah, that’s a dog treat for sure. And poopsicles in the winter. Scrumptious. *blech*
April 11th, 2014 at 8:47 am
UGH. AJ had a dog when we met who would eat her own poopsicles in the winter. Like, go out, poop, wait a very specific amount of time, and then go back out just for a snack. SO GROSS.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:49 am
I have two dogs that eat poop. Grady eats anybody’s and anything’s. Jig, however, will only ever eat Rowan’s poop. She looks on Rowan as the Queen. Apparently, when the Queen poops, you must eat it. Immediately! What I hate is the after poop belch. *whump*
April 11th, 2014 at 8:50 am
SIIIIIIIIICK
April 11th, 2014 at 8:53 am
I’m not the one who started the poop eating conversation. Just remember that.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:54 am
I remember…
April 11th, 2014 at 9:00 am
You really want some interesting looks…start a similar conversation in a restaurant. I know, sounds utterly disgusting, but you get a bunch of stockdog people together and it’s common place to talk about such gross things without disrupting our appetites. We sometimes forget when we’re in public….
April 11th, 2014 at 9:02 am
I can think of a few professions that probably happens in. 🙂
April 11th, 2014 at 8:18 am
Sushi will eat anything organic that isn’t nailed down or 7 feet off the ground. He ate something off the road yesterday. No idea what it was. I NEVER let him lick faces.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:18 am
“No, it’s good for me. It’s ORGANIC!”
-Sushi
April 11th, 2014 at 8:13 am
…and by factory, I mean packing plant. Where’s my coffee!
April 11th, 2014 at 8:13 am
…and by !, I mean ?
Oy.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:14 am
Moments when the interrobang would come in handy. Where is my coffee?!
April 11th, 2014 at 8:15 am
For reals.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:44 am
Jack is adorable. I agree though, he can’t be the best dog ever because I have the best dog ever. I’m not going to say which one — *cough*Quinn*cough* — because that would make the rest of them jealous. 😉
Seriously, Jack is freaking adorable. I would love to hear him singing with the church service! You should youtube that. It would be awesome. And who wouldn’t want to have conversations with a dog that sounds like a wookie?
April 11th, 2014 at 8:46 am
We were dying the first time he started singing. We keep saying we should put him in the car and take him over so everyone can enjoy his musical gifts, but I don’t think the pastor would appreciate that.
April 11th, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Sounds a lot like this when he sings. His voice hasn’t really deepened any more since this early start to his musical career. 🙂
https://disregardtheprologue.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/2739/
April 11th, 2014 at 8:50 am
Such an adorable dog. Smart too if he has bladder control.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:52 am
Oh, I didn’t even mention the Austin Powers-esque urinating he’s capable of after a long night indoors. We’ve timed it. It’s impressive. 🙂
April 11th, 2014 at 8:54 am
Took me a second to remember that scene. Definitely impressive.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:55 am
“Evacuation comp– Evac– Evacuation complete.”
🙂
April 11th, 2014 at 10:01 am
I love how his excess face akin just sort of flows.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:04 am
He’s kind of liquid, isn’t he?
April 11th, 2014 at 10:42 am
What a great dog. Ours is lovely too but he’s naughty. 🙂
April 11th, 2014 at 10:50 am
That FACE!!!!
April 11th, 2014 at 10:51 am
I’ve grown accustomed to it. 🙂
April 11th, 2014 at 10:50 am
There is a video on YouTube of Jack. Not singing along with a church service, but along with his fellow puppy – Ike. Here’s the link:
April 11th, 2014 at 10:51 am
Haha- I’m totally posting that later.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:49 am
Love the way Jack looks, I can never figure out how dogs manage to cram so many different expressions into those eyes they make, and you just know there’s so much intelligence and trust and loyalty behind them. I’m saddened to see that his tail has been docked, though. That should be outlawed imho, too many breeders still do it. Love the energy in boxers as well; our second dog is a boxador (labrador-boxer cross) and she’ll just run and run and run. Here’s Summer meeting our tomcat Merlin for the first time: http://amosmcarpenter.com/2014/03/24/summer-and-merlin/ 🙂
April 11th, 2014 at 11:56 am
I agree completely about the tail docking. We didn’t get Jack until he was four months old, so it was long past done. I’m just glad he still he has his big, floppy ears! I think it should all be outlawed.
At least they’re letting white boxer puppies live now…
Summer was such a cute puppy! Any recent pics you want to share?
April 11th, 2014 at 11:59 am
Yeah, it’s usually the breeders, not the owners who do that (for outdated reasons) and take away a large part of how dogs communicate. She’s over a year old now, so pretty much fully grown, has more of a Labrador head (which I really like), and a Boxer’s athletic build. I’ll have to post about her again with a newer picture, but currently that A to Z challenge just chews up so much time…! 🙂
April 12th, 2014 at 3:28 am
There you go… I’ve updated the “Summer and Merlin” post with a more recent picture of Summer.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:53 am
That last photo of his face draped over the sofa is priceless. What an amazing creature :-).
April 11th, 2014 at 11:58 am
I have so many pictures of his face doing weird things! I feel bad laughing at him, but sometimes I can’t help it. And he just looks depressed when he’s not being silly…
April 11th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
and he’s adorable too.
April 11th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Oh Jack. In his world, eating his houseguest’s poop is considered the highest compliment.
April 11th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
We never knew that Jack was so talented. We also never knew that dogs like “scrunchies”.
April 11th, 2014 at 6:48 pm
He is certainly a talented and entertaining fellow. I hope you can come see him some time! 😀
April 11th, 2014 at 6:48 pm
that should have been crunchies
April 11th, 2014 at 6:49 pm
Haha, I got that. Though now I’m imagining a dog wearing scrunchies in his hair. 🙂
April 12th, 2014 at 3:26 am
[…] Here’s a more recent photo of Summer, just for Kate Sparks and her dog, Jack […]