Karyn’s Dog Luke
One morning I got a phone call from a local pet clinic saying, “Please, come get this dog.” Evidently, a client of theirs had dropped off a male yellow lab puppy at the clinic for boarding, while he checked himself into a mental rehab clinic of sorts. This puppy did not have a name and they were calling him “Yappy” because he wouldn’t quit barking. I was to take him on as a boarding-for-training student while the owner was away. So initially, Yappy came to me as another new student.
This client had purchased the puppy at Petland: it was an impulse buy. The dog’s birth date said 9/11. And I couldn’t help but notice that the client actually bought that dog on my birthday.
I was the dog’s teacher and his trainer, and he was a fabulous student. When we talked on the phone, the original owner was reluctant about his purchase, and he wasn’t sure if he could be a responsible pet owner. During the dog’s stay, I gave him a respectable name, a name deserving of such a wonderful dog: Luke. I assured the owner that Luke was no ordinary dog, and that if any dog would have a healing effect in his life, it had to be this dog. His owner agreed to give the relationship a try.
I took him back to his original owner’s home and started with lessons. Within a couple of days, his former owner was ignoring my phone calls and refusing to communicate. I had no other choice than to let go. After all, he was not my dog.
A few weeks went by, and a wife or ex-wife (I’m really not sure) called me and told me that Luke’s former owner had been at a loss for taking care of him and had once again given him away to a less than appropriate situation. He was being left outdoors and was destroying their outdoor furniture. Needless to say, she asked if I would consider purchasing Luke. I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough. I can still remember seeing Luke coming back in our office door, and I knew at that moment he was a keeper.
I haven’t had the kind of working partner I have found in Luke for over 30 years. He is blessing. I am grateful, and I am blessed with his being. Luke is a very important member of our staff, and fills a position no human possibly could.
Lukes Demo – Nosework for dogs beginner class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
