We all are born with a family. And, sometimes we have extended family members, or marital family, or people who feel like family and you want to trade them for your original family. Those all have happened to me, and I am sure you have been touch by that also.
As some of you may know, I took on a restoration an all original 1965 Malibu Super Sport. The man who brought it over, trains protection dogs for celebrities, sport stars and other people with money and NOT folks in my tax bracket. This man and I agreed to trade skills and now he is training our 7 month old Goldendoodle (Cooper), and I work on his car. The agreement has been good for both parties, but Cooper is smarter than Nancy and I. So the training has become train the owners of Cooper, which is interesting.
Besides being very cute or handsome, he also know how to play us well. Ok, let me stop here and backup a little. Cooper IS NOT going to be a guard or attack dog. Nancy has decided to have him be a 'therapy dog'. So when we get through the obedience part, sit, down, heel and place (go to his bed), he will be taught to greet people, let them love on him and make them happy and loved too. He is a real people dog.
But I am off point here. Cooper, in his short time with us, has picked up on our weaknesses and how to do things he wants, and look cute doing them. He is a player. Like dropping is tennis ball and kicking it under the couch or chair, so we have to get down on the floor and reach for it. Meanwhile he liens down and give us a juicy lick with the remains of his last water bowl visit still in his beard. Oh yeah, his a player.
Sometimes he is stubborn and just lays when he knows he should sit or heel. As he is being walked, he'll come to a stop, look at passing cars and then glance at me as if to say, "Do you like that car Dad?" Oh yeah, he's a player.
But the thing that got me as the trainer trains us is, "They are like a 4 year old children." It really hit home and flashbacks to our young children stubborn days, and how they played us too.
But all-in-all, Cooper is doing great, and the guy car is doing well too. The trainer has told us Cooper is as smart, if not smarter that the dogs he sells for $75K or more to celebrities. he says we are very lucky to have a dog that catches on to commands so quickly. I hope Nancy and I can keep up with Cooper.
Cooper bonded with nancy right away. i am just a playmate. But either way, Cooper is family now. His dog tag even says COOPER SHELL.
One thing that was apparent right away was that Cooper loves his tennis ball and fetching them is his joy and rewards, along with his torn-up stuffed toys.
Cooper Shell ... too darn smart and too handsome for his own good. But is is family and loved.
Cooper in his favorite place of relaxation and listening to us.
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