The problem was, Jake also came totally unsocialized and fraught with numerous, serious behavior issues. Those beautiful eyes mesmerized people and they tended to look at them. Jake read that direct eye contact as an aggressive challenge and would attack.
He was always suspicious of strangers and would react by being very aloof, with fear or true aggression. My refrain to anyone meeting him was "Don't make eye contact."
He had severe separation anxiety. If I left the house, he would soil and he ate through doors and walls to get out and try to find me. Once outside, if he couldn't find me he would panic and become very unpredictable. There was no crate that could hold him and he was not beyond going through a window, glass and all.
Yet, if I petted him, or even spoke to him, he would erupt in paroxyms of absolute joy. He would spin and jump and vibrate all over. That made grooming him, even trying to apply flea preventative, a real challenge. He was an extremely high drive, high energy Aussie from working lines who was born into a situation that prevented him from doing what he was created to do, herd sheep.
Over the years, many people questioned why I would keep such a destructive, problem dog. But I have always believed that you don't dump your dog anymore than you would your child because they don't live up to your expectations or have problems. So Jake had a home. I kept working on him his entire life to improve his socialization, which I was somewhat successful in. I had less luck with his separation anxiety, his fear of thunderstorms and fireworks. The worst thing that could happen was for me to be away from home when a thunderstorm hit. I would come home to find destruction everywhere and a very soiled house.
But he loved agility, hiking, and just being near me...and he was near me, always. Jake was not a dog I ever had to worry about running off, no matter what the distraction. Despite his quirks, if he thought I was threatened he turned into a tiger. He was a good friend, a loyal friend, and a valuable protector.
There were periods of time over the years when I knew life was preventing me from giving him the time, attention and exercise he needed and craved. But never once did I consider rehoming him. I hate seeing people do that. "We just don't have enough time for him anymore. He deserves more so we want to find him another home." is a weak excuse to dump a dog. They don't care, they will forgive you. They just want to stay with you, to keep their pack and their territory. As long as you feed them, give them an occasional word or pat on the head and don't isolate them by banishing them to the yard or the garage they will be happy and forgiving. In all the years he was with me, Jake never resented me for being too busy or tired for him, he was just happy to be with me.
No doubt about it, Jake was a problem dog in many ways all his life. One thing I have just learned, the sudden absence of that huge problem leaves a lot bigger hole than when an easier one is lost.
People would be shocked to learn his age, nothing in appearance, courage, or actions spoke of an aging dog. He was positively vibrant.
One day very recently, after a spate of nasty, cold weather, we had a relatively warm and beautiful day. Jake was out most of the day with my aging Bouvier bitch, raising hell with her at any stray dog, cat or squirrel that dared to come near his home ground. The next morning, that vibrant friend was gone. In his place was a very weak friend who would let me stroke him endlessly without so much as one little wiggle.
He went rather quickly and very peacefully. That gives me some small consolation. But this problem dog that nobody could see the value in but me will be horribly missed. Bless you Jake. You proved that there really are no "bad" dogs.
I never regretted my decision to take on the problem dog everyone advised should be put down.
Thank you, Jake, for all the joy, companionship, loyalty, protection and laughs for so many years. You will be horribly missed.
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