Miracles Never Cease!!!!

Last week, I posted about Buster, my Chocolate Lab! So many of you were so encouraging about him settling down, learning to behave, etc., and I thank you for all those comments.

A few days ago, my sister and brother-in-law decided to do an experiment, mustard up all the nerve they could, and came through the gate into my back yard. We only had to say "NO!" one time, and Buster did NOT jump on them, as excited as he was to have his favorite friends there. We walked up to the porch, sat down, and waited to see what would happen. Believe it or not, he was as good as gold the whole time we were there. To most of you, this would go unnoticed, but to all of us, it was the biggest change we've seen yet in Buster. Usually "Uncle Bob" would go home with scratches, blood dripping down his arm, dirt all over his shirt, etc. I just couldn't believe the change and my hopes were renewed that MAYBE I'll end up with a great dog after all.

I've noticed Buster doing a lot of thinking lately. Maybe it's a part of the maturing process, or the fact that a lot of the hyper-ness is going away, but he does seem to be figuring out that some things make me happy, and some thing DON'T!!!!

I went way back in my blog and read some of those first posts about how terrible he was, flunking out of obedience school, and thinking I would have to give him up. It's been a hard year with him, but I'm beginning to think it will all be worth it. When you see continuing progress each and every day, there's a lot more "Good Boy!" being said, than all the other stuff that goes with "Bad Boy!!!!"

If I ever get another dog, and I have a pick of the litter, it will NOT be the one that is happy, up front, jumping on me, loving me, and having a gay old time of it. It will be the poor little sad faced guy, the one who looks like he needs a friend -- NOT the one who thinks the world revolves around him, like Buster did. I'm too old for all these shanannagins!!!!!

So here he is -- sleeping on my feet under my computer. My best friend, all wrapped around my heart now. Who would have thought it would take over a year for him to figure life out and to get ME trained?????