Luke

Over the almost seven months we have lived with Luke we have learned more about him. He was given to the previous owners when he was a puppy. They were not dog people. He wasn’t allowed in the house at all. He lives in the garage which allows him to go in and out as he likes. We bought him a nice comfy bed and it is a nice arrangement.

From the beginning we knew Luke needed people. As dog people ourselves we wanted him to be a larger part of our family. We wanted him to spend time with us when we were in the house. However, when we “forced” him to come inside he was very nervous and wanted out immediately. All his training told him he wasn’t allowed in the house.

It has taken months of working with him but eventually he was comfortable in the house. He constantly wanted to be petted. It was never enough. So we had to teach him that he needed to be content just being with us. He is getting better with that.

One of the problems with Luke not raised indoors is that he isn’t potty trained. Multiple times he has gone potty in the house. I began to wonder if the old adage “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” was true. We persisted and as of now it has been a couple of weeks since he went potty in doors.

I decided that Luke needed a bed in the house. His eleven year old body shouldn’t be laying down on the hard floor. Not knowing if he would sleep in the indoor bed I purchased a less expensive bed. It took all of us, over many days, to teach him that he had an indoor bed. He finally figured it out. Now when he is tired he goes to his bed to sleep.

Another thing he wasn’t taught was how to go up and down stairs. During the day all of us are mostly downstairs. Michael is in his office and the boys and I do most of our school downstairs. Two or three times we have put a leash on him and helped him down the stairs but it is rather scary. Going up isn’t any easier. For the most part we don’t do that much any more.

Speaking of leashes, a couple of times during the summer months we would try to take Luke for a walk. I would put the leash on him and he would immediately plant is bottom and feet and wouldn’t budge. I worried that we wouldn’t be able to take him to the vet or get him groomed.

About three weeks ago we decided that Luke needed to be groomed. Michael and the boys were going to town so we made an appointment and dropped him off. I was in charge of picking him up. I wasn’t involved in getting him there so I still worried about how he would act on a leash. What a good boy. Everyone at the groomers loved him. We walked around the store (Petco) to get him a couple of things and customers and employees were petting him. He was loving all the attention.

It wasn’t long before Luke was dirty again. He gets so muddy that we don’t want him in the house. Yet we do want him with us. Our only option was to give him a bath.

Michael carried him in to our bathtub.

This is the only time I have been grateful that this bathtub is so big.

What a dirty boy.

Can’t let him go to bed wet. Hair drying time.

It was exhausting for Luke. Joshua gave him a stuffed fish to cuddle.

So Luke has finally adjusted to life with us. We love him and are happy that he is able to spend more time with us and to know that he is a part of our family.

He is our Cool Hand Luke.

Have a great day,

Karen