I Don't Know You, but Can You Rub My Belly? Please?

There are a lot of reasons why people get dogs. Perhaps the most common is companionship. I know that for some, protection is a big reason, not loving their dogs any less than those who made the decisions for other reasons. With Skippy, it was pity. Let's be honest about it. How many of us fall into the latter category? Seeing this trembling Jack Russell looking out from the glass during a trip to the local SPCA, made on a whim, was certainly enough to draw our attention. Finding out her history as rescued breeding dog from a puppy mill, evoked our pity. I think the clincher had to be her complete willingness to roll over upon seeing the extended hand of a stranger. Then, the strangers were us. She still rolls over for us; that is unless she has escaped, whereby she rolls over for just about anyone but us.

When it comes to being naughty, I have no doubt that Skippy is just as normal as other Jack Russells. The breed seems to have an innate disposition toward mischief. And, from what I've heard from other owners, I can't complain. She doesn't destroy anything or rip anything apart. And unless we've left out food, that is within 16 inches from the floor, we generally don't have any issues. But what Skippy does love to do is escape.

Given the opportunity, Skippy will dart through the door to freedom and with great speed leave the invisible borders of our property. The first few times this happened, I engaged in the most frustrating exercise in futility I have ever known in an attempt to retrieve her. It was a game to Skippy. She would ignore my calls and wait until I was almost close enough to grab her before she shot off down the road away from me. Then she would stop on the road and wait until I again drew closer, and continue the game. After ten minutes of this, I just walked home. My wife was very unimpressed with me when I returned empty-handed. "See if you can catch her," I responded. What else could I say. She came home five minutes later.

On another occasion, soon after we got her, I attempted the same approach with some minor adjustments, but the result was unchanged: the dog doesn't come when you call her and she is definitely faster than me. This time something different happened, which both shocked and annoyed me. A couple was walking in the opposite direction of our chase, and seeing that I needed help, they called to her. Skippy ran up to them and rolled onto her back and waited for her belly rub, which she got. Why would this dog listen to a stranger and not to me? I wasn't yelling and I was careful to mask my frustration with a cheerful and playful tone. That was eight years ago and she still doesn't come when you call her and she will still always come to a stranger.

She rarely escapes now, unless a visitor accidentally leaves the door ajar for a moment. It's easily preventable: you just have to make sure the door is never left open. That seems simple, but for some reason Grandma and Grampa seem to forget this. I think that's why Skippy loves it when they look after her. Just recently, we had come home from being away. Skippy was at my wife's parents (Grandma and Grampa's). There was a message on the phone from our vet: Skippy was in the home of woman who had found her walking down her street. Apparently, Skippy just ran up to her and rolled over. That's great. What's even better is that Grandma and Grampa didn't know she was gone. When we called the lady to get our dog back she offered some really helpful advice. She said, "You know, you should probably keep a better eye on your dog. She's so friendly that she could just be taken by anyone." Yeah, thanks. I'll keep that in mind.

And what's with the no eye-contact? Completely strange if you ask me.