+ April 2016 we met 'Jake' the australian shepherd
+She saw a cute dog on pet finder at a nearby shelter and decided we needed to go meet him. + He was somewhat apathetic to see us but was excited to got out in the play zone and chase some + balls around.
+ +'Jake' has a new home
+We pretty much instantly knew he was going to be coming home with us. We had to wait + for another family that was scheduled to come up and meet him however. Lucky for us they did + not show up and we were called the next day to see if we still wanted to takr him home.
+ +
+ Achilles was home
+We went and picked him up and stopped by the store for fresh dog supplies as all we had was the collar + he came with and a starter leash they had given to us as he was a runner. They informed us that he had + run away from home a few times and the previous owner had just said to keep him the last time they called. + True to form, while waiting in the car for my wife to bring some supplies out he chomped through his leash in moments.
+ +
+ From single child to furry brother
+In 2017 my wife and I decided to get our foster license, it wasn't long after finishing the training classes that + we started to recieve calls for placement. By August we were placed with two brothers ages 1 and 5, suddenly Achilles + had to share his time instead of always being the center of attention.
+ +
+ Fast forward to adoption 2020
+Excited to have the boys become a permanent addition to our family, Achilles has adapted to sharing his time and plkaying with the boys. + But with school, work and general life happening Achilles did not get his multiple walks per day, or his weekend agility class since commute + was too far. His discontent was becoming much more barking and deciding that his new job was to be a guardian since he was + no longer an agility course dog.
+ +
+ April 2021 Achilles needs a friend
+Feeling bad at the lack of one on one time that Achilles was receiving we decided that he needed a friend to keep him busy during the day while + we were at work. Back to pet finder and trying to find a similar minded puppy that he could bond with and expend some energy with so that he was + not going stir crazy all the time.
+ +
+ Strike one when meeting a 'blue heeler'
+We went to St. Louis and met with a woman who was fostering a 'blue heeler' that seemed like a good fit. Upon meeting this dog we immediately realized + that this was majority chihuaua and just the colors of a heeler. It chased the kids and tried to bite their feet and when Achilles would attempt to play with it + he about got his eyes bit and scratched out.
+ +We found a litter of puppies that were rescued from a bad situation and were all named after Dr. Seuss characters. The kids thought he was adorable, my wife thought he was + very chill, Achilles just wanted to run and play in the foster ladies yard, and I thought I was finally getting my big dog. Horton appeared to be a St. Bernard.
+ +
+ After having to spend a few weeks with the foster to nurse his health up after being so malnurished we got to go pick up Odin and officially welcome him to the family. + Still so sure he was a St. Bernard, I went ahead and ordered his barrel. DNA test results came back as being mostly great pyraneese and some german shepherd and beagle of all things. + Topping out at about 70 lbs he is not the big dog I have always wanted, but he is big of heart and as sweet as he is scared of all new people around him.
+