Jazz's Firsts: 1 of TBD

This posting provides the foundation for a series of short postings regarding the firsts for my wife's and mine constant companion, Jazz, an English Cream Golden Retriever.

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I purchased a used dog. Unquestionably, my best purchase ever.

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When my wife, Mary Ann (MA), and I had both retired from our international travel by age 75, we decided to get our first dog. I clearly wanted a Golden Retriever (GR). Granted, I had a Cocker Spaniel when I was a child. But, Lady went to a farm upstate when I was 10. Therefore, throughout most of my early life I had been 'breed neutral" However, my adult children and my ex-wife each had American GRs (the reddish version). Through my interaction with their dogs, I knew I wanted a GR. What I didn't know at the time is that there are 5 versions of the breed with each having unique characteristics. That point was soon to become clear to me as to one version, the English Cream.

Being 75, we were finding it difficult to find someone to sell us a GR. Being a writer of published technical journals and articles, as well as 2 blogs for a number of years, MA suggested I compose and send emails to a number of GR breeders emphazing our sincere, deepest desire. Basically, the email was pure begging for compassion on some breeder's part to consider our desire for a GR. Wonderfully, the 2nd breeder I called a week later, said that he was retiring (he was 92), and he a had great GR breeder to sell. There was no other description provided during the call. We were absolutely thrilled at the possibility of getting a GR.

The breeder was 4 hours away residing on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. I can't speak for MA, but I was so anxious to get there. After all of the frustration of not being able to get a GR, this possibility was so uplifting.

When we arrived at the location, we parked the car in the attached parking lot and walked pass several outdoor kennels where 2 young American GR's (brownish/redish fur) were being  held. Their excitement to see us was encouraging. However, I thought they were too young as to what I thought we were being offered. However, further in on the property there was a fairly large kennel with a dog house included. Laying outside of the dog house there was a large cream-colored dog just inside the gate. As we approached his kennel, the dog stood up with his tail wagging vigorously. He immediately came to the kennel's gate. A young female attendant was there and she opened the gate for me to enter. She introduced me to Ivan, stating that he had come from Russia for breeding purposes. As I approached Ivan, he sat up with his large brown eyes looking directly into my mine. He didn't move other than with his tail wagging. I asked the attendant if indeed he was a GR. She responded that he is an ENGlISH CREAM GR, with an impecable pedigree. As I reached to pet him, he immediately came to my side while continuing to look at my eyes. He was totally calm and affectionate. OK, I was totally hooked. I looked at MA and she indicated 'YES' with just a smile.

The next step was to meet with the owner of Ivan. His house was on stilts due to being just off the coast of Gulf. As my wife and I climbed the steps and entered the house, we were greeted by an elderly gentleman with some obvious physical disabilities. He spoke softly and directed us to a table in the living room. Ivan followed us into the house and immediately went to a corner near the fireplace and then took a wizz. No one seemed to notice that event. I glanced at MA with my eyebrows raised indicating 'Hmmmmmm", but I was determined. This issue was trainable.

The gentleman, a Vetenerean/breeder, stated the price noting that I would have to sign an agreement to neither show nor breed Ivan. To his credit, he wanted to protect Ivan's pure lineage. I said that, "we just want a dog". I had brought enough cash to meet his price. I had no interest in bargaining. With my signature on the agreement and the exchange of cash, the gentleman struggled to stand to shake my hand. There was sadness in his eyes as well of the young attendant who had cared for Ivan for roughly 5 years. I put a leash on Ivan, and the 3 of us headed down the steps and onto the car. Again, passing the kennels of the 2 young GR's, I wondered about their thoughts of seeing their Dad leaving. Getting to the car, Ivan was at first hesitant to enter which surprised me somewhat.

Our SUV permits the back seat to be folded down for a broad flat surface on which Ivan could lay down. However, he stood for quite a long time. It was clear that he was not comfortable being in a car and/or perhaps such a relatively small space. This turned out to be a point that still remains today which will be discussed in a forthcoming posting. With such a long trip home, I stopped several times to let Ivan out to do whatever he needed to do in a field.

By the time we arrived at our house in Jacksonville, the sun had set. Taking Ivan for another walk before entering the house, just in case, I took him off his leash. That could have been a mistake, but instead his nature became clear in two ways. First, he wanted to freely explore the neighborhood with his nose constantly to the ground. Second, he understood, it seems, that he was to be with us, and he stayed relatively close to me as I walked.

That first night for Ivan in our house was another point we came to understand about the ECGR breed. No matter where I would move in the house, he would follow to be near me. When we went to bed, I left all of the doors open in the house for him  to roam as he desired. However, his choice was, and remains to this day, to be in our bedroom just inside the door.

The next morning around 8, Ivan was standing next to my side of the bed with a slight whimper and shaking his head several times. Fortunately, I interpreted that correctly. Contrary to his wizzing incident at the breeder's house, he was informing me that he needed to relieve himself. I opened the sliding glass doors in the bedroom to the fenched backyard, and he darted out. "WOW' I proclaimed as he did his business and then returned to be let in. This was the day that Ivan's name would be no longer be used. MA and I agree that his name as a family member would be 'Jazz'. MA had lived in NOLA most of her adult life, and my 8 years there were so dear to me. Hence, the name 'Jazz' given that rememberance.

Jazz freely enjoyed our large backyard given that I had installed a dog-door in the screened-in back porch. It was by chance that I noticed that Jazz had partially dug several holes under the wooden fence. I had filled those holes with concrete, but I was concerned about his intentions. However. several weeks later I returned from the store to find Jazz sitting on the outside of the front door. He had been left on the back porch. However, he had successfully escaped only to come to the front door. I was greatly relieved. He knew this was his home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the 4 hour ride home

 

digging out

getting fixed 

 

stealing a sandwich

the cage

pic of eating sandwich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the obligatory shake IpicI