Show Dog?

     It's a sad thought, but I'm guessing that if Runtly had been born many moons ago, he would not have made the cut.  

     His name signifies his status in the litter.....the runt.  He was half the size of the other pups, tiny, weak and, for lack of a better description, ugly.  He looked like a tiny pink pig and yes, I felt sorry for him.

     Runtly has now passed the three month old date on the calendar and I can assure you with all certainty, I no longer feel sorry for him.  He has no idea that he would have been a cast-away.  I'm not sure he even knows he is a dog....shadow might be a better word for him.

     At the three month old mark, I said a silent prayer that there was only five more months left to possibly complete potty training and also gave thanks for ceramic tile and hardwood floors.  He continues to be overjoyed with the cat, and the cat with him....sort of.  Their encounter first thing in the morning is the best, it is the "Oh I'm so happy to see you" moment.  Later in the day, the instinct of the Jack Russell Terrier/Terrorist kicks in and Runtly seems to think Tigger is something he should bite and shake. Tigger is much appreciative of the leash.

     Runtly has no fear in the house and giving him free rein of the house from the get go was a bad idea.  He now navigates all stairways with great skill.  It is always pleasant to know he's been in the dirty laundry pile in the basement when a pair of someone's underwear go sailing through the kitchen.  

     He has more toys than the grandchildren and yet, has the most fun with an empty 12-pack cardboard box.  This box has been seen many times, seemingly moving on its own, as his hind legs propel it across the floor.  He loves the lint roller that had to be purchased because of him.  I'm going to have to stop wearing black.

     Being outdoors is still a thing of wonder to him.  The backyard is a safe haven, but any destination beyond the comfort of the yard, is a scary place.  He will walk to the corner of the block, on a leash, with little hesitation.  Any point past the intersection and he is like a person who has spent all their life in a third world country and then someone put them in a Wal-Mart store.  Information overload, at its best.  The one good thing about one of these outings is, if I've been walking around in the yard, for what seems like forever, waiting for him to do his business, a journey past the end of the block literally scares it out of him.

     Sometimes the runts have a few defects and to a breeder I suppose they are considered collateral damage.  Runtly is not "show" material.  As he has grown, so have his ears.  He now has what we call "lighter brighter", one ear down, the other up.  This does give him the appearance of being quite studious.  I have discovered that if I rub the 'up' ear, it will fold over, but not for long.  He prances when he walks and when he runs he has one leg that flails out to the side.  The leg doesn't do this the entire time he is running, just every once in awhile.  I figure he's just throwing in a little happy dance along the way.

     He may not be show material, but he can sit, stay (sort of), lay down on command and puts on a show for us that makes us laugh..... except the performance where he chewed a hole in the top of my wicker chest.... that wasn't too funny.