Been some time since I was here.
As I'm pretty sure I mentioned previously, I've always been a dog person but had to give up my last one when my wife developed serious allergies to pet dander/hair.
Well, I've found a "solution" to the problem. My daughter recently sold her house here in town and built a new one closer to her job. The plan for the new house included a large fenced in area for the dog she eventually planned to have. Dear Old Dad got to put up a couple of hundred feet of 6 foot chain link for that part.
She's been in the place since late Spring and has picked out the dog she wants, an Akita pup from a local breeder that she's known and groomed for for years. The breeder is very picky about who she'll sell a pup to and also chooses the pup for you based on the pup's personality and your needs. She also starts socializing the pup as soon as they open their eyes while still with Mom and the rest of the litter.
I made the mistake of riding up with her to visit her new pup a couple of weeks ago. Bad idea :laughing: We called to let her know I was coming and she met us at the door and explained to me how most Akitas are stand-offish and don't much care for strangers once they've bonded to their family. I've been around dogs long enough to know to let them approach me if they care to and not push things.
I got about three steps in the door and two BIG males (from her breeding stock) came right up to me, leaned up against my legs and demanded to be scratched and petted. She looked at me a little funny and I got down on one knee and a gorgeous young female came over and tried to climb up in my lap, licking my face and wiggling.
She said "I have NEVER seen her do that with anyone!" We left after spending some time with the pup my daughter was getting. All the way home I was thinking about what a sweetie that female was.
Now, my daughter had originally wanted a pair of them to keep each other company while she's at work, but at the price of AKC pups there was just no way that was gonna happen. She said she talked to the breeder later that evening and said the female was laying by the door and moping ever since we left.
I don't know if that was strictly true or just good salesmanship, but long story somewhat shorter, I wound up splitting the cost of the 8 month old female with my daughter. The dog will live with her as my wife is still allergic (and likely always will be) but it's "my" dog. Also a clever ploy on my daughter's part to get Dear Old Dad up to her place more often.
So, here's Fate (her AKC registered name is Black Jewel of Fate):
It does take a fairly long exposure or a buildup of hair and dander for my wife's allergies to kick in, so she is able to tolerate brief visits. Fate just met her today for the first time and it took her about 10 seconds to decide she had a new friend:
So far, it's working really well. Daughter has a dog to help train her new pup and keep each other company, and I get my minimum daily requirement of dog spit in my diet. :laughing: