Hello. I'm the guy at the other end of Wyatt Earp’s leash. Thanks for the romantic view of my young dog, Warren. Thanks to the people who give him such positive attention.
He's 15 weeks old now and a lot bigger than in the picture. He really is kind with people (so far), but I remind myself that this is a dog who, if he does his job, will constantly challenge me to be clear, active, honest emotionally, and hopefully forgiving. Heck, I've already tripped over him more times than I should admit to, but after he tells me it hurts, he forgives and comes back.
His bloodlines are complex, but he definitely is a pure Australian Shepherd. I’m waiting for Wyatt to ‘tell’ me what we’ll spend thousands of hours doing together. His favourite things are sleeping, interacting with people, playing with Kit his elder Aussie, and even using my old agility equipment as props. He minds his manners with Mike, my 12-year-old Border Collie, and he seems to want to please me. He won’t get a pony, cute bunny, or even a lamb for his birthday, mainly because his favourite toys are a tiny teddy, my plastic broom, a tennis ball he found, an old sock and the old girl, Kit.
Yes, I do work him even as a pup. Not nipping people, knowing that when we are on the leash he has to trust and follow me, and knowing that being a pup can be filled with fun all started before I brought him home on day one. In return, Wyatt teaches my pack new games and wrestling moves. Kit became the perfect big sister and she is teaching Wyatt how to behave once he's big enough to take the dominant role. Some nights it's all I can do to just give them all hugs and trust while they act like dogs.
As the brilliant management professor Jim Barker would ask, "What happens next?" Next is that I will ask all the people who fawned over Wyatt to remember who he is once he's 45 pounds and adult. If he still is “attractive,” then we’ll apply to volunteer with St. John Ambulance as a dog therapy team. He’d have a different career path than Mike and Kit, though I assessed both for such a program. They prefer to be stock dogs.
I’m assessing Wyatt to see what we will do to use his “stock dog” energy. He’s my first dog to naturally take to agility equipment, but he also loves taking Mike and Kit’s Frisbees, and wrestling and chasing around the yard. Wyatt will show me whether he wants to show off or play a supporting role. I’m good with either or both acts.
Rick Ducommun for Wyatt, Kit and Mike of Cochrane
