{"id":2247,"date":"2013-08-01T21:34:29","date_gmt":"2013-08-02T02:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/stevecaplan\/?p=2247"},"modified":"2013-08-03T09:10:30","modified_gmt":"2013-08-03T14:10:30","slug":"lab-meeting-iii-me-and-my-shadow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/stevecaplan\/2013\/08\/01\/lab-meeting-iii-me-and-my-shadow\/","title":{"rendered":"Lab meeting III–me and my shadow"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the risk of going overboard on the subject of dogs, I find it necessary to post \u201cLab Meeting III\u201d\u2014because today is a historic occasion\u2014the adoption of Ginger\/AKA\/Vi (Vizsla) from an animal shelter. Such a rare event that I did something that I seldom do\u2014I took time off without leaving the city.<\/p>\n

\"Ginger<\/a>
\nHere is Ginger in the car, relaxed as though this were an everyday event.<\/p>\n

We have been through quite a lot in this one exciting day, in which \u00be of the family is celebrating (my kids and I) and \u00bc is\u2014well\u2014celebrating with perhaps modestly reduced enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

\"Ginger\"<\/a>
\nIn this photo of Ginger, one can see the scar still visible from the recent \u201clumpectomy\u201d that was done by the shelter veterinarian. Turns out that she had a melanocytoma, or benign form of melanoma, which we learned was quite common on the eyelids of Vizsla pointers.<\/p>\n

So what was her first day like? We drove home from the shelter\u2014gave her the run of the house, played fetch in the yard, and went for a 3-mile walk. She learned to sit in 10 minutes, and getting her to lie down took about an hour of effort. The hardest thing is getting her stay calm on the leash\u2014especially when a bunny rabbit whizzed by\u2026<\/p>\n

\"steve-dog\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"steve-Ginger\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But the weirdest thing is her behavior toward me! I read that Vizsla dogs are very affectionate and often called \u201cVelcro,\u201d but she seems to have imprinted on me. Basically, I have a shadow. Despite my kids and everything else, where I go, she goes. Bathroom and all. And when I popped out for an errand for 15 minutes this evening, reports have it that she sat patiently by the door.<\/p>\n

Even now, writing these few lines, Ginger is at my feet. Every now and then, she gets up and tries to lick me, and induce some patting and play. I\u2019ve never seen anything quite like this! Velcro is the perfect description. Well, it\u2019s good to know that someone wants me around!<\/p>\n

But HELP?! Any dog owners out there with tips on how to reduce \u201cneediness\u201d in a dog? Please?!<\/p>\n

NEW TRICK:<\/p>\n

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