Doc's POV: I was in town with John we were getting some supplies for John's ranch I was standing outside leaning against a balanced beam with my poetry book in my hands I was trying to think of a poem to write I had helped John put the supplies on our buckboard wagon I decided to climb aboard the buckboard to write I looked up for a minute and saw dog he was tall with a red color coat he looked just like John's dog King he was a Rhodesian Ridgeback that's the type of breed King is John said that they're good as a guard dog and that they're well known for hunting lions I looked at him and he looked back at me I had a feeling that he was wanting me to be his owner I shook my head dismissing the idea I couldn't possibly take care of a dog but I know someone who could I guess help me if I ever decided I want a dog
Everything alright Josiah? John asked
Yeah everything's fine John I replied
Very well then he said
As we rode home I noticed that the dog was following us I felt bad for him and that's when I knew right then and there I knew he needed me so I decided to take him in
John could you please stop the wagon for a minute? I asked
Certainly Josiah "is something wrong? John asked
No no nothing's wrong I answered jumping off the wagon and walking towards the dog in front of me
I have seen Chavez handle many dogs before he always seemed like a dog expert and it always seemed like animals trust him Chavez had instructed me on how to approach a dog
Flashback: Chavez's voice you always want to kneel down never run up to a dog you don't know because it'll either frightened them or they'll attack and you don't want that
I kneeled down slowly offering my hand out towards the dog at first the dog looked confused and hesitantly walked towards me I managed to get the dog onto the buckboard and we continued our journey home
I don't know the first thing about having a dog I said
Ask Jose I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help you Josiah John suggested
We finally arrived home as we did Chavez was just coming out of the barn and that's when the dog jumped off the buckboard and ran right straight to him I was worried it was going to attack and hurt him but all the dog do was jumped up to him gently licking his face Chavez seemed baffled by this I ran over and pulled the dog off of him
Well this is a little unusual in all my life I have never seen a dog do something like that like what this dog just did to me Chavez said sounding surprised
Sorry about Chavez I thought he was going to attack and hurt you I said
It's alright Doc Chavez replied
Chavez I need your help I was thinking about taking in this dog and I was wondering if you could help me with him I said
Okay what do you need help with? He asked
Pretty much everything there is about handling a dog I answered
Okay I'll help you it's not the first time I've done this you know he said
Great thanks Chavez I said
Your welcome Doc he replied
The next day Chavez was outside in the backyard waiting for me and Clyde which what I named him
The first thing first "what's his name? Chavez asked
Clyde I answered
Okay you've got to get him use to his name Chavez said
How do I do that Chavez? I asked
You've got to repeat his name to him Chavez answered
Why do I have to repeat his name to him? I asked sounding confused
So he gets used to it so when you call him he'll come Chavez said
Okay I replied
I repeated Clyde's name multiple times while Chavez stood there and watched once Clyde got used to his new name we moved onto commands the two toughest commands were sit and stay and trying to get Clyde to stop jumping up on us even Chavez didn't really mind the jumping up part
Okay Clyde sit I told him
he sat and looked at me
Good you're doing good Doc Chavez said
Okay here goes Clyde stay I said
Okay Doc you've got to move a bit Chavez said
So I moved but when I did Clyde stood up
No no no oh darn dog! I yelled in frustration
Clyde's ears flatten and he coward behind Chavez who had his hands resting on his hips and was shaking his head then he looked at me and sighed
Doc you can't yell at him like that he doesn't like that you have to be firm with him there's a difference Chavez said
"How is there a difference Chavez!? "how!? I asked still sounding frustrated
Firm is not being too hard on something but you're doing that you're yelling at him scaring him Chavez replied
Well he's not listening Chavez "what am'I supposed to do? I asked
Alright watch how I do it and then you'll see what I mean by firm Chavez said
Okay I replied
Clyde come Chavez said in firm tone of voice
Clyde came stopping in front of Chavez waiting for the next command I was surprised at how Clyde was able to respond to him and without Chavez getting mad like I was
Clyde sit Chavez told him and Clyde sat down in front of him
Chavez looked over at me then proceeded to backup a little ways but stopping Clyde from getting up
Clyde stay stay Clyde Chavez replied
I couldn't believe what I was seeing Chavez was able to keep Clyde sitting
Okay now Doc when I'm ready I'll call Clyde over to me watch Chavez said
Clyde come Chavez said and Clyde walked over to him and stood in front of him
Clyde sit Chavez told him and Clyde sat in front of him
Good boy Clyde Chavez praised petting him and giving him something out of his hand
You see Doc it takes patients you can't get mad and give up you got to work at it it's going to take awhile and it's going to hard I know but trust me it'll be rewarding in the end and when he being good you praise and reward him for being good when he's not being good you don't praise or reward him Chavez said
Okay Chavez I said
After several training sessions Clyde finally started listening to me and Chavez I was proud but I still didn't understand anything about dogs
"Chavez why do dogs jumped up on someone? "and why do they drag their tongue across their owner's face? I asked
Well they're social animals Doc they like to be closer to their human and they lick your face because to them that's their way of showing affection towards you Chavez said
That's it? I asked
Yeah that's it you're learn more over time Doc trust me Chavez said
Chavez was right I'll understand dogs as time goes on I was glad to have a friend like him and I wouldn't have it any other way
Okay guys here's chapter 2 I hope you guys like it let me know what you guys think of it in the comment section below thanks guys and happy holidays everybody and stay safe out there please thanks again guys bye now