The Lineage of Prince Finnegan

Though I have only been back at work for 3 days (Tues, Weds, Thurs) since the break for the holiday's, a little routine has already developed here at the house.  I tend to do most of my work from the kitchen table.  Occasionally, I will work out of my office, but for the most part I work on the kitchen table.  The routine that has now developed is a I have a constant foot warmer available for use - yes that would be the puppy Fin!  He tends to walk right under the table and curl up pretty much right on my feet.

There are a couple of good things about this arrangement.  First he keeps my toes warm - which does not stink.  Second, it allows me to keep my eyes on him as he still has some little accidents in the house. So all in all, Fin sleeping on my feet all day long has it advantages.

So this afternoon I was looking at him and I decided to do a bit of research as to what his lineage might be.  I turned to Google and Wikipedia and I quickly found out he does not have Blue Heeler in him.  He has not one characteristic of a Blue Heeler at all.  Instead it seems like my dear little Fin is probably a combination of a "Red Heeler" and a Golden Retriever.  His markings are much more like that of a Red Heeler.  Then his fur has that soft snuggly feel to it of a Golden Retriever.  I supposed instead of a Golden Retriever he could also have Labrador Retriever in him, but to me that doesn't seem to likely as his fur seems nothing like a labs.  (And I have just a tab bit of experience with labs!)

Besides getting a background in what kind of lineage Fin probably has in him, I learned a lot about the designation ACD (Australian Cattle Dog).  The Heeler's (whether blue or red) are all designated as Australian Cattle Dogs as that is there primary job - to herd cattle in Australia.

Well I should add - regardless of what kind of doggies got together to make Fin, he is a great dog!  Unlike every other puppy I have every had, Fin is calm.  Well - relatively calm that is.  No puppy is ever 100% calm, but Fin is definitely one of the most calm puppies I have ever seen.  Bottom line is he is mellow.  (I write that but of course what is he doing at this very second...  running around like a maniac trying to destroy his one toy.)

It is a lot of fun, but hard work to have a puppy around the house.  Lex is finally starting to get comfortable with him.  They are playing together a lot more, but Lex can still only take so much.  I think once Fin gets bigger it will be a totally different story and Lex will love having him around.  Right now I just don't think he knows what to do with him.

But while I was writing this Lex and Fin have engaged in a 20 minute play session.  It has been hilarious to watch and listen to them.  Lex has this deep big dog bark while Fin has this little yippy puppy bark.  It is so funny!

No much else to say for a Thursday evening.  My heart feels as though it has been ripped in half and my mind is going nuts as I am trying to figure out a way to get Zack out of his latest anxiety downturn.  Cherry Creek Schools have thrown a ton of resources at him this week with little success so far.  I have spent more time on the phone with the school psychologist and nurses this week than I have ever wanted to.  It is a hard situation to describe because when Zack melts down, you really have a hard time bringing him back from there.  The only way I have found to do it over the last 5 years is to show him how much pain he is causing me.  That normally snaps him out of it.  But that only works for me.  Oh well - we will continue to labor through it and hopefully between the drugs and Zack's growing sense of self, we will eventually get to the point that there are no more anxiety meltdowns!

Anyway - so much for January 6th, 2011.

I hope everyone's year is off to a great start.

Thanks and peace to all! ~J.

FYSRD!!