Abby has the retired part down pat.
Jim Ellison
My name is Abby, actually Abby Angelica, for ACA (American Canine Association) purposes, and I am an American Cocker Spaniel. My hair is short since my owners, Bob and Kate Newton, prefer low-maintenance grooming styles. I came to PebbleCreek in 2003 at the age of nine weeks. Bob and Kate got me out of a cage at a pet store in Mesa and I couldn’t have been happier to go home with them. I was a wild-child as a puppy, running everywhere and falling into the pool a couple times. I don’t want anything to do with the pool due to those experiences.
I learned quickly. Kate taught me to sit the day I came home. Since then I’ve learned several other commands. Mostly, I teach Bob and Kate tricks by “talking” to them about my needs such as wanting more dog biscuits, wanting to go outside and wanting scratches. They are quick learners as well.
Since I’m a bird dog, you would think I’d keep the birds out of the yard. We had ducks in the pool recently and frankly, all that quacking and flapping was rather unnerving. I was interested in them initially, but I’m embarrassed to say I ran when they started all that fussing around; however, the smaller birds know I’m the boss of the backyard and fly away when I rush at them (well, for a little while anyway).
Since I’m an Arizona dog, and nearly 14 years old now, much of my time is spent following Kate around the house (I’m not sure why she can’t stay put). Then I curl up in the closet under all the hanging clothes and nap. Once I’ve done that awhile, I go outside and sunbathe by the pool. They call PebbleCreek an active retirement community and I’ve got the retiring part down, but I’m not nearly as active as I used to be.