Frequently Asked Questions
about Petey!

All who meet Pete and Chelsea or hear their story have similar questions. They are probably the same ones you have.
Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions. If your question is not answered here, please e-mail me so I can answer it and add it to this list.

1.How does Pete get around?
2. How did you train him?
3. Does he bark?
4. How do you get his attention?
5. Does he see or hear anything?
6. What made you want to adopt him?
7. How do Pete and Chelsea get along?

1. How does Pete get around?

    In a familiar place, like our house, he prances around with confidence. He rounds each corner with precision, he stops short of every closed door (even if it's open), and he doesn't miss a step when climbing the stairs. He relies on his nose to give him information about his surroundings. The smell of food will wake Pete from a sound sleep. And forget about trying to sneak by him…. he can smell you approaching.
    Pete continues to be very brazen when in unfamiliar surroundings, but we can tell he uses a little extra caution. He still prances, but his head is held a little higher to pick up additional scents. If the terrain is too rough, we just carry him. Mostly, he relies on us to keep him safe.

2. How did you train him?

    We didn't, he trained us! Chairs, the vacuum, and accent furniture must always be in place to avoid unnecessary collisions. Toys and shoes must be put away to avoid being chewed, food must never be left on the table to avoid being snatched, and dirty dishes must never be left on the counter to avoid being smashed. Certainly, he is the reason our house is always very tidy.

3. Does he bark?

    Yes, it is what he does best (besides whine at 12:30 am and 3:30 am)!

4. How do you get his attention?

    We go up to him and gently tap him. If we want him to follow us, we tap him under the chin and walk in the direction we want him to go.

5. Does he see or hear anything?

    He can differentiate between light and dark. If he is in total darkness and a light is turned on, he quickly "looks" up. He will also turn his head in the direction of a light source, such as a streetlight or flashlight.
    The only kind of response we get from his hearing sense is when we clap. We believe he feels vibrations in his ears rather than actually hearing the sound. He will run in a circle trying to figure out where the vibration is coming from.

6. What made you want to adopt him?

    Most people advised us against adopting him, but when we met him for the first time, we asked ourselves the question, "how can we not adopt him?" All we saw was a sweet rambunctious puppy in need of a loving home. You might say, "it was love at first sight".

7. How do Pete and Chelsea get along?

    Excellent! Chelsea immediately took him under her wing (paw). We believe she knew Pete needed extra guidance. Many times we have witnessed Chelsea run in front of Pete, bark, and steer him back to the house when he was headed too close to the woods.
    She has given up many snacks due to Pete's bad manners. It is always a challenge to get Chelsea her fair share, but we see to it that she is well rewarded.
    Pete will lean up against Chelsea all day if we let him. But, as with any relationship, we believe they each need their space. She is allowed to relax by herself in the "no dog" section of our house a few hours each day. Then at night, it is very common to see both dogs curled up together on one dog bed.
    To this day, I am not sure who needs whom more!