The Varied Emotions of Faceoff, my Jack Russell

Why does Faceoff run through my legs three and four times when I get home? I may even be gone an hour or two, but I always get the grand reception. I pat him each time through, and his whole body shakes and quivers in joy.

The exception is when I have returned from an extended trip of five days or so. I then get the grand reception. The go-through-the-legs routine just isn't enough. There's better fare afoot. After a quick sniff to ensure it's me, it's a run through the yard at his fastest, and that's pretty fast. He squeals a bit, licks himself quickly for fear that his excitement may have caused a minor leak, and hits me by a hard thrusting jump at my legs as he comes back. His joy is infectious and makes coming home a treat. Later, he scolds me in his own way for abandoning the pack. He jumps up on my lap, leans up on my chest and looks me in the eye. He tries to lick my face but I back away and he eventually ends up by my feet on the floor and follows my every move.

We named Faceoff for a lacrosse and hockey play involving two players who get down and fight for a ball or puck to start play. It's a mano et mano sports play. It fits. Face is fearless when doing his job, competitive, and loves to play tug of war getting down and growling to intimidate his opponent. He holds on even when the human opponent pulls up its side and holds Face dangling in the air. His determination and loyalty are trademarks of the Jack Russell. Face also is extremely fast and shows it. He would do well as a lacrosse middie especially on a fast break dodging a quick-footed defenseman and racing to the goal. The problem is once Face gets the ball he doesn't give it up; he likes to taunt you with his victory. Not good in a team sport.

A college student from Kenya stayed with us this summer. His family has a tea farm and they have three dogs. He said they never come in the house. He relates that they don't have dogs as pets in Kenya. They are work animals to protect the home site. I asked how a dog can protect against tigers, big snakes, and elephants. He said they bark and alert the household that danger is near. I thought to myself that maybe in Kenya the dogs need to stay outside because there's more danger there but in my area, I need the protection from danger to the household. Face has never let me down. He actually tells me when my neighbors have intruders such as Fed Ex delivery men, visiting workmen, and the like. His bark is unique. When we have a visitor, the sound is more intense than if it's a visitor to my neighbors. When the visitor is in uniform, what was more intense before is mild in comparison to his resulting annoyance. And if the intruder rings the door bell, it's an all out attack so that if a family member attempts to move him out of the way, she puts her feet in peril. Face will jump at the door in an up and down manner raising such indignation as to be problematic. This obviously is inappropriate behavior but in the nature of the beast.

We have an electric fence that Face honors unless there is an especially strong pull outside the boundary such as a beautiful little bitch tormenting him from the end of the driveway. In such cases, he will put his head down and dash out through the fence enduring the harmless but uncomfortable shock. He knows quickly when the batteries on his collar are low or if someone inadvertently turns off the power. He breaks out and quickly initiates new territory by smelling all the tracks that have passed by and marking his extended areas. The smells must be heavenly because he follows each through the neighboring areas until called back by his master, me. When he reaches the fence upon his return he sprints through remembering the nastiness should he get caught. I always praise him for coming back and never scold even though he has broken the rules. He only remembers that he has done the correct thing by coming when I called. I have to catch him outside the fence when he understands he's in trouble to scold him. I always make a big deal about his returns to my call.

Dogs have quite a vocabulary, both human language and dog talk. When I ask if he wants to go bye-bye he immediately understands and wants me to hurry up and go immediately. He'll give a short yelp that is different than any other sound. "Let's go and now." He jumps up and down at the door to the garage. He understands "you have to stay" when I grab my keys and he's not going. He will put his head down and sulk away, finding a place where he is comfortable while I'm gone. Who says animals don't have feelings. He also understands "go." If we say that in normal conversation, it's like the old Grouch Marx Show and his magic word. Face jumps up and believes he's won a prize. He immediately starts to plead his case to join us on our trip. Whenever we return from a car ride with Face, he always thanks us. It's weird. Somehow he manages to express his appreciation for us taking him. It's special attention or staying with me for just a bit more than usual but the appreciation is definitely expressed. He understands, "treat," "cookie," "outside," "take out the trash," the names of all family members and pets, "gentle," "bed," "supper," "bath," "get down," "other room," "where is," "fast," and all the standard dog commands. He understands much more. Our youngest grand daughter initially was afraid of his happy aggressiveness in meeting her. She cried out and sought protection from her mother or the nearest adult. We didn't push it and once she saw the other kids loving Face, she would sneak a touch. Face understood what was going on and kept some distance but allowed the touch and her closeness. He courted her in his own way with a pass now and then. The two have become such friends that we now have to monitor her patting for Face's protection. She always asks about Face when my son and daughter-in-law say they are coming to the house.

Face is well behaved in other ways. Should my spouse and I have words, he knows to get out of the way. He frequently will go to his safe spot under our bed. We can hear him crawl under with his radio collar striking the floor. Many times just that little sound breaks the ice and initiates some civility by his human companions. Face can hear storms coming much sooner than my wife and I. He hates thunder and retreats under the bed if we are in the bedroom. If in the den, he will seek our comfort. Face knows that thunder follows lightening. At the flash he buries his head wherever he can awaiting the inevitable crash. The Fourth of July and the New Year are his least favorite times especially in South Carolina where high explosives are legal for celebrations.

Maybe his passage through our legs are a way of saying to us, "You're home and I'm a part of you so don't go away soon." At least, that's how he makes us feel.