JORDAN
(Leeds, West Yorkshire)
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This is JORDAN My Best Friend

I got Jordan in June 1999,  from a rescue kennel, near my home city of Leeds. He was 5 years old at the time, and had been left at the kennels by his original owners, following an unfortunate (for them) family split.  I had called in to the kennels one Friday evening to see what dogs may be available as I had been thinking of getting one for quite some time.  My intention was to have a look, then go away and think about it.  Maybe even to look at other kennels.  After explaining to the lady that I was considering a German Shepherd as a companion dog for myself in my 'old age', and outlining my own circumstances, she immediately said she had "just the dog" for me.  After showing me around, she ushered me to one of the kennel blocks. As  I stopped to talk to a young and seemingly frightened Shepherd bitch in it's 'cell',  the lady stopped at the next 'cell' and declared "this is Jordan".   I peered through the bars of the next 'cell' and saw those ears !   I seem to remember muttering "he's beautiful" as he looked up at me and gave one solitary bark which sounded very much like "please take me home I'm fed up of staying here".  I was hooked, I loved him, and the kennel lady knew it !  She took him out of his cell, put a lead on him and invited me to take him for a walk around the compound.  She then left to attend to other things.  I walked him round a couple of times, stopping at a couple of trees, then sat on a bench and just talked to him.  He sat down, put his front paw up on my knee and just looked at me !

HE WAS MINE !  We belonged together.  I knew it - and he knew it !

Waiting for Dad

Where is He

A short time later the lady came back to see how we were getting on.  She politely asked if I thought I might be able to give Jordan a home !  She knew damn well what the answer was !  After agreeing an adoption fee, there were just a couple of minor problems to solve.  Firstly, I had NO MONEY with me (I had only come to look).  Secondly, I was in my little SPORTS CAR (no back seat).  Problem one was solved by making a quick trip into Castleford, the next town, where I got some cash out of the 'hole in the wall'.
I dashed back to the kennels and 'clinched the deal'.  I was now the proud owner of a German Shepherd Dog, but no way of getting him home !  Problem two was finally solved by agreeing an 'extra donation' for two nights boarding fees, for Jordan to stay in the kennels till Sunday when I would be able to arrange transport.  It was hard to put Jordan back in his 'cell', but I think he knew I'd be back for him...

That Saturday I prepared a special place for Jordan, with his new bedding, feeding and drinking bowls etc. I also made sure my back garden was safe and secure for him. On Sunday my son, David came round to pick me up in his car (bigger than mine) and took me back to the kennel to collect my new friend. If there is such a thing as being able to see JOY on a dog's face, I've seen it, but I can't explain it !

Looking for Dad

Found Him

My new friend settled in very quickly and he knew he belonged here. It was as though he had been here all along. After two weeks of walking him on a lead, he had got used to his new environment and I was able to run him loose on the local fields and in the woods.  It was then that I found he had been trained to a good standard already.  A big part of the fun in training him,  was to find that he was in fact training ME in some ways. Asking him to sit, down, stay, come etc, was almost too easy.  I just needed to learn from HIM which commands he understood, and what words had been used previously.  It was easy, it was fun, and it was rewarding to see the result.  A soft word or a casual whistle is all that is needed now, to get a positive response.  If he does anything wrong, which is very rare, I simply have to 'growl' a reprimand, and he knows.  If he has a fault, it is that he patrols his territory too vigorously sometimes, barking a vociferous warning at any other dog who dares to encroach on his patch.  A public footpath passes close to my house, separated by a six foot fence. Several dogs pass by with their owners every day,and Jordan knows them all !  Some of them actually RUN past, hoping to go unnoticed - but he doesn't miss many.  Anyway he's only playing really !

Day Watch

Night Watch

Jordan has all the attributes of a true friend.  He shows complete trust, unswerving loyalty, and total commitment to me.  He is alert, intelligent, protective, wary of strangers, but when he knows you're a friend you're welcome.  He predicts my every move in the house, often being up and ready before I'm out of my seat.  He will be go the kitchen when I'm THINKING of making a cuppa, on the landing before I get upstairs, and at the door before me, front or back it doesn't matter - he knows.  He hates being left alone when I have to go out and leave him, but forgives me the minute I'm back. He also has the ability to make me smile at any time, by just being himself.  On occasions he seems to forget where he left his nylon-bone.  When he finds it, he will take a run at it, and pounce on it as though some imaginary intruder is about to steal it.  Then he will gently give it to me if I ask him for it, but I always give him it back.  His antics are a constant source of amusement.  He is just simply FUNNY.

For all of this he asks for very little in return.  A warm safe place of his own, a couple of walks a day, and three cupfuls of his favourite lamb & rice kibble. (suppliers note brand name will cost you).  

I still can't believe how lucky I was to call in at the kennels that day in July 1999.  The day I met Jordan.  To the person who left him there,  whatever your reason,  all I can say is - he's mine now - so TUFF!

Jordan has his own message for you below.....

You Left Me, So...

Pooh To You !