our new jake

matt and i got a dog on monday. his name is now jake (updated from the "happy boy" he was at the pound). i'll admit that he was not my first choice at the shelter, but within the first 16 hours of having him at home with us, i fell completely in love with him and now think he is the greatest dog ever (i mean besides boo, mom). he is maybe about 10 months old, although i think he behaves like an older dog- rather mature and calm. however, matt, who is home with jake all day, knows for sure that he is still just a pup. we're not sure who/what his parents were, but i think he definitely has some border collie in him. this hypothesis is based exclusively on his looks and not at all on his herding instinct. matt tried to get jake to help him corral the chickens last night, and the dog did not even really seem to notice them. he also seems to either ignore or not grasp the reality of the cows, goats, sheep, and turkeys. and last night, i watched him run around sniffing the ground and actually trip over a cat, which sent both animals fleeing for their very lives in opposite directions. unfortunately, there was a fence in the direction that jake chose, which he ran right in to after about three strides. can dogs tell when you are laughing at them?