BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!!!!

There has been this stray running around the neighborhood for about a month now, and I felt so sorry for him. About a week ago Sean told me to go inside and get him a can of beans or something because he was so thin. I took it across the street to the dog, he had been staying under the house. I asked the guys if the dog belonged to them and they told me he just showed up. As I walked up to the dog he shyed away, so I just put the beans down and started talking to the guys. i was startled by something cold on my hand. The dog had walked up to me and licked my hand. He was saying thanks but no thanks, he didn't eat the beans. I stayed and petted him a while. He jumped up on me once and I told him no and showed him how to sit.

That night we had chicken and so I went outside to try and see if he would eat that. I got him to cross the street and stand at the edge of our yard. I threw chicken to him, when it was gone he ran back across the street.

The next night I took 2 pieces of cold chicken out and this time he ate out of my hand after 45 minutes of coaxing him closer. It surprised me as hungry as he was he had the softest mouth I had ever seen on a dog. Like a gentleman he reached up and gentle took the food from me. As he ate he would let me pet him for just a moment, and then he backed off to his comfort distance. That was fine with me, at least he was eating something.

As the week went on he would let me touch him for longer each night, and he started laying down near me. However, if Sean came out he would head toward the house across the street, but less and less every night. Then one night we were putting the kids' bikes, we had bought for Christmas, in the garage and I heard something behind me. I'm not sure who was startled more, the dog or me. He had heard us pull up and was only about 2 feet behind me when I turned around. I was shocked!

The next day Sean went with his mom, Kym, to run some Christmas errands. They were at Sam's Club when he called to tell me to find the dog something to eat, and to go buy a very small bag of dog food. I was one step ahead, and had already fed the dog. So I was off to Wal-Mart to get a "very small" bag of dog food. Little did I know that Kym was giving Sean a hard time, and told him he might as well buy a dog bed and food. Sean told her we were NOT bringing "that dog" inside. While I was looking at the dog food, and trying to figure out if I should get puppy food or dog food, I get a call from Sean. I answered,"Hello." "He let me touch him!" came Sean voice over the phone. I smiled I knew I had a dog! I still bought the "very small" bag of food and came home.

When I pulled up the dog came running from across the street and I put the food in a bowl. He ate all of it and hung around for several hours letting Sean and I pet him. He was so thankful that someone was feeding him. I don't know if it was the first time he didn't have to hunt for food his whole life, or since someone put him out on the street. Sean told me before he could stay he needed a bath. I ran back to the store to get a collar, leash, and shampoo. The bath was going to be the test for me. Strange dog, me, water, and shampoo in a very small bathroom, it could get ugly fast! He passed with flying colors, no agression at all, even though he hated the bath. This was December 23.

Sean wanted to name him Achilles because he was my achilles heel. After his bath we went outside to play, and I started to call him and Hercules just came out. I think it was a combination of our other dog, Harley, who passed away and Achilles. The name fit perfect, everytime I looked at him I just thought about the Eddie Murphy movie where the lady chants, "Hercules, Hercules, Hercules."

He is so smart! The one and only time I had to show him how to sit was the first time I met him. He is picking up everything so fast, after only showing him once or twice. He has not had an accident in the house yet, knock on wood!

Then yesterday Sean, Kym and I took him to the beach. He loved it. I'm not sure who had more fun. We are going to have to work on the come when he is called, but he has come a long way in a short time. He follows me around the house, andI love it!