Jake The Trucker

by Dennis Ruttan

Jake and the Tourist

            My son Dean and I were on a trip south, when we both pulled into a rest area in Oregon. Jake and I jumped out and we were waiting beside our rig for Dean to pull in with us, when a large motor home pulled in alongside of is.

            The driver, a little over weight, (I’m being polite), and smoking an equally fat cigar, lumbered out. He looked at Jake and sneered that he wasn’t much of a dog. Now this was the wrong thing to say! Jake and I both gave him a snarl, Jake sensing a moment of importance, strutted over to whiz on the nearest garbage can. I decided it was time to put this fellow straight.

            With as much contempt as I could muster I explained that Jake was the toughest dog pound for pound in this world, adding that his teeth and jaw strength were awesome. During this exchange it was like Jake knew we were setting this guy up, he strutted around whizzing on everything in sight, proving that if nothing else, he had a large tank.

            The tourist said he sure looked like a poodle to him. I explained that Jake was a Pit Poodle. I suggested that he check out the size of his teeth and feel the jaw strength. He declined, but by now he was looking at Jake in a different light.

            I told him that we crossed poodles with Wolverines in Canada and this was how they developed such strength. Dean was helping out by suggesting things like how hard it was to hold a wolverine down to breed them. After spinning a bit more BS onto the pile Dean suggested that we should make some miles.

            Jake shot this guy a look that could only say, watch this move buddy. Jake was sitting at the bottom of the steps and in one leap he jumped up into the truck. He turned and gave this fellow a dog smile, that said match that fat boy!!!

            I climbed in and away we went. As we left I looked in the mirror to see this tourist pointing that the truck and telling another guy something. When Dean drove by he said the fellow was still pointing and gesturing to his friend.

            Needless to say Jake got a special treat that night. So if a tourist ever asks about a Pit Poodle you will have to tell him, ONLY IN CANADA, EH!!!

            Dennis, Jake and April