Owner: Clay and Celeste Gantz
Affiliated Winery: Gantz Family Vineyards
Location: Santa Rosa, Calif.
Dog Name: Jake
Age: 11
Breed: Mutt, but probably mostly Entlebucher Mountain Dog. He's known for his intelligence, personable attitude, agility and loyalty.
Job Title: Lizard Tracker Extraordinaire
Star Quality: Jake is a wonderful nurse. When anybody in the household is under the weather, Jake will stay and nap alongside them until they are back on their feet.
Best Bud: Depends on the time of day. During working hours, he's in the vineyard with Celeste, walking up and down the rows, tracking gophers. In the evening, his head is on Clay's lap, no matter where that lap happens to be.
Favorite Reward: Jake's favorite reward is just to be with us.
Favorite Activity: Lizards. Chasing lizards. Upending any stack of anything, because he's sure there are lizards under it. Even if we restack anything, he will knock it down again, just to be sure.
Favorite Getaway: Jake's favorite spot is anywhere in the sun that is equidistant between Clay and Celeste.
Forgivable Flaw: Jake can have a mind of his own when it's time to come into the house. Oh, he'll come, after some stern talking to, but then drag his feet and walk as slowly as possible, just like a 3 year old.
Background Story: Jake is a rescue dog. He was on the euthanasia list at a shelter in Northern California. Our local shelter is no-kill and rescues dogs from other shelters who they feel are adoptable. They found Jake, and he had been there only three days when we adopted him. They hadn't even had a chance to put an ad up for him. Celeste and her sister went to the shelter to look at another dog, who had zero interest in them. When Celeste told the shelter that he just wasn't "the one," they said, "Oh, have you seen Cowboy?!" He was in a kennel and when they walked in, he raised his head and looked at Celeste. She looked at him and instantly started to laugh and cry. "THAT's what I'm talking about!" It was love at first sight. Nine years later and they're still in love.
