Gilby (The Assassin)

This cutie here we got July 29, 2006 which happens to be our anniversary. Instead of going out of town and spending a week in Orlando, Florida we decided to get another puppy. We knew Maxx was getting up in years and didn't want Fluffy to be alone when Maxx eventually passes away. Little did we know that we would come to rely on this bundle of skin and fur more that we had ever expected. A little more than 6 months later Maxx passed away and Gilby became the levity that counter balanced the grief of losing my best friend.

He has shown that he carries the signature Shar Pei personality and then some. Gilby has learned that if he cries he can get a treat, this is possible because the crying is so funny my wife and I are usually so entertained that we give him a treat just for the performance.

Now to address his nickname (The Assassin), when we first brought Gilby home he was a little reserved and shy because he had been bought twice before and brought back both times due to needing eye surgery. Well the shyness wore off about 2 weeks after we had the eye surgery performed and he reasoned that he was staying here with us. So one evening we're watching TV and Gilby has taken his spot on the sofa where Maxx used to sleep, all of a sudden he decides to lunge off of the couch right in the middle of Fluffy our much older and heavier female Sharpie, now you must read Fluff's bio as well to get the boldness of this little 35lb puppy. We promptly break this up because frankly I thought that Fluffy would put this little guy in the emergency room and I didn't want that to happen. This went on a few more times and then one day we're leaving the house and as soon as I lock the front door I heard them go at it, I quickly opened the door to see them both on their hides legs just going at it full force. I immediately grab both of them by the scruff and hold them apart, Fluff calms down and begins to walk away but Gilby is still trying to go at her while I'm holding onto him.  We know Fluff at some time must have put him in his place because he has never attacked her again and now avoids confrontations with her.

Another facet of his personality is the fact that this dog loves to destroy his toys. We have bought stuffed animals for him to play with but he insists on shredding it in about 3-5 minutes depending how tough the material is. We bought this little snake that Gilby has not been able to destroy but he doesn't like playing with it so it's a catch 22.

What a wonderful puppy!