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Perfect pet for over achiever

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n Gene Pedrotti Working long hours is a given in entrepreneurship. My father and uncle, who tended their small hardware store in Crockett, routinely worked sixty-hour weeks and did so for over fifty years. I had no choice but to embrace this work ethic as I was hell bent on perfecting a hardware store; 70, 80 and even 90 hour weeks became required. It worked – in 1997 we were awarded the Ace Hardware President’s Cup as the best Ace in the United States – but grueling hours take their toll. My brother Robin recognized that I was an over-achiever and, concerned, one day he came up with a remarkable solution. It involved a lanky, toothy canine named Caleb.

Robin’s inspiration came from a respected dog-friendly Benicia family, Chester and Clarissa. Chester grew up in San Francisco and developed a hobby training working dogs, the kind used by police and military. With an animal lover’s heart and a “whisperer’s touch,” he helped many Benicians in understanding their beloved animals with expert training and advice.

One December morning Robin showed up at Ace and introduced Chester… who happened to be leashed with the strangest looking dog I’d ever seen. My family – five Pedrotti boys – had been raised with a number of German Shepherds, but this dog, a Belgian Malinois, was different. At 12 months old and still a puppy, he was unusually lean with a short brown coat and had energy… lots of it! Herding energy, the kind that makes ‘em nip sheep in the butt! Malinois are drug-sniffing, crime fighting animals used worldwide for herding and protection.

Chester introduced Caleb, who was in training, and at the time, hopping up and down soil pallets, sniffing here and there in practice for a future career. You could see that Caleb was smart, quick, curious and very obedient… keen on Chester’s every word. What was not obvious was that Caleb was frightfully gun-shy. Chester spent a lot of time training Caleb, grew to love Caleb, but accepted that most dogs don’t make the cut. And Caleb didn’t. His job description was about to change and this morning’s pallet exercise was not so much about evaluating Caleb’s skills but more about finding him a new boss. Unbeknownst to me, Robin, Chester and Clarissa had been conspiring to play matchmaker and I was under evaluation.

So, did I pass? Two weeks later at a large family party on Christmas Eve and giddy with bad-boy anticipation, Robin presented Caleb to me. I was stunned. And really happy. My first dog! In short order, we bonded.

To appreciate each other, Chester insisted on training; not for Caleb, he was a proven student. But for me. It was essential that I use those same techniques and methods of Caleb’s schooling… how to sit, how to stay, etc.; which included his language… German. Soon we were “sitzing” and “platzing” everywhere… on walks, visiting friends, and every day at Ace. When I awoke anxious at 4 am and decided to go to work, Caleb was at my side. Or at 2 or 3 am when the burglar alarm went off, Caleb was there to protect me. He was an incredible companion.

To their credit, Chester, Clarissa and their two boys, Gianni and Nikko, not only kept tabs on Caleb, they hosted him frequently when I was called away. We became great friends. They attended my wedding to Ian and stepped in when Caleb had leg surgery, keeping an eye on our 2nd dog, Charlie. And when fate called Caleb, they all quickly came to the house to say goodbye; Caleb passed in my arms a few days later.

That last point is important. Our pets, when we allow them, teach us great things… about life, about love, and yes, about loss. Caleb’s passing was very difficult for me, but this was his finest lesson.

Ian and I have a new pair of fostered friends, Dexter and Maggie, whom we adopted shortly before Covid. I am deeply indebted to Robin, Chester and Clarissa for their kind conspiracy and for how it changed my perspective on life.

One last thing. Your pets are always welcome at Ace…. Dogs, cats, birds, you name it. Their presence brings joy.