Jake Update

I received an update on Jake!

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Hi Renee and Robyn,

Jake and I are doing great. He loves going for our walks (5 km, or about 3 of your miles) we do this about 4 to 5 times a week other wise we just do a 1 mile walk the other times. He has been doing better in the bathroom department and hasn't had any accidents for the past 4 days.

He does not like his crate at all. I think he must have been put in one when he was bad with his former owners. I tried for quite a while and I was finally able to get him in it, but he whimpered the whole time. He finally stopped whimpering after many tries with the door open, then we tried it with the door closed and the whimpering started again when with me there. Finally many, many tries later, he stopped the whimpering. Then after another 2 dozen tries, I tried leaving the room, again the whimpering started. The last time I left the house to get the mail and when I came back he was out of the crate and waiting for me upstairs. He had taken only the back top clip and somehow bent it completely backwards and squeezed his way out of that tiny hole. He also ripped his bedding to shreds that was in the crate. He was still wagging his tail though after I saw it. I decided that I wouldn't mention it to him, but I have kept the crate with the door open, just in case he decides it might be a safe haven for him at a future date, instead of a punishment room.

But a good thing is that any time that I have had to leave him in the house on his own, he has done nothing to the rest of the house. I just make sure I close all the doors. He knows when I come home, because he hears the garage door open or the chimes when I unlock the door and Jake is always there to greet me with his tail wagging.

I have gotten him a red halter harness and a red running leash that I can put around my waist. This way when he pulls me I have my whole weight behind me to counteract against his strength and not pull my arm out of the socket. He knows that when I get this leash out that we are going on one of our long walks and he gets so excited that he literally bounces/jumps off the floor a good 2-3 feet. I will sign us up for obedience classes in the New Year so I can learn how to deal with this so we can run together safely. I haven't been able to run much lately, unless I'm on my own, but then I feel guilty that he is not with me because of this; but the 5 km walk is still good. But we will get there together in the running; I am sure of this.

I had my 6 year old niece over last week-end. They got along great; she thinks Jake is like her own little pony and rode him like one with me holding her up. He was good about it and with her, Jake never pushed her or jumped on her, I was very proud of him. Her mom, my sister was scared to death when she saw the size of Jake, and very relieved when she came to pick her up and how she wanted a dog just like Jake. My sister is a cat person, so was somewhat relieved I hadn't made her daughter afraid of coming to my place anymore, as I always try to take her children at least every 6 weeks for a week-end so that her and her hubby can have some alone time.

I have had to do very little re-arranging of my house at all with Jake here. I have lots of glass vases and flowers that sit on my floor, but he has not gone near any of them. Time will tell I guess. Even his tail has not knocked anything down, yet. Jake is almost joined to my hip, wherever I go in the house, he follows me, upstairs or downstairs. If I get up, 90% of the time he gets up and follows me. I rearranged my office and he will now come in and stay with me for awhile, before retiring to my downstairs leather love seat. I have given up on trying to make him sleep on the floor by my bed because he would always wait about 2 hours and then just jump up and stay there the rest of the night. Did you know he snores like a trooper; I'm not sure who snores louder me or him.

We have had only one snow fall here about 10 cm, and he wasn't quite sure what to do when we went out for a walk, but like a trooper after a few delicate steps just walked in it. That snow fall is gone now. We will see how he does when it gets really cold and lots of snow is down. But I'm sure he will be fine. I have introduced to my surrounding neighbours and they are quite pleased with Jake and his demeanor.

Renee I can't say thank-you enough for letting me be the one to adopt Jake. Jake has brought such a balance to my life since I got him. Being single, I was becoming a total work-alcoholic and now I have a reason to come home instead of working till all hours of the night at client offices, since my separation.

May you both have a great Christmas, if I don't get a chance to email to you before then. My son, Derek, is coming home form Calgary for Christmas and he can't wait to meet Jake also. So Jake and I are going to the airport to pickup this evening.

Cheers!

Sandra