JAKE Starting May 2006
Note: Jake's story starts at Jake's Story
May 1, 2006
Jake, Molly and Glennie attended our Specialty on Saturday.
Over the past couple of weeks, Jake has been a very busy little guy. He is finishing up puppy kindergarten and has started both Obedience for Agility and also Fundamentals of Obedience. At home we have done some "find heel" and other little exercises but we haven't been very intensive about it. I want to be sure it stays fun for him. But he does it very well and likes to practice. Especially when his brother and sister join in.
On Friday we went to an obedience match. Because I want him to see the ring as just another normal part of life and a lot of fun, we went into the ring despite his very minimal training. He did really well. He heeled nicely. His stand for exam was a sit for exam because he gets excited and all wiggly when the judge approaches! And we don't want to make it serious business, at least at this point. He did a nice recall although the judge had to hold him while I went to the other end. He fronts and with a lure, he did a finish. I was very happy with him. He had fun.
On Saturday we went to the Specialty. He went into the ring for the rescue parade. When it was his turn, I decided to see if he would heel around the ring with all the people and dogs there. I had forgotten treats so I only had my voice to help him. He did a great job! When he sometimes forged, he got back to heel position if I said his name. He was not the least bit intimidated by it all. What a guy!
Now that it is time to start gardening, the crew is ready to help me with the chores:
May 2, 2006
Jake went to the vet today. One of his baby teeth decided it had a good home and didn't want to leave. So I took him in with Molly's appointment. They took him back and put him under long enough to pull it. When he came out, he had this silly look on his face so one of the vet's got her camera to get a picture of him. This is "drunken Jake" with his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth! He was pretty grouchy for a while, moaning and groaning despite a pain shot and later a pain pill but he seems over it now. His official weight now is 8.8#. At 24 weeks, that is nearly 3 pounds less than Molly was at 26 weeks! And he is now 9" tall. I didn't keep track of Molly's height so I don't have anything to compare him to.
And here I thought he had sobered up!!
May 9, 2006
Jake will be six months old next week (May 15). He is now about 10# (on my scale) and 9.5 inches tall. I am hoping that he will grow one more inch and then stop so that he will be eligible to jump 8"/4" in agility. He is a healthy boy or would be if he would stop eating things such as chestnuts and tulip leafs! He finished kindergarten last night and will really miss those play sessions with the other dogs. He wrestled last night mainly with a beagle who was also a guy who wanted to play roughly. Then he took on the bull mastiff again. He thinks he is a tough guy! But I don't mean he is aggressive...he is a sweet little thing, really but plays like a terrier in a class of non-terriers.
Jake has started in "Obedience for Agility" and I can see that he is going to be a real tunnel sucker. He loves it! He had no problem walking through the ladder or over the jump bars laid on the floor for them to negotiate over. He can hardly wait for the real thing. In the agility class he has seen a tunnel, table, and a jump with the bar on the ground. He walked the teeter which was low to the ground. He wasn't supposed to but it was there and he did. I'm anxious to get started on the equipment too! But right now we are just learning some obedience things meant to help them later.
He has also started "Fundamentals of Obedience". He is able to do all that I've asked of him and he enjoys it.
The only thing he hasn't been able to do yet is in earthdog. He likes tunnels but didn't complete the junior tunnel. I didn't push it this last time. He does it at home all the time but I wanted to give him a bit more growing up before I pushed the larger tunnels. And he doesn't yet have any critter drive. He does with his toys but not with real critters. He would rather annoy the other dogs. I hope this will change with time. Some boys take 3-4 years before they get into earthdog.
Mostly Jake likes to play. He keeps his sister and brother going all day long. He can be quite a character.
May 11, 2006
I found a remote control rat. Jake keeps catching it and taking it off the wooden floor where it doesn't work. Maybe he will think that is how to kill a rat! Glennie tries to get it too but he is gentler and usually Jake gets it unless I interfere and hold Jake back a bit.
He was a bit startled by the thunder and a bit jumpy at loud noises today but we sat at the window and watched the storm for a bit and he settled down. I thought the rat might distract him and that seemed to work. I don't want to let him get afraid of storms like Molly is. I put together a jigsaw puzzle this week but have learned that it isn't something to do around puppies. He chewed up about 5 pieces. I thought I was dropping them but then saw him climb up and take one off the cardtable!
Jake has school tonight and this weekend he will go with us when Molly and Glennie learn tracking. It is supposed to rain all weekend so I'm not sure how this will work out.
May 15, 2006
TODAY IS JAKE'S SIX MONTH BIRTHDAY!! He is now about 10.75# on my scale and 9.5 inches tall, His little ego is growing right along with him. He thinks he is "king of the world". This weekend we went to a tracking seminar and he has his first experience tracking. He did very nicely. His biggest issue was that the start was marked with a flag and he wanted to play with it when he saw it waving in the wind. At the school, they all met the other dogs and had play sessions. He and a big dobe puppy really liked each other and wrestled and played a lot. Here are some photos of that play. And a couple of my kids lined up and waiting impatiently for mom to get those tracks laid.
Jake walks around the group; Molly walks by as Jake is under the big guy!
Jake plays and then Molly takes over for a bit
These are both Jake who really liked his friend; he had to be told to take it easy!
And here they are waiting...Molly in back, Jake in the middle and Glennie in front
May 15, 2006
Jake is 6.5 months of age and today weighed 11.8# on the doctor's scale! I think he isn't going to be all that small after all! His weight is almost identical to Molly's at that age (She was 11.7# so he is actually a little bigger!) Now instead of worrying that he might be terribly tiny, I think I may need to start praying that he doesn't get much taller! He is getting terribly close to 10" already. If he goes over 11 inches he will have to jump higher in agility. Hard to believe this is that same tiny little puppy!! Here he is in the garden....yes, he does need grooming...that is scheduled for next week.
Jake has really matured a lot in the last month. He is much more the little dog than the "baby" he was. He is part of the "pack" now and does what the others do even if he doesn't know exactly why! He attacks the vacuum cleaner because Molly does....he does it with such enthusiasm that even Glennie is working it harder just to keep up! And he barks out the window now when he sees someone in his yard. He is doing really well in school. He is very smart and picks up on things quickly and more importantly, with enthusiasm.