Hello everyone!

Jake had a wonderful time at the dog show today! He was SUCH a good boy! I'm glad we attended because I learned some things about Jake. They are all good things!

I thought Jake needed to go to a home without other dogs because, based on the way my dogs react to him, I thought he played too rough. What I learned today is that the way he plays is perfectly normal and acceptable! We were at the RAGOM booth with 2 other boy dogs, Ramsey 09-350 and Gopher. The three of them rough-played to their hearts content. The dogs are all close in age and quickly became good buddies. They played tug (see picture), wrestled, and basically played the way young dogs do. My dogs run, hide, and snap at Jake when he plays with them this way. I believe Jake can be adopted to a home that already has a dog just as long as they enjoy rough playing this way. He had so much fun! We passed by many other dogs as we walked around the facility and Jake was simply wonderful.

My misconception #2 is that he should go to a home without children. Jake politely met many young children today including a girl that was around 10 years old. She laid on him, took his head in her hands, and spent a measurable amount of time with him and he was just perfect. Of course I was holding his leash, but he was so good! I know Jake still jumps up on people from time to time, so maybe toddlers probably aren't a good idea, but he should be fine with school aged children. He just needs training to teach him manners. Training will be a must for Jake.

Lastly, I thought Jake needed to go to a home without cats. I heard a story today about a dog that chased the resident cat from puppyhood through the time he was 18 months old. At 18 months, he finally quit. Jake has never tried to hurt our cat. He simply enjoys chasing him. I'm confident that he'll outgrow it and can be trained not to do it. I came away from the event realizing that I had been thinking all wrong.

Jake had been without a bandage on his foot for 3 days. His toe is almost 100% healed. We did bandage it to go to the event today just to protect it, but it has healed nicely. He goes back to the vet on Tuesday for a check and I'm excited to hear what the vet has to say. We walked him and gave him a bath too. It's clear he doesn't have much on-leash walking experience as he will cross back and forth in front of me, rather than walk on one side. He pulls at times so he'll also need to be taught to heel. He was docile during his bath/shower and didn't object.

Now that he's all healed up, I fully expect many interested applicants. If I didn't already have 2 dogs of my own, I would certainly keep him. He's my ever loyal best buddy, and follows me everywhere. He's alert to strange noises at night and has a deep "big boy" bark. He's confident, playful, happy, and enjoys all of the toys in the toybox. He likes stuffed animals, balls, tug toys, squeakers, all of it. He spreads the toys out everywhere, causing my daughter to say my living room looked like a day care.

If you would like to meet Jake, please contact your placement advisor.

Good news everyone! Jake's injured toe looks very good and has healed to to the point that he no longer needs daily bandage changes! YAY! It looks as though he's going to be able to keep his toe! As long as he continues to heal as he has, the vet is predicting that he could be ready for adoption around the first of the year. The team of vets at VCA in Richfield have really done a wonderful job treating him.

I've been thinking about what Jake needs in a forever home. I feel Jake will be happiest in a home without other dogs. I also believe a home without small children would be best because he is so big, strong, rambunctious, and in need of training. He is 68 pounds of playful puppy.

He still needs to stay off of his toe as much as possible, so we haven't been able to walk him yet. How hard on him to not be able to exercise and run off some of that excess energy! Soon enough, however, he will be able to run and play.

Jake LOVES to fetch and play tug. He's very sweet and has not harmed anything in the house, nor has he had any potty accidents. We're fortunate that he's so well behaved in this area because he does not tolerate being crated. We're gone from home for about 8-9 work hours per day and he does just fine during that length of time.

Jake rides in the car very well and happily jumps in. Jake and I snuggle in bed each morning after my husband goes to work. Then, after I get up to get ready, he stays in bed and watches my routine, following me from room to room. He's so much fun!

Jake and everyone in our home (2 legged and 4 legged) would like to say Merry Christmas and God bless to Dale & Janet, Callie, Abby, Aspen & Kipper. Thank you for showing your support for Jake by making a donation to RAGOM. It is greatly appreciated.

Jake's culture came back today and we learned that Jake's foot has the bacteria Pseudomonas. It's a bacteria that's resistant to many drugs. The good news is that his foot seems to be feeling better. He puts all of his weight on it now instead of carrying it and he's playing more. The vet says to continue with the daily bandage changes for a few more days, until Tuesday or so and we'll reevaluate his treatment at that time. The ladies at the vet's office call him "legs" because his legs are so long!

In addition to the bones that he's been enjoying, he's having fun with other toys too. He really likes fetching balls and playing with stuffed toys. We only play fetch a little because he's supposed to be resting his foot. He likes to throw the stuffed animals up in the air with his mouth. It's really cute. Our 2 girl dogs don't like to play with him. I think his puppy energy and rough play are too much for them.

We'll send another posting soon.