Oi What a Week...

Title says it all, really. I've had a very bad ear canal infection all this week. Woke up on Sunday with an ear that hurt to the touch. Got done with school Monday, went straight to bed with a hurting ear and just not feeling right. By that evening it was throbbing. Woke up at 3 AM and woke my mom up in tears, spent Tuesday moaning in pain or sleeping, woke up three times that night and vomited Wednesday morning, went to the doctor that afternoon and got a lovely shot of antibiotics. Like... a gram of something which the name of I can't remember. After they debated about sending me to the hospital for IV antibiotics. I just know they kept describing how my ear looked as 'very angry' lol. The nurses were very gentle but the doctor kept poking and tugging while he examined it.

Thankfully, because of the pills and ear drops they have me taking(as well as painkillers) I am feeling MUCH better. The swelling in and around my ear has gone WAY down, as has the redness. Yayy.

Unfortunately that means I haven't done much with Jake, and the poor guy is going kind of stir crazy. He however took advantage of my illness as I let him sneak up onto the couch with me once even though he's not allowed. It was a one time thing though, lol, and Buck looked at me like 'you traitor, he's not allowed!'.

I'm behind on my writing assignments now because of it, due to immense pain and therefore a lack of ability to concentrate; however I have a REALLY understanding teacher who told me when she was emailed about the situation not to worry about turning my things in a bit late, just to get better soon and turn them in as soon as possible.

Also I start drivers ed courses on Wednesday, and before too long I should be mobile and able to get a job. It was killing me when we drove past the theater(where I would REALLY like to work) and they were taking applications. Can't apply for anything until I'm able to transport myself to and from though. Soon!

So yeah, unfortunately not much dog related to report due to illness. Hopefully I'll have something to share soon.

Training Vid

My little sister volunteered to get a video of me working with Jake a little bit. Nothing serious, I was just having him do some tricks and wanted to get a video of him heeling anyways.




His heeling certainly isn't the best, but it works for us XP And I didn't want to work hard this session. He offers eye contact all on his own so I just reward him for it. And he heels on the right because that's where I'm comfortable having him walk. This is a non-cued heel. Also at the end we're working on learning Rollover.

Freestyle

So after looking into freestyle some more(Thanks Sam/Missmutt) I've gotten rather enthused about trying to put together a routine. I'd actually looked at it before, but I could never think of a song that fit the way Jake moves in any way... or that I would want to work with. I found two that I think we would have a lot of fun with, I would just need to cut them down...

Kryptonite by Three Doors Down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg8gEIBs5CU

and Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvsmRuRp4cM

I like the beats and lyrics of both, and they'd be easy to work with. I especially like the beat in Kryptonite... I'm torn.

I've also been thinking about tricks I could use for a routine. + means he knows it already.

Spin +
Sit +
Down +
Play Dead +
Pony +
Cross(?)+
Weave between Legs
Back Up
Beg +
Circle
Heel +

I know Spin will definitely be a key in any routine, he loves that trick. I haven't quite figured out how to easily teach that Weave between Legs... I've tried before, but he never seemed to get it. Sigh. We'll get there.

On a depressing note, my best friend's Cockatiel Snickers passed away last night. Fly free little guy...

Happy Birthday, Jake Boy. 5 Months to 2 years...

Petfinder; before February 24, 2008

Early Days

Summer 2008

Winter 2008-2009
Spring 2009

Summer 2009

Last WeekendYesterday

Today

Where to start... I can't believe he's two already. It feels pretty crazy. The way I got him isn't as dramatic and heart wrenching as others, but I do often feel that it must have been fate... my dad and I were out looking for a puppy. First we checked bulletin boards, checking for 'mutt puppies free to good home' ads... I'd already bought the little collar and a set of bowls for what I had assumed would be the eight week old fluff ball I'd bring home. It wasn't to be the first dog in my life, but the first dog to be gotten specifically for ME. I was excited. To my dismay, we found no ads for puppies. I could have waited, but we decided to check the shelter... first one had no dogs. The second, and only other shelter in the area had three.

One was a small, yappy puppy, probably around 12 weeks. He was cute, but can you blame me for being put off by the barking? Aside from that, the two across the aisle from him had my interest more.

The first was a 5 months old husky mix. Incredibly handsome, and friendly; constantly licking my fingers through the bars.

The second with a 5 month old 'shepherd mix', with sad eyes, a nubby tail. He was called 'Peanut', and I was in love with him instantly, I'll admit. I'm embarrassed to admit now that I thought he was a girl at first, but the way he sat made it hard to tell, and it didn't say on his card. One of the workers came, and we asked about both dogs, about personalities etc. Both were good dogs, they said, but they really pushed the one called Peanut. One of the shelter workers had fostered him with his brother(whom the worker kept) until he was a little older, so he knew 'Peanut' quite well. That's also how I know Jake's birthdate; the worker knew the family who had the oops litter. So we took the nubby tailed dog into a different room to meet him, and he had my heart immediately. We signed the papers, went and bought a much larger collar and a crate(that he never slept in except for the first night), and went home. He was also promptly renamed. Like I said, not heart wrenching or eventful.

But he wormed his way quickly into the whole family's heart, especially Buck's. They've bonded so much, and they're just like brothers. Buck has a ritual of almost every evening washing Jake's ears, and they are best buds.

Jake is my boy; he's smart, and fun, and he makes me smile. I look forward to living with him through many more of his birthdays.

I'm bad at writing stuff like this... but that's his story.

Today, since it is his birthday, I attempted to do a retake of one of my favorite pictures of Jake of all time...

Late August, 2008

Picture taken today, September 4, 2009Happy Birthday, Jake boy. I love ya.

What the...

...heck is going on with Jake's legs in this picture, lol! I was out in the yard with my little sis Sarah and Jake, and snapped this when she threw the OMGBALL. I am absolutely baffled.

Another picture that made me giggle. Sarah was playing with him with a piece of driftwood... I just like the look on his face.
That's all. Nothing new or exciting to share today, I'll have a better post tomorrow in honor of Jake's b-day. I'm going to go look at dog safe muffin recipes or something now.