Seperation Anxiety

Jupiter and I were going on day three of our lives together. He had taken to sleeping quite peacefully in the laundry room. I was overjoyed to have a dog in my house again. I hadn't realized how much I'd looked forward to playing with and petting a dog. I wasn't looking forward to having to leave him for 2 nights. The plans for his care were made and I was all packed for my weekend retreat, and I'd said my goodbyes.

Upon my return home, and in my eagerness to greet my new companion, I hadn't read the note left by the caregiver. I opened the laundry room door and splinters of wood fell from it. His bedding was torn up as well as an 1/8th of the base of the door.

My mood changed immediately. I was furious with him!

Mentally I was wondering what I was going to do with such a destructive dog as I walked him to the back door so he could relieve himself. Visions of my former dog's anxiety problems flodded my thoughts. As soon as he came back in, I got on the computer and did some research on seperation anxiety. I was determined NOT to go through such restrained living that a dog with accute seperation anxiety would bring.

I stumbled onto an article by a veterinarian who's first hand experience and descriptions of destruction by his two formerly well behaved dogs, rivaled my own, however the dollar amount was much less. His dogs had just destroyed a 3,000.00 couch. Apparently the time he'd taken for his 3 month holiday had changed how his dogs related to he and his wife. The dogs now come to expect constant affection.

He'd listed a few of their behaviors they'd changed to get their dogs used to his going back to work again. He promised that with diligence you could expect a change in 4 days.

The list went something like this:
Upon waking in the morning, greet the dogs calmly and matter of factly.
If there is any destruction, act like nothing has happened. Clean up any mess while the dogs are outside. (Dogs read body language. Their memory is short term so unless you catch your dog in the act, he will not know why you are yelling or angry)
Do not give the dog any affection or undue attention until they've gotten their exercise
Calmly get the dog its food after exercise
After its meal and when it is either sitting or lying down give the dog affection or attention
Whenever the dog demands attention get up and leave the room
Pet the dog only when it is in a calm state and only when its your idea, not the dogs
20minutes before leaving, sit down with a paper or watch a TV program. Just before leaving say to your pet "Take care of the house" like you've just given it a job.

Determined to change Jupiter's destructive behavior I mustered up all my will -power to impliment these new techniques into Jupiter and my life.

The first day was the hardest. I so enjoy greeting Jupiter in the morning with excitement and happiness. But this time, I just calmly walked right on by him and said non challantly, "Mornin" Jupiter" and opened the door to let him out.
His normal morning high energy level dropped drastically on his way outside. He bounded back into the house after relieving himself and sniffed me out pushing my hand with his nose to get me to pet him.

I resisted.

I took him for his morning walk, insisting he walk directly beside me. There was no voice commands just kinistic clues as to what I wanted from him. Our one hour walk took on new purpose.
Upon arriving home, I prepared my coffee first before getting him food. He tried all kinds of antics to get me to pay attention to him.
Barking, prancing back and forth, whinning, leaning against me.
With each of his attempts I would walk away, move sideways, turn my back on him - whatever it took to disrupt his focus.

We did this for 2 days. Day three, he was a new dog. No longer demanding attention, whinning, or destroying my clothes, furniture, or his bed.

He now gets to sleep in the living room on his mat in front of the fireplace and has never given me any cause to fret about the state of the house when I return.


When I first got Jupiter he was unable to sit down. He could only stand or lie down. This is him sitting on his now strong haunches. Isn't he a handsome lad?

White and Black, Black and white

Jupiter enjoys the snow. His first response is caution.












Once in the snow, he tears around in it like a puppy.



























He looks like he's grinning in this photo.






Then there's' the moments he freezes his position to check the coordinates of the perimeter.


We can almost play "Can you find Jupiter in this photo?"

My After Christmas Surprise

Jupiter's and my usual walk schedule was interrupted by the advent of the coming holidays. All I could get in where short jaunts, before I had to get back to the additional holiday decorating and my volunteering assignments, along with my pet sitting jobs and Massage Practice.

It was December 27th 2006. Icy cold and sunny outside. My human walking partner, Brenda and I had decided to walk more than our usual 3 miles making the distance a 5 mile walk giving Jupiter what I hoped would be a-wearin'-out.

We were deep in conversation at about the 2 1/2 mile mark- my first mistake.

I was paying no attention to Jupiter as he walked beside me on his 4 ft lead coiled in my left hand - my second mistake.

Suprise! Out jumped a rabbit up ahead and to my right, my reaction time stunted by my lack of awareness - my third mistake.

Jupiter took chase crossing over in front of me. The coiled lead shortened tightly around my hand and fingers the lead came to a end jerking Jupiter back and snap!

The pain was intense, but I had to get my dog back under control. I couldn't close my hand around the lead which gave Jupiter the advantage to continue his chase. Never having had a broken bone, I assumed it was a sprained finger. I wanted to cry but I needed all my energy to walk back to the car another 2 1/2 miles. I found a fast flowing creek and dunked my whole hand into the icy water, hoping to stop the swelling. Jupiter came back spent, from his chase, and my friend Brenda was asking me if I was okay?

No. I was in a great deal of pain.

We made it back to our cars, I got Jupe back home and got myself on ice. Two days later, I went to the doctor. Something I rarely do - I have to be on the brink of death or just going for routine exams before I make appointments.

My middle finger was diagnosed as a severe sprain, splinted and wrapped with orders to ice every twenty minutes and rest my hand. That meant no walking Jupiter and no massaging for atleast a week. After a month, it hadn't gotten any less painful, Jupiter smacked it with his wagging tail. Shocking pain jolted me to my knees, tears sprung to my eyes. I thought I might pass out.

Another Dr appointment, this time with a hand specialist. While waiting for the Dr to come look at my x-rays, I opened the folder and put it up to the light. Oooooooo. I broke it alright. My finger looked like a lighting bolt and been tattooed on the bone. Diagnosis: Triple spiral break of the 2nd carpal bone. The doc was incredulous that I was still giving massages. Well, I said, when you are responsible for your livelihood, you do what you gotta do.
I left with a specialized finger splint and new orders to keep it on at all times, except when hand washing or showering, for 6 weeks. If it doesn't heal well, there may have to be a surgery to repair my finger.

After two years my crooked middle finger is a reminder to stay vigilant when walking my dog. My preferred leash for dog walks is just a handle. His physical strength out powers me, so I need the leverage it provides as well as as the proximity of his body close beside me to avoid injury to myself.

What did Jupiter surmise from the out come of the that day? He showed me he is stronger, and more dominant than ever, and I have my work cut out for me teaching him he is not!

What's in a Name?

Jupiter, Joopie, Loopie joopie, Jupster, Jupe jupe, or just Jupe. These are the names that get ascribed to my boy - depending on my mood.

It took one hour for him to learn his new name. The advantage was, he didn't come to his original name at all. The family that took him from the Shelter had named him, Jack. But he didn't answer to that either.

Armed with some beef jerky, I'd call his name from different locations within my house. Once he learned that he got a treat for comin' he came all the time.

He seemed to like his name. . . in the house.

However, once outside, he did not come when he was called. In fact, he would look back at me and lift his head high, and prance off in the opposite direction. His posture is very much the same as a horse. He even snorts like one when he is full of energy and raring to go on a walk.

He is a sight to behold. But he's also irritatingly disobedient.

As I walk out to snap on the leash, he takes off and I swear if he could giggle, he'd be doin just that as he skirts just outside my grasp. Once on the leash he pulls me along at a pace that I can't keep up for long. My shoulder blade is crying from the constant tension.

To teach him not to pull, I turn around and walk in the opposite direction without a word to him. Errrrrr - end of the leash. It takes about 20 minutes of this continual walk, turn, walk, turn all without a word to him. Now he's walking directly beside me, his head tips to check my body language and he stays with me like a shadow.

I'm so impressed. I give myself a mental pat on the back for being such a good dog trainer.

Little did I know . . .

Meet Jupiter

When people see my dog they say "Whoa, that's a BIG dog! Does he eat a lot? Is he full grown? What's he weigh? You could ride that thing! and then there's always that reference to his, hmmmm how do I state this tastefully. . . his bowel movements.

The answers are as follows:
Yes, he is. Not so much - 4 cups a day. Yes, he's full grown. About 180lbs. No I can't, and . . . they are as big as any adults.

He's a rescue. We found each other one sunny fall day in 2003.

It had been 2 years since the death of my little boxer girl. The need to have a dog again was getting stronger. Just a mid sized dog, to join me on my walks. I'd been praying for the dog that the Lord would want me to have.

I had some time to kill.

I pulled into the Everett Animal Shelter. It was in the first row, first kennel, that I caught sight of this whimpering spotty blur. I went over for a closer look and was amazed at what I found there. His name then, was Toby. He was a stinky, overweight, mess. His right eye looked slightly infected. Overgrown claws, made it difficult for him to walk.

I know nothing about Great Danes. There was just something about him that intrigued me.

I asked to take him to the outdoor exercise pen to check him over and see why someone would get rid of this sweet gentle guy. The door opened and he lunged out taking me with him.

Powerful fella, too.

Reminding myself, I came for a mid sized dog - I continued browsing through the rest of the cages. A young mom with her toddler son, also seemed interested in Toby and as I was on my way out I noticed her at the desk filling out papers. "Are you adopting the Dane?" Turns out, she'd always wanted another one, her first had been stolen during her childhood. "He's going to make you a good pet," I confirmed " he's got such a sweet personality." She hoped he would get along with her other 2 Boston Terriers.

This voice inside me kept prompting me to give her my phone number. I tried to over-ride the voice with my own thinking "She's not going to give that dog up." and I walked away. The prompting was insistent. I gave in, walked back to the desk, gave her my card and asked her to call me if he didn't work out in their family.

Seven days later, he became my dog.

First order of business - a bath.

Next - a new name.

You shall be called, Jupiter - b'cuz you're big and spotty like the planet.