A day at the River with Hank

Jupiter and Hank were having such fun together, I decided to take them to the river.

Jupiter is not too fond of water.

He is not happy that Hank feels so at home in the water.

Hank lives to fetch. . . Jupiter believes fetching is beneath him.

. . . but Hank's incessant desire to stay in the water wins Jupiter over.

Jupiter is one tired puppy.

Hank is ready for more fetch.

A New Playmate for Jupiter

Occassionally I meet a dog I believe would make a pleasurable assisant in Jupiter's continued need for socializing.

Hank is just such a dog.

He belongs to the Mecham family. The same family that gave Jupiter his Christmas bone. Needing to go out of town for a few days, they asked if Hank could stay with us.

In no time Hank found the duck pond in the back yard. He seems quite at home in it. Which give me an idea. . .

Some of My Pals

I thought you might like to meet some of Jupiter's four legged friends. Behind him is Rucker, a 5 year old Minature Pincher. He is about he size of Jupiter's whole head.

Here comes Izzy to greet us on the Centenniel Trail. She is a Bassett Hound just under a year old. That's her owner in the background.

This is Ben, Jupiter and Izzy. Ben is a Bassett Corgi Mix who is more interested in scouting than hanging with Jupiter and Izzy.

Merry Christmas Jupiter

A Gift from the Mecham family

Take a good sniff

What could it be?

Oh boy - a femur bone!!!

Thanks Mecham Family - Jupiter loves it!

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!