Angel Amber's Brother Jake is our December 8, 2013 Pup of the Week

Some dogs are like River, they move into their house, and while they don’t fill the hole of the lost pup, they suddenly and seamlessly begin to build new parts of their parents’ hearts, and ease their pain.

And then there is my friend Amber’s successor Jake.  It seems, hopefully, after 9 months of illness and aggression, Jake’s Mom has learned how drama and healing can make the bond between dog and Mom even stronger.

Here is his story.

When Amber sadly went to the Bridge her family was in a stage of transition.  There was a new house, employment changes, and many hurdles to overcome before they were ready for a new pup.  Thanks to our friends Jackson’s and Morgan’s Mom Aunt Jane, Jake went from being Jackson’s foster brother to being the new dog in Amber’s home.

His parents got the impression that Jake might be a bit or trouble on his first walk when he was invited into a neighbor’s house for a proper homecoming and pooped in their entryway.  From that moment on his parent’s should have known his pup hood would be more challenging than Amber’s.

Jake showed a puppy’s speed and desire for food when his Mom dropped a single coffee bean and Jake lasered in on it and sucked it down.  His Mom decided not to take him to a vet for a coffee bean, which was a good decision, because soon Jake would be well known at the vets.  

For two months there were only normal puppy issues with Jake but on Mother’s Day his Mom informed her online friends that the little pink pimple that Jake arrived with had gotten bigger, scabbed over then bled, scabbed over again and got much bigger.  A trip to the vets was in order.

The lump needed to be removed and the vet said that he had a histiocytoma.  Jake proved the be a very patient patient.  He also had a previously diagnosed infection in his anal glands treated by having antibiotics stuck up his butt. He went home stitched up and a little loopy.  His parents hoped his vet trips would be few and far between.

Soon the good news came in that the tumor was benign.  He was ready to get his stitches out.  

Then came the leg issues.  He had trouble with with his rear right leg and his front left leg, which caused him to hobble around the house.  He was put on non-steroid anti inflammatory drugs to help.  The vets had hoped it would work itself out but during Jake’s puphood few things worked themselves out.  

Perhaps understandably, for a young with so many health issues, Jake began to act out and show aggression.  He nipped at his Mom’s nephew.   He growled at some nice elderly women who came to visit, and barked through most of their time together, even while wearing a citronella collar.  With his Mom starting work soon she was worried about having a stranger take care of Jake, not knowing how he would act with them given his unpredictability with strangers.  .

To help with some of his behavioral issue Willie’s Mom Sandy sent Jake a Gentle Leader to control him on walks.  It stopped him from lunging and pulling when he saw strangers, although Jakes still exercised his freedom to bark.  Also his Mom bought, and used, the dreaded clicker, which made him more cooperative to her wishes, although her still nipped at her toes when he wanted to play.

But even with the Leader Jake was still a challenge when he met people.  He would spin around on his leash in what his Mom called a “demonic fit” when he saw a stranger.  When a woman saw him, and wanted to pet him, his Mom suggested she let Jake sniff her.  She put down her hand for Jake to sniff and he nipped at her.  His parents began to dread walking him because of his barking and lunging (or, in dog terms, doing what is called “The Pocket.”  He also barked at every sound in the house (also called the Pocket)  and wore out the battery on his bark control.  He also played rough, snapping at his Daddy’s hand and breaking the skin as he tried to grab a toy.

Then began another round of vet visits.  He had tummy issues and skin issues, chewing the fur off his front legs.  One trip to the vet was for chewing the fringe off a rug. Then he began to chew the fur on his tail and his paws.  He had to wear the dreaded cone of shame.  He didn’t take to wearing it well, standing in a corner and staring.  His parents resorted to praying over him, which gave him the strength to finally to get up and eat.  But he still had occasional tummy problems and had to wear the cone to keep him from chewing his fur.

Jake did improve slowly, although he did develop a strange crusty film on his nipples and was still very itchy,  The Prednisone he was taking did make him drink and pee more.  During on of these pee trips his Mom discovered he ate an entire paper towel.

Then his limping began again with his front leg coming out from under him until he was walking like a tripaw.  He did get to sleep in the big bed because he parents thought this would keep him out of trouble (known in the dog world as pulling a Pocket) but when he got out he couldn’t get back in. When it came time to take him to the vet he started walking better.  It was determined he had a foot infection which led to more expensive vet visits.

Jake finally began to stop itching.  His foot got better.  And, after months of research, his Mom discovered natural products that helped with the itching, put him on a healthy diet, gave him lots of baths, and with lots of patience the itching subsided, and, as the itching subsided, so did the behavioral issues.  Also a stricter training technique taught Jake that he was not the boss of the house.  

But Jake still had what his Mom called the Terrier Tirades.  Her stepson and grandson came for a visit.  At first he did his barking madness and was protective of his family.  His Mom knew that someone was mean to Jake before she got him and his accepting strangers would take time.  But my Mom can tell you having your grandchildren and your dog not get along makes things very hard

Now, after nine months of experimenting, training, bathing, praying, and patience Jake is becoming the wonderful pup everyone knew he could be.  He did a 3 ½ hour drive with only minimal barking.  He sat on his Mom’s lap where he now feels secure.  He didn’t nip at the grandchildren or lunge at anyone, and even walked off leash.  He rode happily in a golf cart in the arms of one of the grandchildren.  The only problem was with another dog, but Jake is on the right track, and has come a long way, so I am sure he will vanquish this to.

It has been a long, hard road for Jake and his parents but the end is in sight.  A big tip of the tail to all of them, and to Amber, who was watching over them, helping every step of the way.

There have been a lot of hard earned victories in Jake’s fight to be the perfect dog for his parents, and now that he is getting there, their bond will be even stronger.  

Reba Messina and Amber are our November 11, 2012 Pups of the Week

I can measure how long I have been on social networking dog by Pocket’s age.  A month after Pocket chose our family we joined Doggyspace, and, as soon as we joined Doggyspace we met Reba Messina and her Mom Linda.  No matter where we went, what site we joined, or if we blogged independently, our one constant was Reba Messina, because, no matter where we went, Reba was there.

This past week, after 16 years of being her Mom’s friend, partner, inspiration, and love, Reba left her, and us, behind, as she was called to the Bridge because the Lord had important work for her to do there.  Not a day will go by that we won’t miss her or think of her Mom and how we have to try and rebuild her broken heart after she shared her life with one of the world’s most important and most famous dogs.

(If you think I am fibbing about her being famous check out the cover of Fido magazine with Reba featured on the cover between Carlton Kressley and Julianne Hough.)

All dogs love to boast about their breeds, us included.  And our parents are even worse, saying how they love one breed or another.  But Reba wasn’t any breed, she was brought into the world a mutt, but she would not stay a mutt, and she would change the meaning of mutt throughout the world.

Reba, on her Mutterings and Things Blog page (http://mutteringsandthings.blogspot.com/) stated that her mission was to unite, elevate, and celebrate mutts.  And she created a new breed for mutts called the GenChan for the tongue in cheek term “genetically challenged.”  She united millions of dogs who were dismissed under the name of mutts into one group that, if the American Kennel Club wanted to be all inclusive, they would allow to compete.  Her reterming of mutts to GenChan inspired my changing the name b-thces to lollipops.

I remember years back Reba and I barking about problems we had with the old management of DS.  She had even talked with the mean man Levi who owned it.  I did not have the nerve to bark directly with him and tell him what we thought was wrong but not Reba.  She was strong enough to bark at anyone and was never afraid.

When I started blogging I wasn’t sure what I was doing but one day Reba came to see me and told me she had been doing it for awhile.  She told me to just follow her steps in the sand and soon I would be as good as her.  Well, I don’t think that happened, but she helped me a lot and taught me how to write, how to be sweet, how to be funny, and how to be me.

Reba and her Mom Linda were a perfectly matched pair because they were both so special.  When a dog was down, bridge bound, or already there, they knew just the words to use to make us feel better.   And they used their blogs and Facebook to spread the word whenever there was a food recall, or urgent medical news, Reba and her Mom made sure everyone knew it.  Also they fought very hard for those dogs who did not have homes, or worse, were on death row, never giving up on trying to find them a home.  Whether it be GenChans or Purebreeds Ruby and her Mom were there fighting.  Even after she went to the Bridge Reba was still trying to help others.  Today on her blog page she wrote a blog for parents announcing her passage to the Bridge and advising parents on how to know when pups are telling them it’s time.  Also on Facebook her Mom posted a list of medications and belongings that Reba had asking if anyone could use them.

Reba was a true fighter.  She held off going to the Bridge for a long time, 16 and a half years.  The Bridge Angels knew she had important work to do down here, and let her stay extra time, but starting last month Reba began to let her Mom know that it was time to go, and last week, the little engine that was Reba’s spirit began to run out of steam.  Her back legs could no longer support her and the light was gone from her eyes.  So her Mom made the hardest decision of her life, but the right decision, to let her go to the Bridge, where she will become a very important angel.  And where I am sure she will continue to look over all GenChens and purebreds, and do more great work.

And we will continue to check in on her loving, heartbroken Mom.  I know that Reba will always be in her heart and Reba’s spirit will continue to guide her Mom to do good works, but let’s not forget Linda now that Reba has gone.  Reba wants us to keep checking on her to make sure she is OK.

Reba was the most famous dog I knew, hanging out with Hollywood celebs, appearing on magazine covers, having a presence everywhere on the Internet.   But she was a small town girl, with a heart of gold, who put her Mom first.  She has left a big whole in lots of our hearts.

Also I need to mention another amazing dog who went to heaven this week, leaving us, and her mother Carolla, broken hearted, the beautiful Amber, who, while not passing Reba’s longevity, also fought to stay with her Mom, holding off the bridge for over 15 years.  

Amber was known in her neighborhood as the girl with the goggles.  She loved to go on car rides and her Daddy made her special goggles so when she stuck her head out the window she didn’t get bugs in her eyes.  She was another GenChan dog, a Chow mix, who was greatly loved by all dogs who knew her and her Mom.  She captured her Mom’s heart so much her Mom didn’t even mind the drool that often fell from her sweet mouth.

During Hurricane Sandy Amber and her Mom, always putting others first, kept checking in with all her friends in the path of the storm without letting us know that Amber was telling Mom it was time for her to go to the Bridge too.  Even though she had been in ill health we were still shocked when we heard the news.  Her love can still be felt from the Bridge, where she may finally be able to catch one of those critters she has been chasing for years.

It has been a tough week for us dogs and their Moms this week as we have lost two huge figures in the online dog community.  Like always we will carry on, somewhat lessened, and hoping that their Moms will find the strength to bring a new pup into their lives, because they are both one in a million Moms and there are needy dogs, and we will learn to love them and their adventures.  If they can’t find the strength we understand, you can’t ever replace a Reba or Amber.

But we will never forget, and our hearts will always be filled with love for, Amber and Reba.