Dog Park Fun

Having Jake is definitely making us more active in the evening.  Tonight Jake met Milton and they were apparently in love.  All they did was hump each other, taking turns, heads, hips and backs.  It was horrid to watch but it seemed to be mutual so no one was growling or saying no.  But we left after a while because while humping may be enjoyable, it is not why we take Jake to the dog park.  He needs to run/play his legs off! 

My park buddy.  He is doing better around all the dogs and is holding his own when they jump on him.  He really loved to throw the balls to the dogs when he finds a ball chaser. 

We took the happy humper to the boat dock.  Which Baylor loves more than Jake. 

Their are rocks to jump on either side of the dock and it is a good place the throw sticks into the creek. 

Jake's First Week

Well, Jake and the family are settling in and getting to know each other.  He has be just fine in the crate so far during the day but I come home at lunch to let him out.  It was such a nice sunny day, we went out on the patio and he just laid down. Which is fine, but I thought he might like to pee first!  We take a quick walk around the field behind the house and say good bye until later.  

Thursday I took him to his first vet appointment.  He was interested in the other dogs there of course but he left the UPS man alone.  One of the ladies at the desk was putting in our information and said she remembered Eddy.  And I choked back that I remembered her too.  I showed them the photo of Eddy and Jake in the yard I had made earlier.  They agreed we have a type!

He as a good, patient patient.  And to say everyone fell in love with him would be an understatement.  The vet thinks he is only five months old but I am still leaning to somewhere between that an the 10 we were told when we got him.  He weighs 36 lbs and is in overall good shape.  He received a few shots and a follow up in May.  

We went home and he enjoyed a bully until we picked up Baylor and headed to the dog park. 

He is such a social dog and loves playing with the dogs at the park.  He is always in the latest mosh pit, loving all the dogs and having a lot of doggy fun.

And he is a much nicer dog at home when he is tired.  

I pulled him up on my lap and he just settled in however he landed.  

Friday after work we decided to take Jake to the creek and see how he was.  

Baylor loves Jake, not the mouthy, biting Jake and is still getting used to being licked but he loves having a dog he can be with and grow up with. 

While the water is pretty cold and no one wants to get in too far, he seems tolerant of water. But not interested enough to try swimming. 

But he will sit his butt in the cold water. 

We were there for quite a while and Baylor especially loved being in the water. 

His mug is so cute!! 

Grimm is willing to be around Jake but then Jake gets too excited and chases Grimm away.  This is going to take a long time I think for them to become friends. 

What is more perfect than a dog laying in the doorway?

We had Kartikey come for the day Saturday and Landon and Ryder joined us for a few hours in the afternoon.  They had a pasta picnic at supper time.  Jake and I spent most of the day outside.  He stayed in the yard and I worked at weeding and raking outside the fence.  For the most part he just sat around waiting for me.   

Baylor was too dirty to go to bed that way so he took a bath and asked for Jake to join him,  While Jake was not thrilled (and still smelled pretty dogish) he tolerated it better than the shower last Sunday when we brought him home. 

Sunday morning, Easter morning, Gloria helped me get Jake to wear the bunny ears.  He really just wanted to eat them as he loves fuzzy things like them. Happy Easter!  

What is more perfect than a dog laying in the doorway?  A dog laying in the sunshine in the doorway! 

We had a small Easter gathering, my family, my parents and Dave.  Both of Gloria's parents were sick and could not make it.  The Easter Bunny was pretty good to Baylor, he even got this cute new Easter bag. 

And the Easter Buddy mainly had to hide the large eggs this year.  They have the best things anyway like new movies and Legos. 

Checking out his loot while Grandma peeled eggs for deviled eggs.

Monday the kids were off school and I worked from home.  Landon came over for the day and two hours after he got to the house he looked like this.  I texted his dad to see if he had allergies and he said he broke out on Saturday too. Like Saturday the day he was here last?  I asked if I could give him some Zyrtec and he said it would be OK. 

And within a half hour he looked better.  I am afraid he might be allergic to Jake! He never had problems around Eddy so it is odd that Jake would bother him.    

By the time Joey arrived to pick him up, Baylor was done for the day and Landon was having fun with the bunny ears! 

The Brown girls made me a dandelion necklace, I have not had one of those in years. 

Whirlwind of a Weekend

Saturday morning we had Aunt's Meeting at DiAnn's.  Nothing out of the ordinary and always a good time with family. Griffon and Paisley were there this time and DiAnn boiled some eggs to color.  We had fun with the kids too!  

I love my Mom!  And glad we get to see each other so often.  Baylor and I had to head out at 1:00 to get to Ryder's for a sleep over birthday party.  

They had a laser tag game planned for the local fun fort park and she said they were there for over two hours.  I guess we will have to look into getting a pair of laser guns.  For the price of four to keep, they could have gone to the laser tag place.  She said they played even more when they got back to their house.  I am sure they will be a favorite!  The boy's brains have been taken over by Minecraft and Heather made a Minecraft sheep cake.  Baylor had drawn a Minecraft sheep on Ryder's card.  I went home and did laundry and cleaned up some stuff the in basement with my child free time.  

We had an offer through work to get Fitbits free, for the basic model, and a really reduced price for a more upgraded model.  I had no extra money that week so I got the free one.  One thing I like is the sleep tracking.  And the occasional insights.  And Monday, I did not sleep 11 hours.  I was apparently so still on the couch, after raking the flower bed, that it thought I was asleep at 5:40.  And it likes to tell me I wake up earlier than most people. Duh. 

I picked Baylor up at 10 and Gloria and I had a surprise for Baylor.  Gloria took a vacation day and we had plans to head to the Lancaster SPCA to look for a new dog.  We were texting back and forth on Friday with dogs on their site but on Saturday most of them were gone and new ones were there instead.  We decided we would go and see what they have anyway.  On the way Baylor fell asleep, well played out with his friends yesterday and not enough recovery sleep.  He knew where we were going and why because he does not like the anticipation of surprises.  We arrived 30 minutes early and we walked around the building.  The kennels are open but fenced in so we could see the dogs. 

Some of the dogs we were looking at Friday on their site. I think we have a type.  

Gloria liked a white English Bulldog but this black and white dog caught my attention because he was out in the kennel and interested in the people outside but not barking his fool head off.  Not barking at all actually.  So when the opened we went to see him first.  Gloria just asked for paperwork to start to fill out and Baylor and I went in.  The dog, Jarvis, see above with the smile, came to the front and licked my hands.  We headed back to see the other dog Gloria liked and someone else stopped at Jarvis.  I panicked and turned Baylor right around and stuck by his gate until we could get someone's attention to let us meet him.  She leashed him and told us we could go to the outside kennel and once I shut the gate I knew we were not leaving without this dog.  He was friendly but not super hyper. He chased the ball but was not super hyper about it.  The word best to describe him was chill.  And sweet and loving. And handsome.  I had Baylor run inside and tell Gloria we found our dog.  The people asked Gloria if she was going to meet him first and she told them that we knew what we were doing and if we loved the dog, so would she.  She did come out of course and agreed we made the right choice.  His paperwork said he came up from Tupelo, MS on 4/5 and his records start 3/22.  He was listed as a Lab mix, 10 months old.  There was no reason why he was suddenly in a shelter at 9 months old with a birthday listed as May 22, 2016.  

Most dogs don't get to go home with their forever family the same day but he had all his clearances and we were quickly cleared as well. We walked next door to their thrift store and bought a $.50 collar in red.  And off the the amazing pet store in Lancaster to get him what he needed.  He was cool about everything.  

Our first family selfie! His name was listed as Jarvis but in the car we threw out several new names and settled on Jake.  

I sat in the back on the way home, we were not sure how he would be yet and Baylor does not like dog licks.  

He settled down and tried to take a nap. How chill is that? 

We took him for a walk right a way and I noticed there was no pulling on the leash, no sniffing off to tomorrow.  Just walked beside or behind us.  Baylor really warmed up to him and I think they will be a good match. 

While we were standing in the outside kennel I texted Megan to see if we could borrow her crate.  She even dropped it off for us and was leaving when we were pulling in.  Hopefully the crate will be a short term place.  I put the gate up at the kitchen door to keep Grimm safe until we know how is with cats.   

We are going to keep him on a leash until we know more about him but he was sure happy with his bully stick and I hope happy to have a home. 

On our walk we stopped by the Browns to show them the new addition and the girls were over as soon as they could.  I caught them all in the crate while they were making sure it was comfortable.  

He was not afraid of the crate and laid down in it for a bit.  It is only for when we  are at work and I plan on coming home at lunch to let him out.  I cannot believe we have a dog again!!!