Jake

This week I have a house guest.  He is Melly's boyfriend, my sister's dog, Jake.  Jake is a beautiful, blonde Golden Retriever.  

Melly adores him.  They have great fun together.  

Jake is a special dog.  When you come home he greets you with a mournful moan, which we call his "woo-woo" and a ball, shoe, stuffed toy, or small child in his mouth.  He has to be the most orally fixated dog I have ever met.  Ball?  Where's the ball?  Did someone say ball?  I like a ball!  Would you throw the ball?  I like it when you throw the ball!  Did someone say ball?  Ball?  He has infinite optimism.  If you can't find him, look for the nearest door.  He is probably standing in front of it, waiting patiently for someone to open it to throw the ball.  At my sister's, he waits under the trampoline in her back yard because he kept getting hit in the head with the ball.  But not just one ball will do.  Like I said, Jake is special.  He needs two balls.  Both in his mouth.  At the same time.  He even poops with two balls in his mouth!  I've seen it...not pretty.

Jake is also big.  He doesn't have any idea how big he is.  You know those yippy dogs that think they are Rottweilers?  Jake is the opposite.  He thinks that he can fit in even the smallest spaces.  Lap dog?  Yep, that's me!  Here's my paw...ooops, did I knock you over?  Can I sit on your foot?  Sorry for smooshing your toes!  Oh, pardon me, I didn't know there wasn't room for me in the powder room with you!  Stairs?  I love stairs!  But they are way more fun when I run between your legs while we are going up and down!  

He also likes to be scratched and stretched and he is not ashamed to demand it.  He demands scratching by going nose first between your legs and then just standing there until you scratch his butt.  If you don't start scratching quickly enough, he will go around again.  And again.  And again.  Stretching?  He lays down (anywhere...he's not picky) with his front legs stretched out in front and his back legs sprawled out behind him.  This is his cue for you to grab him under his front legs and pull.  He will streeeeechhhh his whole body (which makes him about 8 feet long) and then smile. 

 

And that is why we love Jake.  His smile makes all his quirks worthwhile.  He is happy, obsessed, over sized, demanding, and lovable Jake.  

Foto Friday

Does anyone see a dog?

Foto Friday

Still in love...

My Little Girl is in Love

Melly has a boyfriend. She has fallen head-over-paws in love with my sister's Golden Retriever, Jake. We introduced them two weeks ago and, after a lesson for Jake in who is the true queen, they both fell in love. It is silly, really. We had them together for a week at the beach and it was just the bonding experience they needed. They greeted each other every morning with a slobbery kiss and a game of tag around the coffee table. Some light wrestling after breakfast followed by tandem napping went into the daily rotation. Evening walks on the beach cemented their bond. They both had serious depression when we came back and they were separated for the first time. It was so bad that my sister had to come and pick Melly up for a play date the next day.

Jake is absolutely the ying to Melly's yang. He completes her. Where she is neurotic and a spaz, he is laid back and a big lug. Where she is small and compact, he is huge and lanky. His paws are bigger than her head and yet he allows her to believe that she is bigger than he is. When they are together, she is permanently attached to his neck. He will flop over on the floor and let her gnaw on his fluffy neck for what seems like hours. Where she is faster than a speeding bullet, he takes more of a stop and smell the roses approach. When we take the two of them on walks, he waits for her to use the bathroom and even averts his eyes in respect for her privacy. It almost looks like he is the doting spouse, holding her purse while she powders her nose. All you have to do is say his name and she is headed for the door with a glance over her shoulder to make sure we are following with the car keys. They seem to be a match made in heaven. My little girl is in love. I just hope he doesn't break her heart for that trampy poodle down the street.