Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon

Last weekend something new and exciting happened in Jack's life. After lunch, the Man set up a big hanging bed for Mommy out in the back yard. At first, Jack didn't know what that was and was afraid of it (of course). Suddenly, Tais showed up and tried to jump into the hammock. That was a pleasant surprise: she lately seems to be loosing interest in many activities and just prefers to be on her own, on her bed. I guess, she recalled those nice chill-outs in the hammock in the past few years, snuggling with Mommy and listening to the birds and sounds of trees, and lazily watching squirrels...

Of course, gone her days of easy jumping into a hammock that is 2 foot from the ground, so Mommy had to lift Tais and place her into the hammock. Then she got herself in with a couple of magazines. It took only one look at Jack, "So, Are You Getting In Here Or What?" -- and in a blink of an eye, Jack sprang into the hammock, causing it to rock like crazy from side to side. All three almost fell on the ground :))

Jack liked the hammock a lot! If not the rainshower, he'd lie there till dark!

Before I Knew It She Was Walking Next to Me

There have been some sad news in Jacks life lately: his now beloved sister Tais has been diagnosed with cancer.

After Tais toe amputation surgery, Jack was cognizant of her condition. He gave her gentle quick licks when passed by her bed, he brought his toys and placed them next to her. He kept at a distance, but watched her a lot. It seemed on a couple of occasions that he even alerted his Mom that Tais wanted to go outside.

After two weeks of recovery, Tais now seems to regain some interest in life. Her paw healed (more or less) and her appetite is at the pre-winter levels. While she is lethargic for the most part of the day -she jumps a bit in the evenings, fools around with toys, and gives her famous friendly growls. She always has been talkative, while hardly ever barking (typical setter feature).

Today all went for a slow walk around the block for the first time since the surgery. The slow pace was strange to Jack, but he did fine overall. Of course, pulled his leash a bit, but not too bad.

I WILL HEEL IF YOU HEAL

Jack's sister Tais stays tonight at a vet hospital to have her toe amputated. There is a suspicion of cancer, but the biopsy results will be known in a few days.

While she is somewhere on an operation table, Jack and his Mommy decided to "go out" in honor of Tais, because that's what Tais loves most: long walks around the 'hood. Mind you, Jack has never been outside the boundaries of the house (except for once when he *almost* ran away, but was diverted back to his homestead).

At first, Jack pulled in all directions, but quite quickly he learned to do what was expected, i.e. walk nicely on the leach. Most likely, he had been trained before to "heel" and that came back to him, otherwise he is a super genius.

At one point a neighborhood yellow lab popped up from behind a shrub- unleashed -and started a rapid approach in Jack's direction. While she looked friendly, Jack's Mom remained cautioned and pulled Jack on a short leach. Amazingly, Jack sensed her mood: he remained still, but highly alert: mouth closed, eyes wide open, slowly waving his tail, and all legs slightly bent, ready to react any second, like in a karate stance. The encounter was friendly and Jack was nice as well, but it made his Mommy feel so good that there seemed to be a communication between them and agreement at some special sixth sense level.

Tired and overwhelmed from exploration of the neighborhood, Jack is now spread flat on the floor and chasing somebody in his dream. Tais would be so excited for us! We did so good, Jackie!

With 2 Dogs In the Yard...Now Everything Is Easy 'Cause of You

Jack was allowed in the front yard today. It is not fenced in, therefore Jack had to be tied up on a long line, while Mommy was mulching the plants and picking big scary sticks from under the trees.
Jack had enormous fun: listening, listening, listening, and lifting his nose higher for sniffing too: lots of birdies, and some people with dogs passing by. FUN!!

Tais lately is not doing good: she's got some sort of infection on her toe, so it's hard to get the poor thing into the picture. But eventually, she got our for fresh air as well, and you know, to help with the yard work.

Scaramouche, Will You Do The Fandango?

Where Jack dwells, there are sliding doors with primitive but effective anti-break-in devices: wooden poles placed in the tracks. Well, one day Jack decided one needs to be chewed to pieces.

Naturally, he got diarrhea. Upon arrival, his Mommy found the doggy place in a total and complete mess with dogs running filthy and stinky... you got the picture. After steam vacuuming the carpet, a new spy technology was used: ultra-violet light. Apparently it is supposed to detect spots left behind by some leg-lifting creatures, we won't point fingers who.

You have a wild guess about results? Go ahead.

Yep. Absolutely EVERY piece of furniture and EVERY corner of the room revealled small urine markings. Jack has been methodically marking the area all this time!! Arhhhh!! Never trust the English!

STICKY BUSINESS

One of Jack's areas of great discomfort is a human with some sort of a stick in close proximity...First , his Mommy discovered it as she rolled out a contractor's measuring tape in Jack's presence -- he got visibly agitated and ran away! She then proceeded at different times to display him a broom, a hoe, a roll of gift paper --to confirm Jack's special fear around the whole idea of a standing person holding a long, skinny object. Each time, Jack gets nervious and runs. He cannot even observe from inside the house when his Mommy operates a spade or an axe outside in the yard. He just gets out of sight into the deepest corner of the house.

One can only imagine a possible cause of such phobia...

One way to get him a bit less scared of sticks, was an idea of feeding him a treat on a stick. Long stirring spoon seemed a good fit for the purpose.



It took quite a few attempts to finally get Jack eat straight from a "stick"

Still, not working for other long skinny objects, but we are getting there!