News About Jake, 2009

August 15: Hope that you are well and that you are enjoying the summer. I have submitted Jake for the Orvis Cover for 2010....it raises money for canine cancer and I thought it would be fun to show the little fellow off. I am also sending you the photo. It was taken at a horse show. The photographer loved his smile and spotted tongue...it is certainly an eye catcher. I am sure that his beautiful face will be on the cover of Orvis...my little darling!!!! I will be doing my first rally event in NJ in early October. Jake is loving it! He is definitely better at this than I am...soooo much to remember! Hopefully, I won't chicken out! July 13: Jake is having fun with his initial rally training. Linda, his trainer, really loves him. She had Ditto's sister for 9 years and, of course, knew Ditto. It is really helpful because she seems to have a good understanding of his temperament and his potential. He is so eager...at times a bit stubborn...but all in all, I think he is having great fun with this new challenge. I am doing his training at St. Hubert's which is a wonderful center for dog training, adoption and animal advocacy in NJ. The organization is well known in the tri state area. July 9: Armed with my camera, I have produced a few photos of Jake and his band of merry dogs! He enjoys life and has lots of playtime with his buddies. July 7: I decided that I would start Rally training for Jake. He is so smart and willing and his obedience (for the most part...except when he goes a bit puppy mad on me) is going very well. He continues to be an absolute riot...he has a smiling face and is just so much fun! He is so willing and wants to please. So, I decided that he needed more of a challenge and contacted Linda Sperco, who is a trainer here in NJ. I brought the wonderful book that you gave me so that she could get a look at Jake's background....never thinking there would be this connection. She was so excited to have one of Ditto's pups and she knew all about him...and of course, she had his sister. She said that Jake reminded her a lot of Ditto...looks and personality. I plan to take a few private lessons and then join a group in a couple of weeks. Jake enjoyed the work and fell right into it with his usual carefree abandon... "Hey Mom...this is fun...let's do some more" then got himself so mentally exhausted he couldn't lift his head for the entire ride home! Linda would also like to see him do some field training. I am up for whatever Jake is capable of trying...of course, I will probably need more training then he will but I am all for it! Jake is trained on the invisible fence and romps around with his buddy, Baby, on the property like he is king of the hill. He also loves swimming in the pool fetching tennis balls. He will do just about anything for a tennis ball...it is the ultimate treat! Everyone just loves this guy...he is truly a charmer and with a joyful soul! He makes everyone smile and laugh. Jake has done wonders for our little rescue golden, Baby. Baby was very badly abused before we got him and suffered a great deal. It has taken him a very long time to become trusting. Jake's carefree and confident spirit is starting to rub off on Baby! He is becoming a different dog and really enjoying life...thanks to his little buddy...and a lot of love and patience on our end. Rascal, our 12 year old golden, tolerates the madmen and they continue to try to get him to play...which occasionally he does! March 28: Jake is doing very well. We will be starting a pre rally training course in May and then hopefully over the summer, I will get him into rally training. He is full of energy and still is the most affectionate guy in the world. He wakes us up with a kisses and snuggles every morning. He is funny and energetic and just an absolute delight. January 21: The lads had a great time in Florida. Jake's training is going very well. The trainer (and everybody else) loves him to bits. She is amazed at how willing he is to do whatever he is asked to do! I will also be starting the basics of rally training. Jake makes us laugh all the time. He is always smiling and up for a good time. My husband calls him Joy Boy Jake...just filled with joy! Here are a bunch of photos...better late than never! These were taken at our home in Florida over the holidays. He's really getting to be a handsome young man...now we need to perfect the 'gentleman' part of his development!

News About Jake, 2008

August 17, 2008: Jake is doing great! He weighs about 15.2 lbs and he is making lots of friends wherever he goes. He is responding well to training and we are making progress in all areas. He is a very willing learner and he wants to please. I am attaching some photos of my daughter Jackie with her young horse and Jake...they aren't quite sure of each other just yet!

Some more pictures of baby Jake

Baby Pictures

Jake leaving Fern Hill with new owner Nina Aversano-Boudria, 7/31/08.

7-week portrait of sleepy Jake, 7/24/08 7/10/08	Black puppy at 6 weeks old, 7/18/08
7/10/08	7/1/08
Up and At 'em 6/24/08	Zonked! 6/24/08
6/17/08	Sleepy puppy! 6/17/08
6/12/08	Black Boy, 6/6/08