New Adventures with Jasper Lily (aka #jasperseesdeadpeople)

I wanted to update Jasper’s blog last week but I got the news that my best friend’s dog had joined Shelby (and others) over the Rainbow Bridge and it just seemed irrelevant somehow.  It still rocks my inner core to learn of one of our fearless four-legged (and sometimes three) companions losing their earthly journey. And it reminds me that Jasper is living on borrowed time. I still can’t help but look at her and wonder, what will happen? How long will we have together? Was I really this insane to go down this road again?

But then Jasper does something so incredibly “Jaspery” and it brings me back to why Shelby sent her to me. She put Jasper in my home to make me smile and laugh again. She brought her there to dry my tears and bring me comfort (even though Jasper is FAR from a snuggle pooch).

Jasper continues to make herself incredibly comfortable in her new home. I wonder if she has truly figured out that she is here to stay. There are times that she still bolts and hides (under my bed seems to be her ‘safe zone’) for reasons unbeknownst to me. Last week, I found her not only UNDER the bed but on TOP of the bin that contains ALL of Shelby’s old costumes, outfits, collars. There isn’t a ton of space under my bed but Jasper really seems to make herself go super flat. Which is encouraging since as much as I love seeing “frog-leg” Jasper go long … I love that she will fit in the airline approved carrier. She isn’t a fan of being carried in it but I am hoping that with some slight sedation, she will relax completely for her quick 2 1/2 hour flight to Seattle in November! I am a bit anxious because what if I get her up there and I can’t get her back for some reason?

Jasper is petrified of Halloween decorations. I just wish, wish, WISH she would understand the world isn’t that scary and if she would just try and enjoy life, it would be so much better for her. It’s probably mean that I laughed at her but still… her ‘big dog bark’.

She has stopped barking at home! Only when the doorbell rings which is acceptable. So the spray bottle seemed to help since I haven’t had to spray her in weeks!

She LOVES her toys! Loves her babies … she goes through a few a week. She is so meticulous when she attacks them … I catch her silently chewing on an ear or a tail and just making small progress before she pulls out the squeaker and then fluff goes everywhere. Unlike Shelby who would attack violently, Jasper is much more dainty. I look at her little teeth gnawing away. It keeps her occupied for hours. The rescue was not kidding when they told me she was independent and liked to play by herself.

She has developed some bad habits though and it’s very hard to discipline a ‘submissive’ dog. I’ve never struck her but when I tell her NO with any force or “Bad Dog”, she runs and hides from me – for hours. Then she cowers around me. I don’t yell at her nearly as much as I yelled at Shelby (Shelby was the ultimate bad dog as much as I loved her, we had many, many incidents with naughty behavior). But sometimes, face first in the trash demands a strong talking to!

She does like adventures; she loves the dog park, she loves to go to Petsmart/Petco. People always comment how ‘pretty’ she is. She is friendly to almost everyone. Doesn’t really pay much attention to other dogs when she is on her leash at the store. Getting braver in the car and the beach, while it is still moderately scary for her, it’s getting much better. I see improvement in her. I do care greatly for her; I do tell her I love her. And she does show me MORE than she loves or likes me.

Oh and we can file production vans under the list of things Jasper is afraid of. They are filming either a commercial or something near our apt and this a.m. on our walk, Jasper was very spooked by the big trucks, the equipment and all the people out and about at 4:45 a.m. She gave a warning bark and then low growled herself all the way home … and under the bed she went!

And for your daily dose of Jasper Lily photos … what a difference a few months makes. 🙂

Sundays are “drink wine with your dog day”… outdoor dining! – I am really, really hoping the black comes back on her nose from where she rubbed it off at the vet.

She’s rocking her SPCA bandanna!

Can we say spoiled???

Sticking her tongue out at the Halloween decorations

I was getting ready for work and came out and saw this … just a dog and her babies!

Sorry, madre… I didn’t mean to eat out of the trash. Again.