Puppy Love

This is Jasper. He was the world's best/worst dog. I know the Marley & Me guy claims that Marley was the world's worst dog but I think Jasper took that title to the grave.

Yes, he looks totally harmless and a little droopy. Afterall, that is the nature of the breed. He's a Basset Hound by the way. But please don't let these pictures fool you into thinking that he was some kind of dog saint. Saint Jasper, patron saint of counter surfing.

That was his "I just got in trouble and am not happy right now" face. He was definitely a pouter. He'd get in trouble and pout for as long as it took either Hubby or I to go have a chat with him. I don't know about Hubby but I would sit with him and force him to cuddle, which he hated when he was trying to be pouty, and we'd have a little chat he and I about all sorts of life issues. Of course, I'd have to address the bad behavior that warranted the pouting in the first place. But then I'd make sure to tell him about all the things I loved about him too. And we'd talk about his day and how frustrated he was with Pollyanna. I'd tell him what I was studying in business school which I'm sure he just tuned me out as business school is really boring even if you're not a dog. He would be sure to remind me to schedule appointments and add a little treat on the grocery list just for him. We had lovely little heart to heart chats.

This was one such cuddle session. He actually got into it. He snuggled up to me all on his own and flopped his big foot up on my leg and looked up at me with those "just hold me mama" eyes. I'm not sure if this was the time after he stole and ate an entire Pizza Hut stuffed crust meat lovers LARGE pizza or if it was the time that he stole and ate an entire loaf of buttered garlic french bread on our bed. But he sure is cute isn't he?

Jasper was one of those dogs that you forget he is actually a dog. He was just a member of our family. He was our son. He was our friend. He always knew what we were feeling. He always knew just the right thing to do to cheer us up. Or at least distract us from something or other.

He was the master of the bait and switch. We'd just be sitting down to eat and he'd do his little fast trot back and forth in front of the door which was his signal that it was an emergency and he needed to go out right away. Then as soon as Hubby or I would get up to let him out, he'd dead sprint straight for the plate of food we just left abandoned. Of course he knew he'd get caught and in trouble but apparently it was worth it to him.

One time, I was cooking in the kitchen and the dog crates were stacked up next to the end of the counter I was working at. There was food on the counter but it was pushed back so he couldn't reach it. We had to do that...counter surfer. So I watched him sit in front of those crates and try to figure out how he could pull one of them down and use them as stairs to get up to where the plate of food was. He started tugging on the top crate to make it fall and watch his master plan unfold before his very eyes, but alas, I was onto his little scheme and foiled it. Drats!

When he was a new puppy, we had a cute little wicker bed with a fluffy pillow for him. He ate it! Yes, the entire thing. He ate his wicker bed. He started on one side and worked his way all the way around it until it was just gone. We actually have pictures of the entire process but it was back in the olden days when 35mm cameras were all the rage. Maybe I'll scan them in and post them for you to see sometime soon. They are really funny.

Why have I chosen to post pictures of Jasper? Why am I talking about him? He really doesn't have anything to do with losing weight. Well, perhaps I could make a case for it indirectly.

We found out this time last year that he had cancer. The kind of cancer it was was already too far advanced to do anything about. He seemed fine for months before, then one day, he was in pain. I took him to all kinds of vet appointments and they couldn't find anyting wrong. Then we got him an ultrasound. Cancer! Everywhere, Cancer! Hubby and I were getting ready to leave for Christmas in Mexico and couldn't bare the thought of him suffering in a kennel without us there and there was a very good chance that he'd be dead before we returned. So, we made the difficult decision. It's been one year.

Life is harder without love and support. Losing weight and being healthy inside and out is harder without love and support. Friends and family are important, even if it is just a dog. I hate it when people say that...JUST a dog. There is no "JUST" about a dog. We loved him and he loved us. That's family!

This is how much he meant to us. Hubby got him tattooed this year.

PS. I won't be posting anything this weekend. I'm out of town and not bringing the laptop. Till next week.