Our Six Month Anniversary

Six months ago today, I met Mama for the first time in a Wendy's parking lot in Ohio. She had flown from New York City to meet the nice lady who had rescued me from the pound. Mama says it was love at first sight. I licked her face. She scratched my ears.

Now, I'm proud to say, I'm a Mama's boy. I wonder if we have started to look like each other....

I Passed the Test!

Today was the test to become a pet therapy dog, and guess what? I did it. I passed!!!  Mama is so proud of me.  I am proud of myself too. 

They tested us on 10 different things, such as sitting and waiting, coming when called, laying down, and sitting with a lady in a wheelchair. They had little human children pet us. One of the little critters tried to pick me up! 

My friend Zoe, a Shih Tzu, passed too. Zoe and her mommy and me and Mama all went to the Shake Shack to celebrate afterwards with cheeseburgers and fries.

Yay for me!  I will update you when I make my first hospital visit!

 

Happy Birthday Cristian!

Today is my cousin Cristian's birthday. He's ten years old.  Happy Birthday, Cristian!  Hope you have a great day!  (Oh, and Happy Birthday to Auntie Lucia. It's her birthday too.)

Can't wait to see you soon and let you walk me around!

Licks and kisses,

Jasper

Humans Are Weird (video)

Mama and I were in Central Park this weekend.  There were a bunch of people on roller skates going around in circles and dancing to loud disco music. Funny humans. 

My New Skulls Shirt (video)

I got a surprise in the mail! My cousins, Annie and Dudley, who are Shih Tzus and live in California sent me a present. It's a red and black shirt with my name on it and cool pictures of skulls. I wore it to doggy play group and felt like a tough guy.

The shirt is from FuFu Fashions. I'm even on their website. Click here to check it out! (I'm at the bottom of the page.)

Why I Love New York City

You know why I like living in New York City? You never know who you're going to meet walking down the street. The City is filled with interesting characters.

Take a look at this funny little gal that I met yesterday. Why, she just looks kind of crazy cool, doesn't she? Her name is FouzFouz, which is an Arabic nickname or something. FouzFouz is a mutt, so she could be a mix of anything, maybe even part cat.

I Like To Play (video)

Everybody should play as much as they can. That should be like a law or something. I know I play every chance I get, which is all the time! (I like to entertain myself.)

Gracie the Maltese

We were at the dog run today when Mama and I met another little cutie named Gracie. She is a white Maltese dog.

Mama is convinced that I must be part Maltese because she says Gracie kind of looks like me. Gracie's dog walker was funny and said that Gracie is his favorite because she is the only one with facial expressions. Ha ha. I had a good laugh at that one. I make faces at Mama all the time.

Moxie the Peekapoo

You learn something new every day. Like today, Mama and I were at the dog run when we met a little dog named Moxie, who is a two year-old Peekapoo. Mama had never heard of that breed before and found out that it is a cross between a Pekingese and Poodle. Of course, she HAD to take a picture of Moxie. Look at that face!

Mama on Skates

Here is a picture of me and Mama along the Hudson River today. She has her cool skates on, the ones she got from Planet on Wheels. Mama got them so that I could run alongside next to her and get some exercise while she skates fast. Sometimes we go slower when we get tired. It's a lot of fun! 

Ozzy the Dood (video)

There is a big, friendly dog that I see at the Leroy Dog Run sometimes. His name is Ozzy (as in Osbourne) and he is a Goldendoodle, which is a mix of Golden Retriever and Poodle. Mama kept ooh'ing and ahh'ing over his eyelashes, which are really long and blond.

"Oh, he's so soft!" Mama said, like she was petting a baby. But Ozzy is no baby. He's almost two! That's a big boy, like me. 

I could tell Ozzy likes to play. And play. And play...

 

Day 3: Pet Therapy Training Class

Today was our last day of class before we get tested in two weeks. Edna, the lady who runs the program at St. Vincent's Hospital, told Mama, "Jasper has come a long way since his first class." Well, I'm glad SOMEBODY noticed because I have been working really hard and doing lots of homework. 

For instance, I don't growl and snarl in class anymore. I've even made friends with a little girl named Zoe, who is a black and white Shih Tzu. We could be cousins. 

I didn't even get scared when they dropped the walker and a metal bowl and made loud noises to startle us. It just sounds like when Mama cooks at home and makes a lot of noise with the pots and pans and dropping things on the floor by accident.

 

Because it's a Jewish holiday called Passover next Saturday, we will have our test on April 26.

Wish me and Zoe luck!

Springtime in New York

Today, after the dog park, we went to the Empire Diner on 10th Avenue and 22nd Street. It was a warm, sunny day. We sat outside at a table with a big umbrella over it. Mama ate fish and chips. She ordered me a grilled chicken sandwich. 

It wasn't bad. (Just a tad dry.)

Are You There Jesus? It's Me, Jasper

Dear Jesus,

I've heard people talk about you.  You were a guy with shaggy hair who was born a long time ago in a barn, right? Didn't you teach people how to fish or something? 

It seems like you had some insightful things to say, so I need your help.  I have to take a test in a few weeks to become a pet therapy dog.  I'd really like to do a good job because I know it would mean so much to Mama. Do you have any tips for staying calm?  I tend to get nervous when people I don't know start touching me. (Unless they feed me treats; then, of course, I have no problem.) 

You can whisper any advice in my ears.  I have super good hearing. 

Thank you for listening!

Very truly yours,

Jasper S. 

New York City 

The Cookie Monsters

Did you know that I know how to make chocolate chip cookies?  I learned how to bake when I was visiting my cousins Stefano, Cristian and Isabella in California.  We made them from scratch using flour, sugar, butter, baking powder, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt.  Oh, and of course, chocolate chips!

As you can see, Stefano and Cristian are a couple of clowns. Here they are wearing little chef jackets.  Their Papa is a chef and he had it made for all three of them.  

The cookies turned out yummy!

Day 2: Pet Therapy Training Class

Some of you may remember that I am going to school on Saturdays to try to become a pet therapy dog.  That means that if I pass the test in a few weeks, I will get a certificate and can start going to visit people who are in the hospital and make them feel better. 

Last Saturday was our second day of class.  Here is what they made us do this time:

---Mama had to show the trainers that I know how to sit and stay and come when called.  (I did very well.)

---I had to stay still when one of the trainer ladies came up to me and opened my mouth, checked my ears, picked up one of my feet, and brushed me.  (I didn't particularly like this part, but I was on my best behavior.)

---They took me to another room where I sat on a big man's lap and told Mama to leave the room for three minutes.  I had to show them that I was not scared to be away from Mama and that I wouldn't cry or try to chase after her.  (This was kind of a weird exercise, but I passed.)

---For the last exercise, they brought out a metal cage looking thing that humans use when they need help walking.  None of the dogs were supposed to bark at it, but I did.  It looked scary. Mama hushed me and started walking around with the walker to show me it wasn't going to hurt us, so I calmed down.  

All in all, Mama said I did really well.  Whew!  There is one more class next week, then the test is on April 26!!!!

   

My Friend Ember

I always see Ember at the dog run.  She is still a puppy and has a lot of energy.  She is friendly with EVERYONE.  I don't like to play with other dogs as much as she does.  She is part Golden Retriever.  Can you believe it?  Her mommy, Kathy, got her from a rescue group in Ohio too, like me! 

After Bath Craziness (video)

After my bath, I go CRAZY.  I don't like getting wet, especially on my head.  I get all energized and I start digging around, rubbing my head, and generally going nuts.  I could go on like that for hours, or at least until I get dry. Sometimes my butt itches, and I have to scoot it around. 

Ruby: Hurricane Katrina Survivor

At the dog park the other day, I met a funny, pudgy little Puggle named Ruby. She sat in a lady's lap with a tennis ball in her mouth. That's all she did. The whole time. Whenever someone tried to take the ball out of her mouth, she moved her head away, so they never got it away from her.

I found out that Ruby is five years old and escaped Hurricane Katrina a few years ago. Lucky pup. Now she's a New York City girl.

My New Fancy Collar (Product Review)

Did you notice that I have been wearing a new collar lately? It's brown leather with silver studs all over. It's fancy-fancy. I wish I didn't have to wear one at all, but Mama says I have to. She searched high and low and finally found one that she liked. (I didn't know she was so picky.)

She bought it from Hamptons Hound, a ritzy store for dog clothes and stuff. Don't ask her how much the collar cost. ($48! Shhhhh...Pretend I didn't tell you.) But she says it's worth it because it's 3/4" inches wide, so it looks like a big dawg's collar, but made for my size. (I'm a big dawg on the inside.)

Did You Watch Oprah Today? About Puppy Mills?

Did anybody else watch today's episode of Oprah? I watched it with Mama and it was sad. It was about puppy mills. They took secret pictures of what puppy mills looked like and how those dogs are treated there and it made Mama cry.

They showed dogs who have been kept inside cages their whole lives and who have never been outside or walked on the ground. A lot of the female dogs are forced to have a litter of puppies every time they go into heat, which is twice a year, and it makes them get tumors. Some of the dogs had cuts on them. Other dogs were chained up and the chain was cutting into their skin. It was terrible.

Did you know that:

***99% of puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills

***At least one-third of dogs in local shelters and rescue groups are purebred dogs

***Pennsylvania and Ohio have the most puppy mills in the U.S. (Mama adopted me from a rescue group in Ohio)

***Over a million dogs are put to "sleep" every year in this country

***Dogs and cats should be spayed and neutered so there are not so many homeless animals

I don't know how I got so lucky. I found a forever, loving home with Mama. But there are lots of dogs and cats out there that need a nice home too.

Mama says that one day, she will get a big sister for me. And when she does, she will find her at the shelter or at a rescue group, just like she found me!

My Best Blue Steel Imitation

Here it is, my best imitation of the Blue Steel look, perfected by Ben Stiller in the movie, Zoolander.  What do you think?  

Flixster - Share Movies

Snackin' at the Shake Shack

When the weather is nice, I like to go with Mama to the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.  I've gotten better at waiting quietly if there is a long line. After she orders, Mama takes me to the dog run at the park so I can play while she waits for the food to be ready.  Then we go pick it up and we find a bench to sit on.

Mama always shares bits of her cheeseburger with me.  It's scrumpylicious. Mmmm...I'm drooling as I type...   

Darla the Reindeer Chihuahua (video)

There is a little girl named Darla in my Monday night doggy play group.  She has light brown fur with big brown eyes. I heard her mommy tell Mama that Darla is a Reindeer Chihuahua.  Wow, I didn't even know there was such a thing.  Anyways, she was kind of a flirt.