Jericho Jake (better known as Jake) entered our lives and our home on the day after Thanksgiving, 2008. From the very first minutes we knew we had a different type of dog. Jake was a lively, not so serious and definitely not as interested in training as our Max. That was okay; he was Jake.

A lively personality defined Jake throughout his short, but happy life. He loved nothing more than to deepen mud holes, much to the detriment of the yard and his own appearance. He had a quick intelligence (more often exerted for a piece of toast than a training command, ’tis true). Quite often his exuberant spirits would get him in trouble, either with us human occupants of the house or with Opal, his canine companion. Let’s not even mention how he got along with the resident felines.

Also from the first it was clear that Jake was not a healthy guy. SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), EPI (inability to digest and metabolize fat), food allergies and hip dysplasia plagued him throughout his life. Nevertheless, nothing slowed him down. Nothing but death.

He died shortly before his first birthday.