She Makes Me Stop

I try really hard to make sure I spend one on one time with each of my dogs. Playing and interacting as a group is good too, but I feel they all need that individual time. Sometimes my schedule gets hectic, and there just is not enough hours in the day to get everything done I set out to do that day.
Jessi, although second to the youngest, with Jarie being the youngest, Jessi will always be my baby. She prefers me all to herself. She doesn't like sharing, and really seems to thrive when it is just her and me. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, 80 degrees out, nice cool breeze, perfect for her and I to just enjoy.
Those of you that have read my blog for awhile, know that Jessi does not stop. Very difficult to take photos, she is a very high drive working line Aussie. Her mouth is always open, tongue hanging out, running from this corner to that corner, sniffing the ground, watching the planes fly over. She doesn't miss a single bird, butterfly, or the wave of a tree branch, always always busy.

Of course the only time her mouth shuts is when she is told to sit, she hates sit, for that just means she has to quit moving, something she just doesn't like to do, but she complies, although you can clearly see it in her face, she wishes *sit* was not a word in my vocabulary.
I have never seen a dog as happy as Jessi. She will play with anything you throw for her, she really doesn't have a favorite toy, as long as she gets to interact with me, whatever toy I choose to toss for her, she is content.
Yesterday was a day that was very much needed, I think for both Jessi and I. She makes me stop. Even for just an hour, she makes me stop and forget about all my worries, all my chores that need to be done, life happenings. Spending time with a dog that is non-stop action, I really have no time to think of anything else but her and the smile on her face, the sparkle in her eyes when she looks up at me, as if she is saying "Life is good, lets play".

Jeni, Bandit, & Jessi's Surprise

These pictures are very poor quality. I wasn't able to get any decent pictures of the Aussies or their gifts. They were all just too excited and crazy. So with just a few words, I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Jeni was the calmest of all.

See her tongue? LOL. That rubber ball makes the neatest squeaky sound.

The Frisbee was on her Xmas list. She loves it.

Bandit couldn't wait for the wrapping paper to come off. He did a snatch and run.

Here he is opening his Teddy.

Again, he quickly left the room. I had to keep calling him back.

His teddy is his favorite toy. He loves teddies.

Jessi was quick. Just a sniff... then

Off she goes.....

We barely got the duck from her to take the tags off, when she snatched it, and ran from room to room. Those Aussies are crazy, gotta love them!

Jessi

Jessi was a spur of the moment decision. While we were at a show with Bandit, Jessi's breeder had a litter of pups with her at the show, for socialization. Her Breeder is also Jeni's breeder. In fact, Jeni is Jessie's great aunt. I didn't want another Blue Merle Aussie. I had just lost my Newfy a month prior, and had been waiting for a Red Merle Aussie to come into my life. Aw, I couldn't resist the sweet smell of puppy breath, she was just too cute, and a little spit fire. She came home with us that day. I think Bandit thought he won her at the show.

Jessie comes from a working line. Her sire is a high drive stock dog. All of his pups are known to not mentally or physically mature until 6 years old. What did I get myself into, like my life isn't busy enough.



Jessi is a very fun dog. I call her pup pup, because she is so puppy like. She has one speed, WARP speed. She never slows down. Rarely will you see her mouth closed. She is very smart, obedient, biddable, and fast, fast, fast.

She loves the human touch. She just melts and leans on you when you barely touch her, but she doesn't slow down. When we are sitting on the sofa, and she jumps in our laps, that is what it is, she JUMPS in our laps. Nothing gentle about her. She puts all of her weight into everything, and packs a good punch. She body slams, she CAN be dangerous. That is the working dog in her.



Jessi also loves toys, ALL TOYS. We have a routine at bed time. After everyone is settled down for the night, she picks a toy from the toy box in the Living room and runs upstairs with it, climbs in my bed and rolls and plays with it. She sleeps in her crate at night, so after I put her to bed, I put her toy on my dresser. Each night she jumps on and off the bed, grabbing the toys from the dresser and gathers them all around her in my bed. If I am not paying attention, she will race up and down the stairs, emptying the toy box by bringing all the toys upstairs and piling them on my bed. It is not unusual for her to pile 20 or more toys on my bed within seconds.



I originally wanted to show her in conformation. I struggled for nine months taping her ears down, when I finally realized she IS a working dog. So her job is obedience. She is smart, loves to work and loves to learn. We have a long road ahead of us, as she is still very immature.


Jessi is very difficult to photograph, as she is always on the go. It is very rare to find her sitting still, unless she is in her crate. Often times, she is just a blur.

She has a very high prey drive, and distracts easily with the wind, birds, even the littlest bug crawling on the ground.
Jessi is not a dog for everyone. She has to be kept busy with plenty of physical and mental exercise. She is a very busy dog, and if you are not prepared for that type of energy, and the training involved, then watch out, because she is like a bull in a china shop.


Jessi is 4 years old, yet such a baby. She is very, very bonded with me and when we are out, it is hard to get her to leave my side. She is a very sensitive dog, but also very forgiving. She reminds me a lot of an Aussie I had in the past, Lit'l Bear, who was my heart dog. Jessi isn't her, and actually the complete opposite, but she has that *something* about her that touches a part of my heart that was reserved for Lit'l Bear. Jessi is my very special little Pup Pup.

My Favorite Pictures

Here are a few ( I use the word few lightly) of my favorite pictures of my dogs. I have five dogs currently and they do keep me on my toes. Never a dull moment in my house. Most of my dogs have had some sort of job weather it be competing in AKC Obedience Competitions, AKC Conformation, Flyball, and active Certified/Registered Therapy Dogs. Their number one job is to be the best family companions first, to cuddle with, play with, and enjoy being part of the family.



This is Jake. He is currently 10 years old, and one of the best German Shepherds I have ever owned. A very special boy with a huge heart, favorite past time is playing with his tennis ball, and spending the day with my husband. I think he owns stock in Tennis Balls.




This is Jarie. She is the baby of the family. She is 2 years old. She loves everything and everybody.



This is Bandit, My oldest Australian Shepherd. He is 8 years old. He is the clown of the house and never fails to make me laugh with his silly antics. I don't think he will ever grow up. Don't let the sweet angel face full you, he can be a real devil when he wants to be, always into something.



This is Jeni, she is my 6 year old Australian shepherd. She is the smallest in my house and the sweetest and smartest little girl. She is the alpha in the dog pack, and Bandit's best friend.


This is Jessi, my 4 year old Australian Shepherd. She is my wild child. Jessi has one speed, WARP speed. Crazy, Crazy pup she is. But oh, she is so very sweet. She packs a good punch if she jumps on you.