And that's a wrap.. for ribbons, that is!

What do you do with 4 very large containers of ribbons your overachiever dog named ROCK STAR JAKE earned?  Well, a lot of things as it turned out!  It started about 3 years ago and the saga continued until today when I wrapped the project up by taking the last of them and hanging them by his resting place.  So here is how it went.  

First I did some sorting..  pulled out the best, most meaningful ones and created 2 hangings, one for Barn Hunt and the other for Scent Work.  It had the highest ribbons from those sports.  In Barn Hunt, his RATCH ribbons and the awards from 2014 Nationals.  In Scent Work, it was his AKC Detective, Master, and Master Elite and UKC Elite and Champion ribbons. 

   

Then there were lots of High In Class ribbons from Barn Hunt so I hung 10 of those on the barn with the straw where I could see them readily see them when in the yard. Others I made a hanging from and put on the porch. And what to do with the medals from Dock Diving...  make a wind chime!

   

At the same time I took all his blue ribbons and shoved the in a jar and they looked pretty good!  I's truly amazing how many fit in one jar! 

What to do as a keepsake because everything else is temporary...  a shadow box!  And wow, did it hold a lot of stuff including his harness and something from each sport he participated in. And there is also the special stuff that made the "keeper" shelf in the living room where all the dogs have stuff! 

 

So fast forward to several months ago.  Still have a full container of ribbons to sort.  Kept the ones with the metal hanger and put the rest together to include with Jake in his resting place on the hill behind my house when the time came.  It just seemed fitting that he should have them.  

And then today a month later I strung up the rest and put them around his resting place and around the training area and yard that he loved so much. 

  

And that's it...  I'm glad they all have a place and not packed away in a box.  They will provide a lot of memories as I walk through the yard and house and eventually will all be part of Jake's resting place. 

It was a very good run...

Jake von der Alte Baum 

10/20/2009 - 10/14/2022

Jake lived way longer than I expected and was a clearly happy dog until the end.  It's always been harder with my competition dogs and Jake is no exception.  He did all he could to make us a better team and I will miss him desperately. He was laid to rest on the hill in the woods next to Brita. 

Absolutely every single soul in our lives today 

will one day go their own separate way. 

Of course, we'll each circle back around and

be together forever and ever, too.  

~~The Universe

I am comforted knowing Brita was there to help him cross and show him the way.  

No doubt in my mind they are off and running free as they did for a decade in our yard.  💓💓

Facebook Post with comments (on Facebook)

Facebook Post copied on blog

Facebook Profile Pic Post (on Facebook)

Facebook Memory Post (on Facebook)

Facebook Posts with comments 2 on blog

Jake's photo albums on Smugmug

Barn Hunt Videos

97 Recorded Lifetime titles

YES...  97 recorded lifetime titles...  I say "recorded" because there were several video titles that he completed that I never sent to the proper registry.  He didn't start earning titles until he was5 years old and competing in Barn Hunt and then there was no stopping him.  

In 2014, "Jake" earned the first RATCHX in the history of the Barn Hunt at Waukesha, WI. The RATCHX title  requires that a dog earn 25 Master legs total, including the 5 earned in the RATM and the 10 earned in the RATCH! He subsequently earned another 10 legs to earn his RATCHX2 (CLICK HERE to see the facts of this journey) in October 2014 and his RATCHX3 in July 2015! 

In 2015, our focus turned to Dock Jumping and he competed and titled in the venues of Dock Dogs, NADD and Pier Pups where he has a personal best of 16'6" in Big Air (earning a Junior title and an invitation to Worlds) and 9.330 seconds in Speed Retrieve! 

In 2016 Jake earned his RATCHX4 in Barn Hunt, a Speed Retrieve title from Dock Dogs and is now a Nosework junkie where he has earned in 2 years his UKC Elite title!

Throughout 2017, 2018 and 2019, Jake continued his scent work journey but was slowed down with health issues.  Arthritis in his back was taking a toll and there were times he moved better in his "wheels".  However, there were times he could walk so during those months we traveled and trialed.  By 2020 he was close to getting the last 3 we were shooting for:

• UKC Nosework Champion
• AKC Master Elite
• AKC Detective

So when Covid hit and trials were cancelled I didn't think it would happen but then outdoor trials opened up and in August 2020 he achieved the first 2 and in November he got his 10th Detective leg! 

Check out this post for more details!

It was quite a journey (maybe I should say wild ride) with Jake, a dog who I didn't think would ever compete and earn a title! As they say...  there will never be another like him..  💓

Click here to see list of titles!

And then there were TWO... again!

 Enter Mookie, a Hungarian Mudi!  13 pounds of energy arrived on the scene!  Below are some photos of the 2 of them and links to Mookie's website AND a photo album with Mookie and Jake in it.  

They love each other but I keep them separated unless under direct supervision to protect Jake!!  Mookie tries to play and Jake wants to but can't and there doesn't seem to be a good ending to an encounter.  As long as Mookie is calm, they can hang out together and then they are best buds!!  

Click here for Mookie's website called Mookie the Mudi!

Click here for photos of Jake and Mookie!

Miscellaneous photos

Always with a smile!

And he loves when friends visit!

And he definitely likes to deliver messages!

And his stuffies...  oh my, he loves them!

 

Spring Searching~ He's still got it!!

It's been awhile since I posted about Jake so I thought I'd post this video of him doing a pretty easy search over the weekend. He survived the winter and is actually doing better than he was  6 months ago! Hard to believe two and a half years ago he was in wheels! He certainly has had his ups and downs. His brain and front end are amazing but it takes a while to get the message down his wonky back to his rear end! Life is good at 12 and a half ❤️

Snow Dog... a young Jake :)

 A Facebook Memory.

.Jake ..Snow Dog ... 15 months old