Jeep the Dog

Jeep is a huge fan of the Lake Villa District Library.  She is especially fond of her

library pal Booker (even though he never gets scolded for barking) and their Scooby-Do reading dog program (with real therapy dogs just like Jeep) for kids. Likewise, the Lake Villa District Library has so many interesting materials and activities for families to enjoy.  Our school district is so fortunate to have such a great partner in learning!  In case you missed it, here is a copy of their latest newsletter filled with exciting opportunities for families.  Library Newsletter

So what could be better than the Lake Villa District Library?  How about a brand NEW Lake Villa District Library!  That is right!  The new library will be ready to open sometime in February 2019. There is going to be a completely updated youth department with fun things for kids to do (and hopefully with even double the amount of books about dogs) as well as an entire technology focus area for students in middle school thru high school to use.  You can find out much more at http://lvdl.org/ and click the link on the right.

Today Jeep and I attended the official Library groundbreaking ceremony with a number of community officials including two mayors.  I was especially proud of Jeep resisting the temptation to dig in the dirt herself – thankfully she let the people with the shovels handle that part.  I am sure that was hard for her knowing how much she enjoys a satisfying fresh dirt dig.  Good girl, Jeep.  She also was a great sport about wearing a hardhat in a construction zone.  What a dog!

We all know our friend Jeep can sleep anywhere at anytime.  She didn’t earn the nickname Sleepy Jeepie for nothing!  (Did you know that the average dog sleeps about 14 hours a day?  Of course, I always think Jeep is above average.)  There is plenty of time to watch Jeep sleep.  From time to time Jeep’s paws twitch and she whimpers while she is catching some Z-Z-Zs.  But, does that mean that she is actually dreaming?

According to leading dog researcher Stanley Coren, the scientific evidence strongly suggests that not only do dogs dream, but they are very likely dreaming about waking activities much like people do.  Like humans, dogs cycle through stages of sleep.  During one of these cycles our eyelids remain closed, but our eyes dart quickly all over.  This particular stage of sleep is called REM (Rapid Eye Movement).  We dream in both REM and non-REM sleep, but during the REM sleep our dreams are more memorable.  Scientists speculate that dreaming helps our brains learn and retain information.  This is why it is so important for our own brains to get a good night’s sleep.

 

 

But back to Sleepy Jeepie.  Dogs enter REM sleep in about 15 minutes and stay in REM for only 2 or 3 minutes.  This is when we can see Jeep’s legs twitch and sometimes hear her utter a soft cry.  Interestingly, this twitching muscle movement is much more common in puppies and old dogs.  This is because the area of the brain called the pons which keeps the body from acting out a dream is not working well.  In puppies (and babies) it is underdeveloped and in old dogs (and old people) it isn’t working as efficiently.

Oddly enough, different breeds of dogs make different movements when dreaming.  Pointers (like Dottie Com) often point while dreaming.  Labs and Dobermans often make running motions with their paws. Be sure to check out this funny video to see some sleeping dogs in action!  Dogs Dreaming

In the meantime, it is best for Sleepy Jeepie that we remember to follow that old saying “Let sleeping dogs lie”  since we know she is working on building a better brain.  Doesn’t that make you want to take a nap, too?

 

 

While Veterans Day is officially observed on Saturday, November 11th, Jeep and I are looking forward to seeing staff and students at all the schools tomorrow honoring the men and women who have served.

Jeep wants to be sure that we also remember our four legged friends who have bravely served our country.  Did you know that there are roughly 2,500 dogs in active military service today and about 700 deployed overseas?

Officially dogs have fought alongside American forces since World War I.  It was in this war that a stray Pit Bull named Stubby saved an entire company from a deadly gas attack.  “Sergeant” Stubby fought

bravely in several campaigns and was wounded twice.  He went to the White House and met 3 presidents.  Stubby’s remains are still on display in the Smithsonian.

The most decorated WWII dog was a German Shepherd named Chips.  Chips broke away from his handler and attacked an enemy machine gun nest forcing ten enemy soldiers to surrender.

German Shepherds and Labs are the two breeds that are the most popular with the military.  They can detect weapons, bombs and gases more accurately than any available military equipment.  Trained dogs have a 98% accuracy in their detection skills.  But it is not only muscular Shepherds and Labs that become great military dogs.  The Navy Seals are very fond of the Belgian Malinois which resemble a smaller German Shepherd.  These dogs are incredibly fast and great sniffers.  Their smaller size makes them ideal for parachuting and repelling missions with their handlers.

If a military dog dies in combat, he or she is honored by their entire human squad.  Their feeding dishes are symbolically placed upside down and a special poem called Guardians of the Night is read to honor their commitment.

Thank you military dogs and people for your valuable service to our country!

Just a reminder to all Jeep’s friends that she will be at Palombi tomorrow for PTO’s 10th Annual Holiday Extravaganza from 10 AM to 3 PM.  There will be plenty for kids and families to see including a Kid’s Holiday Shop and a yummy Bake Sale.  (I am NOT telling Jeep about that part.)  Jeep will be with me in the gym for the Craft Fair.

In the meantime both Jeep and Dot are hoping Santa finds tennis balls, dog treats and yummy beef liver snacks to stuff in their stockings.

We hope to see you there!

 Jeep is having a spectacular Halloween visiting all her friends at school and she couldn’t be more comfortable in her new Coke polar bear costume!

For those of you who don’t remember just how adorable the baby Coke polar bear is, check out this 1 minute commercial.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHclvW4sL7M

(By the way, maybe next year we should ask Dot Com to be a penguin.  She certainly has the right color!  What do you think?)

 

We all know how much Jeep likes to splash around in her pool.  Since it is almost November and the weather is getting chilly, I decided to empty Jeep’s pool last night. I cleaned out all the dirt and leaves (she happily brought in) and left the clean pool upside down to dry.

Apparently our friend Jeep had other ideas. She made it quite obvious that she was NOT in favor of calling pool time over despite the change in weather.  Being sensitive to my partner’s needs, I reluctantly filled it back up with fresh water once again so Jeep could splash and play.  I am thinking that she might make a good polar bear after all!

This is a question I am asked a lot lately.  Halloween is right around the corner and is definitely on the minds of our friends at Hooper, Martin and Thompson.

Jeep’s costume is always a challenge.  I don’t want to dye her fur because it might not come out.   She would look pretty funny with permanent zebra stripes painted on her, right?  I also know how much Jeep likes to be cool, so I can’t bring myself to cover her fluffy up with a hot costume.

 

You might recall that last year our

fuzzy friend

 

 was a Ty Beanie

Baby.  (I was dressed like Jeep because she is adorable and who doesn’t want to be adorable?)

 

SPOILER ALERT!! 

Well, this year Jeep and I are going to be something fun that won’t involve a hot costume or painted fur.  Here is a hint for those of you who don’t know already.  In the meantime, be sure to get your own costume ready for the big day!  

 

 

In case you haven’t heard, Odin a working Great Pyrenees refused to abandon his eight goats during a recent California wildfire that swept quickly across his farm destroying almost everything in its path.  Odin’s human family along with a number of other dogs and cats were loaded onto a truck and left the dangerous fire.  Odin, however, being a traditionally stubborn and loyal Pyrenees refused to flee despite the danger.

Odin’s owner returned after the fire to find Odin, the eight goats and two baby deer also protected by Odin all safe and sound.  Brave Odin’s fur was singed, his whiskers melted and he was limping, but other than that he was ok!

You can see a short video of Odin the Hero along with his goats and sister Pyrenees named  Tessa.  Odin the Great Pyr   Odin is an inspiration to both humans and dogs everywhere!

 

Jeep enjoys running outside in the woods with Dot Com looking for new holes to dig.

Unfortunately for me, Jeep has not learned to stay away from plants with burrs on them.  Her fur (unlike Dot’s short fur) is a burr magnet.  Sometimes I have to brush her fur twice a day to get all the burrs out. I am glad that she is so patient about being brushed.

If you have a dog with longer fur like Jeep that attracts burrs or mats up I highly recommend this $9 Safari

De-Matting Comb from Amazon.  Yesterday Jeep actually fell asleep as I brushed her with it.  What a good girl!