Jake VanArsdale

Jake was a purebred,100% good boy who came into our lives completely by chance.

When his first owner couldn't keep him anymore (because Jake was an escape artist and got out of his yard constantly) and he saw that we already had a lab of our own, he asked if we would like to add Jake to our family. Wanting to get a friend for our other lab, Dusty, Jake became a permanent member of the family. 

At first, Jake lived up to his reputation of escaping the yard and running off. We never knew a dog could jump as high as he did! With ease, he could jump over the fenced in yard, so an 8 ft. pen INSIDE the fenced in yard was built for Jake and Dusty to stay in when unsupervised. With countless hours of dedicated walking and training by mom, Jake was eventually able to stay near and could even be let off leash when he went out to swim at the city pond.

Jake was always an outside dog, spending summers and winters alike in the yard. He loved the grass and fresh air and always preferred being outdoors (unless it was storming). Until the later years of his life, he was only allowed inside on special occasions which included freezing temperatures, heat waves, and severe thunderstorms. This all changed when Jake found himself the only pet in the family. One incredibly cold winter, Jake was inside to stay warm when we noticed he didn't go potty in the house overnight. Turns out, Jake had been fully house broken the entire time we had him, and he soon became an inside dog permanently. He still liked crisp mornings and calm summer evenings out in the yard, but was always happy to come inside and get a treat before bed. 

"The 2nd White One", "The Coyote", "Jakey Baby", "Sweet Baby Jake"....no matter what we called you, you were always there with a smile on your face. The only thing that made you happier than being with your family and going on walks was eating dead squirrels and looking for kitty treats (cat poop) in the ditch. We miss you, stinky breath and all. You were the best addition we never knew we needed in our family.