After nearly 17 years together, at the end of October my family had to say goodbye to our beloved sweet little pup, Jasper. It was tough to see him decline both slowly over the years and rapidly in his final days. But I happily remember him for his outer toughness and ferocity as protector of our pack, and for his gentle snuggly nature and need to be “babied” within our home.

We named him Jasper because he had a ridge of hair on his spine which really fluffed up when he was mad (there is a place called Jasper Ridge across 280 from Stanford). He also had a knot in his tail which popped out if he was really mad. Other dogs and cats drew his ire, as well as squirrels (hmm., probably all mammals really). He did not like buses, trash trucks, noisy bikes or kids scooting with their wheely shoes. Ladies with tall hats and dog owners without their dogs also evoked Jasper’s vocal disapproval.

Jasper loved to dig in the dirt. He loved to dig so much that he would get in the zone and do his digging motion on the carpet until it became warm from the friction.

He spent a good deal of his time puttering around the house or yard, barking for attention or food. Sunny days were his favorite – alternating between naps in the sunlight outdoors or on the couch.

One time Jasper saved us from a rat who had slipped into the apartment and was nibbling the tops of muffins (the best part) when no one was around. Jasper sniffed it out, chased it around and quickly took it down. He was proud for days afterward and had a visible pomp in his diminutive stature.

Jasper was a rescue dog and we don’t know his origins other than he came from Madera in the central valley. He looks just like a breed called Podengo (or Portuguese rabbit hound). In his fictionalized back story he was responsible for some sort of mishaps/disaster in Portugal and he had to escape to the US under a new identity. Whenever he heard of someone heading to Iberia he’d say “You probably shouldn’t tell people you know me.”

He loved to be scratched, especially gently between the eyes. There was a spot behind his ears which resonated so well with him that his back leg would move when you scratched it just so.

He was so wild and feisty we quickly learned he could not be contained by a simple run of the mill dog collar … it was full harness all the way. One time my friend and I chased him for blocks when he escaped from my parents house to go check out the new neighborhood. I was only able to catch him because he had stopped to bark at a dog (luckily w/o biting it). Another time he pulled the leash away and went off chasing a rabbit. He looked quite graceful bounding across the field. Luckily he stopped to dig at the rabbit’s hole, otherwise he might have gone feral.

We called him Jazzy, Jasper Boy, Little J or Boy Boy. By any name he was sweetness incarnate and we were lucky to have met him. Rest in peace little guy 🦮 ❤️