James Jacobson's Posts - I Remember Love

does your dog love Halloween?

2009-10-22T03:30:00.000Z

Does your dog love Halloween?

This is Kanga's first spooky holiday, which makes me wonder whether she'll like it or not.

Kanga definitely loves kids. When we're on the beach, she gets very excited whenever there's a small child nearby. She looks up at us like "can I go over?" And if the kid invites her to play, she always accepts the invitation with lots of wiggles and running.

I live in a neighborhood with lots of children. There is not much traffic, so on Halloween our sleepy neighborhood becomes a "destination" for parents from other neighborhoods. They drive over, park, and walk around with their kids to collect candy. So we could easily get 100 kids on Halloween evening.

I think Kanga will like sitting outside our house with us and greeting the kids in their costumes.

But the big question at our house is: Does Kanga wear a costume??

I'm not big on dressing our dog up. Kanga is so good natured that I'm sure she'd go along with whatever we wanted, but I don't want her miserable.

I was looking online for some inspiration, and came across this video. It made me think maybe I should skip a costume for Kanga. Don't the dogs in this video look upset with their dad?

I think I might go with the "minimalist" dog costume, like these pet store owners recommend.

Minimalist costumes for dogs for halloween

We have a little bandana that our groomer gave Kanga the last time she got a haircut. Maybe this "chic" outfit is all she needs. It's in the picture up above.

Do you dress your dog up for Halloween? What do you say?

A dog's Unending Loyalty

2009-10-02T17:53:51.000Z

Watch this and feel the emotions....

It reminds me of how wonderful and life-affirming our dogs are:

Post your comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts of this video.

dogs vs. kids???

2009-09-28T21:42:32.000Z

I got an email this morning and just had to pass it along to you.

Life Really Boils Down to Two Questions

Should I get a dog?

Or should I have Kids?

I love it!

Share this blogpost with anyone you think needs a smile or a laugh.

Warm Aloha,
James

How big is little?

2009-09-22T16:30:00.000Z

This video shows just how Big and brave even the tiniest dogs can be. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I feel sorry for the mountain lion, and glad that the dogs and the family are safe.

prayers for pups who need them

2009-09-14T22:45:09.000Z

When I first built this community website, www.IRememberLove.com, I didn't really know what to expect. So many people are reluctant to "join" a community online because of privacy issues.
Now, though, with almost no direct effort on my part, there are thousands of people using the site. Thousands more visit each day.

One of my favorite features is the forum Prayers for Pups.

There are 326 people who have joined this group so far, and the main page of the group has tons of requests for prayers (and responses).

When I posted a request for Maui last year in that group, the response was unbelievable. I hope that others who post there get as much comfort and support as I did.

Just about once a week I check it and add the dogs there to my prayer list. Whatever your thoughts or beliefs about prayer, it has been scientifically proven to help.

So please check out the forum now and send a little prayer or good thoughts for the doggies:

http://www.irememberlove.com/group/prayersformypup

If you have thought of joining but hesitate to share your information, make sure that you read this:

http://www.irememberlove.com/page/privacy-policy

Thank you for being part of the community, whether you officially join or just read what's here. There is something special about this little piece of the internet, where we can be really honest and open and helpful to each other about our best friends.

http://www.irememberlove.com/group/prayersformypup

May all dogs be safe, happy, and comfortable.

Aloha,
James

How Kanga Gets to Yes

2009-09-05T23:07:10.000Z

I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling the impact from the economy.
I'm probably not the only dog lover who finds consolation in the love of my dog right now. But I just got business inspiration from Kanga, too.

If you own your own business, like I do, you know how frustrating it can be when things just seem to stick in place.

(Even if you don't own your own business, you probably know how frustrating it can be.)

I am a partner in a business that has developed a powerful all natural nutraceutical pill designed to help dogs who are battling cancer. (Did you know that cancer is the #1 killer of all dogs?)

The pills, which are called Apocaps, were invented by my veterinarian (and friend) Dr. Demian Dressler who is known internationally as "the dog cancer vet." Apocaps went thru clinical studies for safety and efficacy...and the results are amazing. This is a fantastic pill that will help hundreds of thousands of dogs.

But I am not trying to sell you on Apocaps...in fact, even if you knew a dog with cancer and were interested in purchasing a bottle today...you couldn't.

And that's the problem!

You see, Functional Nutriments has used all the early investment it raised and put it into research & development. We have a pill that works, but now the company doesn't have the cash to manufacture and bring Apocaps to market.

That is why I am out there raising money. (I have already invested a lot of my own because in all my years as an entrepreneur, I have never been more excited about a business.)

The problem is, this is the worst time to raise capital since the Great Depression.

It's incredibly sobering to hear person after person say "I've got the money, I love your business, I love you guys ... I just don't want to invest until I see how things go in the market."

It's hard to hear no over and over. But I know from experience that the more people I ask, the more "No"'s I will hear ... and the more likely I will be to hear "YES!"

It's not always easy for me to keep a positive attitude with rejection after rejection coming in.

Earlier this week, I was very discouraged and took Kanga for a walk to get my mind straight. We went to the beach, and she galloped along, grinning back at me like she was living the best life possible.

On the beach, Kanga goes up to everyone, stops a little ways away and looks at them expectantly. If I could read her mind, I think she asks "Will you love me a little? I want to share my Beach Joy with You!"

The vast majority of people glance down and give her a half smile, but don't stop. (Can you imagine not stopping to pet a little white dog?)

When that happens, Kanga just gives a little skip and looks for the next person to love.

The (smart) people stop and say "Hi, puppy!" They are rewarded with a wiggling body, wagging tail, and maybe even a little kiss on the fingers.

Kanga offers her love to everyone. And she doesn't feel bad when someone says "no." She knows that someone soon will say "Yes!"

So, I am taking heart from her. Every time I write an email, or pick up the phone, or go to a meeting, I'm thinking of Kanga. My company, Functional Nutriments, was formed specifically to help dogs who are suffering a painful, disgusting disease, cancer. Is there anything more loving for me to do?

Maybe I'll just have to be more like my dog in order to keep my chin up through this economy.

I am still haggling with my distributor about getting my books out of their warehouse and into the hands of dog lovers.

I am still asking people who have the means to invest in my new company.

And I will keep doing it until I get a YES.

Because that is what Kanga would do if she were me.

Thanks for reading. Now I am interested in hearing from you, if you will share:

In what area of your life are you hearing "No" ... and know you will eventually hear "Yes", and how does your dog inspire you to keep going?

Kanga loves her brand new halter

2009-08-27T02:26:09.000Z

On Saturday we went to a local dog shop and bought two things Kanga needed and one she didn't:

1. A new collar of her very own. When she outgrew her puppy collar, we couldn't find a collar small enough for her that we liked (shopping is limited on Maui). She actually wore an old collar of Maui's for a few months, while Molly looked for a collar that she liked and was lightweight and thin enough for Kanga's little neck.

2. A harness. When Kanga turned into a teenager a few weeks ago she started pulling on her leash, too. She would pull so hard that she'd choke herself. I took advice from you guys and got her a harness. The leash attaches in the back and I like how when she pulls, she feels it tightening on her shoulders (not her neck). When she stops pulling, she stops feeling tightness. She immediately stopped pulling on her leash.

I think the tightness must kind of feel like being tapped on the shoulder, while the collar felt like being choked. I'd rather have someone tap on my shoulder to remind me not to pull, than choke me.

Here's a picture of her just about to set out on a hike in the rainforest. Doesn't she look sporty?

3. A leash that matches her collar. (This is the item I felt we didn't need.). They had a lightweight, thin leash that matches her collar, and I decided to get it because she and Molly were so excited about it. (Really, it was Molly who was so excited. I don't think Kanga much cares about the leash.)

My dog is not a prissy dog, and I have proof. When Molly tried to put a pink harness and a pink collar on her, she shook her head back and forth like she didn't want them. When Molly tried on the bumblebee collar and the aqua blue harness, she stepped in happily and even lay down to have the collar put on.

It was funny how she did NOT want the pink. After we made our purchases we went on our hike, and Kanga jumped over roots, splashed through mud puddles, and smelled everything. She was so happy. It was her first time in the rainforest, and she really, really liked it. So did I. Here's a picture of her in the car after the hike. She's pooped, but pretty happy.

A Very sweet video reminds us of the connection between Dogs and God

2009-08-21T04:40:00.000Z

dog messages are everywhere

2009-08-20T00:30:00.000Z

Note: This post contains quite a few references to a natural bodily function. I hope you will forgive me for what my grandmother would call "bathroom talk."

Our walk this morning took us to the beach - Kanga's favorite place.

As we walked, she galloped, then paused, then sniffed, then went back and sniffed again, and then let loose just a tiny few drops of pee to "mark" spots she liked. She must have left fifty little deposits in our half hour walk.

I call this reading the newspaper (sniffing) and writing the newspaper (peeing), and Kanga only likes to do it outside.

Kanga had little trouble with housebreaking and came to us most of the way there. After Maui's incontinence for the last year of her life, Kanga's bladder strength has amazed me. She can wait to pee - what a miracle!

But sometimes her holding it so well makes me think it's less about not wanting to go in the house, and more about going outside for a walk around the block, or better, a walk on the beach.

Kanga has become a master of what I call "The Great Pee Embargo."

Most days when I take her out first thing in the morning she will sniff the wind, nose around our backyard, and then look at me like "When are we leaving?"

If I head for the front yard and the sidewalk, she will happily leave her little pee deposits everywhere in our neighborhood.

If we go to the beach, she will wait a full half hour for us to get ready, and then ride patiently in the car to our favorite beach. When we get there, she will find the perfect place to "write" her little article for her friends. Then a few feet away she will write another little article.

But if we don't go for a walk right away, she will just sit there in the backyard until I give up and go back inside. After enough time, she will realize that we aren't leaving the house this morning and will resignedly scratch to go outside.

On these few occasions her long, abundant pee sessions are marked with a distinct look of annoyance.

"Why write a novel which no one will read," she seems to be thinking, "when I could write fifty articles that everyone will read?"

Does anyone else's dog do this? I thought I was making it up at first, but I really think she is saving her pee for places she likes.

Thank you to the dog trainers on IRememberLove

2009-08-14T22:00:00.000Z

I have to thank K9Krazy and other dog trainers/workers on this site who really helped me make a crucial decision last winter - I would be pulling my hair out this morning without your help.

Kanga turned into a teenager two days ago (on her ten month birthday, August 11).

She's feisty, independent, and testing boundaries. She's lost almost all of her training, which means that she won't do as I ask right away. She acts like a tough teenager ... "You're not the boss of me!"

For example, our sweet little shy puppy used to sit politely by a wide open door and look up at me, waiting for permission to leave. She would never leave first ... she always followed me through the door.

Well, this morning I opened the sliding glass door a crack to let a fly out, and before I knew it she had flown out the door and was out in the front yard. She was like greased lightning! A dog friend was passing by, and thankfully she was focused on meeting him and didn't take off down the street.

Once we cajoled her back into the house and got her on a leash, I looked at Molly and said "I'm writing a thank you post to dog trainers right now."

When I found Kanga last November, I was convinced that we should get her and her sister, who we were going to call Roo (after the characters in Winnie the Pooh).

When I announced the happy news to this community, several dog trainers posted publicly and also wrote me privately with their concerns.

They talked about how in a "wild" pack the puppies would be separated from their littermates and taken into the pack as a whole. They would learn to be part of the pack, separate from their family. This helped them to become fully responsible adult dogs.

In a human family, two puppies, especially littermates who are already a "family," could skip this developmental process. Instead of integrating into the new "pack", the puppies might "stick together" and not bond completely or properly with me and Molly.

The trainers all said that training could be not just twice as much work, but ten times the work. (That made me sit up and cock my head to the side.)

They emphasized with great compassion that while this situation could work out fine, it was a lot of hard work. They suggested we get one puppy now and bring in another puppy when she was older.

We were pretty excited about two puppies, but when four dog trainers all contact me, I pay attention. We called a dog trainer friend and asked our vet, Dr. Dressler, what they thought. We did some research and read some articles online. And then we decided to take the advice.

I'm so glad. As you know, having a new puppy is a lot of work. But this teenage thing is even more! I can see that if Kanga had a sister she "listened" to more than she listened to me, she would be even more likely to be badly behaved. This morning she probably would have trotted off down the street with her sister and ignored our calls altogether.

I was thinking about getting a new puppy this winter when Kanga turns one. Now I'm thinking to wait until she's eighteen months and a little bit more adult. We don't want a puppy to learn from her, at least not this week.

:-)

We'll have a little bit more patience and make sure we're a stable pack before we add another little one.

I'm not saying this is the only way to do things, but I for one am glad that K9Krazy and others - I wish I could remember all of you specifically - advised me so well. For me, this is the right thing to do.

And in the meantime we will be taking her for an extra walk everyday to drain that extra teenage energy.

PS: Thank you for all the suggestions and calls about the book - I am still negotiating with the distributor and will let you know ASAP!

the power of a dog's stare

2009-08-11T06:30:00.000Z

Kanga is a very sweet dog. Where Maui was the alpha no matter how many other dogs were around, Kanga is decidedly the omega dog ;-)

She used to be afraid of absolutely everything, and for the first month hid under the bed a lot. She is much more outgoing now (lots of treats and praise for being with us cured her of the bed habit) and loves to meet new people and even new dogs.

This small, shy dog can wrap me around her little finger, just like her "sister" Maui once did. But where Maui used to bark at me when she wanted something, Kanga doesn't. She has another method.

Does your dog look at you like this?

Kanga is willing me to take her for a walk!

Kanga loves walks more than anything else. She would rather be outside, digging in the sand at the beach, or running with her friends or the kids next door than anything else.

Certainly more than napping under my desk ;-)

Every morning of the week we walk on the beach, but every afternoon and evening she comes to me and gives me this stare until I pick up the leash and leave the house.

She doesn't bark, she doesn't whine, and she doesn't scratch at the floor or the door. She just stares at me.

It's kind of creepy, how focused she can be.

She stares at me and stares at me and stares at me, and the whole time I can hear her thinking "Take me for a walk. Let's go outside. I love the beach."

I wouldn't be surprised if she pulled out a pocket watch and let it swing in front of my eyes and said "You are getting sleepy, very very sleepy!"

She positively hypnotizes me.

I need to remember how her single minded focus seems to "magically" make me pick up the leash when I think about my own life.

I think I will be singleminded about what is important to me - like for instance solving the problem of all those books about dog meditation that are sitting in that Kansas warehouse.

Thanks for your suggestions, and your emails, and keep them coming. I am in negotiations now and working hard on a win-win-win situation. I'll let you know how it turns out ASAP.

In the meantime, tell me if I'm the only one whose dog has him under some sort of mind-control ... even though she's not a bossy dog??

James

books in distress

2009-08-10T01:00:00.000Z

A few days ago I mentioned my book How to Meditate with Your Dog is in a troubling situation.
My distributor says they don't want the books in their warehouse any longer. In fact, they want to "dump" them.

(In book publishing, that means send them to a landfill for a deep burial!)

This morning I meditated on how to move thousands of pounds of books to Hawaii, and the fact is, it's just too expensive, and they're not budging. They want them out.

I'm trying to figure out how to change this "lemon" into "lemonade." I thought maybe you guys would have some ideas?

How to Meditate with Your Dog came out in hardcover in late 2005, nearly four years ago. While sales were strong enough to make it a national bestseller, they eventually fell off. The extra unsold books have been sitting in a warehouse in Kansas for the last few years. Sales still come in, but they don't justify how many books there are.

I'm sure you can see how this news of the impending "death and burial" of my books seems kind of horrible. And the timing is awful, on the one year anniversary of Maui's death.

(Maui was my inspiration for and the star of "How to Meditate with Your Dog.")

Now, this is not just any book. It's a book that many people say has brought them great joy. It's taught countless people to meditate - or simply sit with and be present to - their dog(s).

It's helped people feel better physically (lower blood pressure, reduced heart rate, lower stress hormones, clearer thinking) and dogs feel better, too (less anxiety, more relaxation, more bonding).

So my question for you is - is there any way to save these books?

I don't want them to die in a landfill.

Too many dogs need the closer relationship that happens when we more fully open our hearts to them.

In honor of Maui's life and on the anniversary of her death, I'm asking for your thoughts.

I want to find a way to move three hundred (or maybe more) cartons of books out of their warehouse and into the hands of dog lovers.

What do you suggest?

Warm Aloha,
James

beach dog full of joy makes Molly's heart melt

2009-08-07T19:40:13.000Z

I promised to post this video ages ago, and never did. Partly because I couldn't convince Molly to let me show her "without hair, makeup, or adult behavior."

:-) She gets pretty emotional in the video (in a good way) and even cries a little because she loves Kanga so much. It was taken very early in the morning, and we had just rolled out of bed, so we both look a little messy.

It was Kanga's third time walking on the beach, she was three months old, and she was having a ball. She didn't care what we looked like.

Molly jokes that she regressed to age four in the video. She even talks like a child, and she doesn't normally. When I saw what an open state she was in, my journalist background made me ask her lots of questions that really "drew out" her emotions.

I finally got her to give me permission to post it. After all, the whole point of this site, and of my book and work, is to celebrate exactly the kind of heart opening she experienced that January day on the beach. She had just realized how badly she'd wanted a dog of her own, her whole life, and was so happy ... and so was I, to see it.

So while this is a very raw and intimate family video, I know that this community will understand and connect to it and be tender with her feelings. Dog lovers get it, right?

Now, go hug your dog(s)!

One Year Anniversary of Maui's Passing

2009-08-06T01:22:46.000Z

A year ago on July 25 my "heart dog" Maui passed away. It was a bittersweet anniversary for me.

Bitter because I still miss her everyday, and sweet because the pain has faded and I feel so much better in my life than I did a year ago.

Time really does heal wounds.

To honor Maui's anniversary, I watched the video Do You Remember Love?, and then I meditated with my nine month old puppy, Kanga.

Here's the video again, in case you haven't seen it in a while:

It strikes me now that when I made it in 2007 I was anticipating how much I would need to remember the message. The pain of losing her was so big, that I needed a multi-media presentation to represent her love and remind me that even though she is gone ... she isn't.

Watching her video made me think of you, of course, those of you who are members of this community, and the hundreds of thousands of people who are on my email list, and the millions who have watched the video Valentine.

What a special group of people dog lovers are, and you are no exception!

Now that I am out of my "death crisis", I am renewing my commitment to spreading the message of dog love. These troubled times call for a "back to basics" approach, and that includes really loving each other the way that our dogs love us.

I have so much to share with you - stories about Kanga my puppy, and about all ofthe wonderful things you are doing on this website, I Remember Love.

I have books to recommend, ideas about dog health (I've learned a lot by working with my vet, Dr. Dressler, on his dog cancer book), and lots of ideas for great ways to connect more deeply to your dog.

(Why not try dog meditation? :-)

Thank you for sticking it out with me this year. I am going to be sending out an email a few times a week from now on with funny stories, news of interest to dog lovers, and tips on how to meditate with your dog and get even closer than you already are.

I'm also interested in doing more services for you, like creating free doggy ecards so you can send them to your friends and family members.

I'll tell you more about my ideas for how to really help in the next couple of weeks.

I'm dealing with a kind of troubling situation with my book on dog meditation - but I'll let you know how it works out when things develop a little more.

Meanwhile, here's a video greeting from me and Kanga ... she's in her puppy teens, but pretty calm in this video:

Is it Too Soon to Get a New Dog?

2009-05-05T00:23:00.000Z

"Do you think it's too soon?"
That's the question Aly sent in the other day. Her story brought tears to my eyes, and I wanted to share it - and my answer - with you.

Here's Aly's email:

My name is Aly and i am 16 years old.
My Family recently had a house fire and
we lost our dog.

He was really close to us becuse as long
as i can remember he's been around. We had
gotten him out of the house but we think he
went back in to look for my mom and older
brother who were not home that night.

But anyways more to the point of this,
every one else in my family seems to think
that we have to get another dog right away.

Do you think its to soon??
I mean we only lost our dog (Duke) a
month ago and they are acting like it
never really happended.

I guess i wouldn't really mind if we got
a new dog right away but the fact that we
have to get the exact same dog as before
because my dad said that it was the same dog
or no dog at all.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Aly

My response is here:

Dear Aly,

Thank you for writing. Your questions are big ones, and I'll do my best to answer from the heart.

First of all, I'm really sorry that Duke died. He sounds like an amazing dog, to go back in to a burning house to look for your mother and brother. It's obvious that he really cared about you all, or he would not have risked his life like that.

And you are a really good dog owner to think so carefully and deeply about what to do next.

Everyone grieves in very different ways. Some people cry for a long time, and really focus on the pain of losing their loved one. Others clam up about it, saving their tears for private moments. Others pretend that nothing happened, that it was all not a big deal. There are as many ways to express grief as there are people.

So I'm not surprised that you are feeling differently than other family members seem to. All of you are going to react a little differently, it's totally natural. It doesn't mean that any one of you cares more or less than the others, either, it just means that you process the grief differently.

The bottom line answer to your question "Do you think it's too soon?" is I don't know. There is no rule set in stone about how soon to get a new dog. It is such a personal decision to make, I can't possibly tell for sure.

No dog will ever replace Duke. Duke has his own special place in your hearts, and no dog will ever act, look, feel, or be Duke. It's impossible. My new puppy, Kanga, is a Maltese, just like my wonderful Maui was. But even though she looks a LOT like Maui did at her age, she is a completely different dog! I couldn't replace Maui if I tried, and you will never be able to replace Duke.

Since you are not the decision maker (it sounds like Dad is), I would give you this advice during this time:

1. Don't make any rules for yourself about when or what kind of dog to get. Your new dog will be the PERFECT new dog for you, somehow, no matter what. Since you don't have full control over which dog or when to get it, just try to relax about it. If Dad insists on getting the same kind of dog, be as supportive as you can. He is dealing with his own grief his own way, and any dog will be lucky to be with you all. It doesn't matter whether the dog looks like Duke or not, it will be its own dog and you will love it for itself (and likely, so will your Dad).

2. Say everything you need to say to Duke so that you can focus on and take joy in your new dog. One of the best things I did when I was first dealing with Maui's death was to go over her whole life, out loud, on video. I talked about the first day I saw her, funny things she did, what she loved to eat. I told the whole story of her life right up until that day. It was so moving to go over all of it, and I felt so close to her. It really helped me to see why I cared so much and missed her so much. It helped me to grieve fully. You can still do this with Duke, just talk to him as if he is with you. Record it or videotape it so if you need to you can play it back.

3. Go easy on yourself. You have suffered a major loss - and a fire can be very scary. Don't expect yourself to just "be OK", and don't expect others in your family to react in certain ways, either.

There are no rules on how to deal with loss, or how to move on. So I just encourage you to relax, be honest with yourself and others about what you want, and let things flow as naturally as possible.

I guarantee that you and everyone else will know when it is the right time to get another dog. And you will also "know" your new dog when you meet him or her. It will be obvious to all of you. In the meantime take care of yourself and your family.

Thanks again for writing,

James

Kanga meditates with me

2009-03-13T21:44:43.000Z

This morning Molly snapped a couple of pictures while Kanga and I were meditating together. Note her eyes are half open/half closed. That is what I call hound lounge in my book How To Meditate with Your Dog.
Kanga is still a puppy of course (almost 5 months now)...but she is becoming a champion meditator.

I can not tell you how good we both feel after a meditation session--especially first thing in the morning before the work day starts.

Notice the white bathrobe? Just like I share in my book, that is my favorite meditation clothing. Kanga has taken it a step further by rear-ending her way into the robe so she gets closer to me and just the front part of her body peeks out.

Here is another picture Molly took....

I would love to hear your comments below. Better yet, please upload a picture of you and your dog meditating together.

Yes, I am alive....

2009-03-06T03:00:00.000Z

I just looked at the last message I posted on this blog, and it was a holiday card!

Wow, time flies when you have a puppy.

Many people have written to ask if everything is OK.

The short answer is: Yes.

Kanga is doing extraordinarily well, which is to
say that she is full of spunk and personality
and healthy and thriving.

I couldn't be more in love with her. And yet ...
...she is a completely different dog than Maui.

Now, I know many of you are chuckling and thinking
"Well, of course she is."

But others of you who have recently lost your "heart
dog" - which Maui was to me - will understand how
just plain disconcerting it can be to love a dog
and think of her as "yours" but also think "she's
not really my dog."

Maybe that doesn't make sense.

Suffice to say that I adore Kanga and also have
found little pockets of grief over the loss of Maui.

Molly says this is to be expected, and I know she
is right.

And Kanga is totally happy to just be her own doggy
self. I can tell that she's in this for the long
haul and perfectly happy.

I have a little short video of her and I'd love to get your thoughts below.

Find more videos like this on I Remember Love
Next week I'm going to send some footage of her
doing her FAVORITE thing ... running on the beach
with Dad.

Until then, be well and take good care of yourself
and your dog(s)!

Holiday Wishes

2008-12-24T19:05:43.000Z

I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know that I am thinking
of you at this very special time of year.

It has been a challenging year for me with
the loss of Maui on July 25--but now, six
months later, I am feeling much better and
I have you and the entire IRememberLove.com
community to thank.

Our community of on-line dog lovers has
grown and I am so grateful and a bit humbled
by the legions of people who have connected
with the lessons of love that our dogs
teach us.

Now that a new puppy has graced my life--
the ultimate Christmas present--I am once
again reminded of how much our canine friends
have to share.

As Molly, Kanga and I snuggle this evening,
I will say a special prayer of thanks for
all my blessings--and please know that you
will be high on my list.

Please accept my heart-felt wishes to you
and all your loved ones for a peaceful
holiday season filled with joy...and at
least one or two doggie kisses.

Aloha,

James Jacobson

Kanga arrives in time for Christmas

2008-12-18T22:10:09.000Z

I am so proud to introduce you to my new meditation partner, my new puppy--Kanga!
She arrived home this week and quickly plopped herself down under our Christmas tree as the special present she is.

I will be writing more in the coming days about what it is like to bring home such an amazing ball of love, but I have been extremely busy working on my dog cancer project.

If you are interested in learning about the new company which is currently in clinical trials on an all-natural supplement to help dogs with cancer, you can watch a video I posted online.

The address is http://functionalnutriments.com/overview/
The password to access the presentations is: dogsloveus

Introducing My 2 New Puppies...

2008-11-25T21:30:00.000Z

Here they are. The litter consists of three dogs, 2 girls and a boy. Molly and I are adopting the two girls.
Find more photos like this on I Remember Love

Portrait of Maui for my birthday

2008-11-10T08:30:00.000Z

My birthday was last week and I have started my journey for a new puppy in earnest.

Molly commissioned a beautiful portrait of Maui which just
arrived in the mail yesterday. The artist painted it from several
photos that Molly emailed to her.

I am blown away by the likeness and am impressed with all the
details that Molly asked the artist to include (such as my favorite
flower: the bird of paradise and my favorite bird that reminds me of
my beloved puppy: an egret).

The painting is now hanging in my office and is reflected in the mirror
that hangs over my desk so I can see in no matter where I look.

She is sort of sitting over my shoulder and so when I look up
from my computer, I see her smiling face. I am so thrilled.

Thank you to Molly and everyone who has written me to help
me these past few months. :)

********UPDATE********

So many people have asked the name of the artist, so here is the info:

The artist's name is Angie Ketelhut and her website is
http://www.artbyangie.com.

If you decide to get a portrait made, let her know I sent you and I think
she will give you a little *special* attention.

Aloha

James

a new puppy for my birthday?

2008-10-22T03:00:00.000Z

This adorable Maltese puppy is from Lynn Allen's blog

It is getting to be that time.

Maui passed about three months ago and I now
am hearing the distinct sound of puppy paws
in my future. How soon, I do not know...

...but I do have a birthday coming up later
this month...and I always wanted a dog for my
birthday when I was a kid. In fact, my
parents promised me one when I turned 10.

I never got one when I was 10. In fact, I didn't
discover the joys of my own dog until I was in
my twenties.

I am old enough to get a puppy on my own now...

So, maybe this could be a VERY SPECIAL birthday!

(Molly has been dropping hints)

We will see...and I would like to include you in
the process. That is why I plan to post some videos right here on
http://IRememberLove.com about the search for a new dog.

Stay tuned!

my embarrassing confession

2008-09-17T20:30:00.000Z

I have an embarrassing confession I want to make to you. First, let me catch you up on what
has been happening...

Molly and I just came back from a few days on
Lanai--which is a lovely island just a few miles
off the coast of Maui. We were celebrating our
first wedding anniversary at the beautiful
Four Seasons Manele Bay where we were married.

One of the things I like most about the resort
is that they allow small dogs. When I made the
reservations, I had made it for 3...

...but, of course, Maui wasn't with us in the
physical, but we certainly we felt her spirit.

The hotel even had a note card in the room welcoming
Maui back to the hotel. (They had provided a
food dish and a special dog bed last year.)

It was sad that she wasn't with us, but the gift
shop at the hotel had a little stuffed dog that
bears a striking resemblance to Maui.

(Of course, I got it and the plush toy occupies
a place of honor in our home--my meditation chair.)

Now, here is the confession...

Over the past few weeks...

I have been spending a bit of time doing personal
reflection and focusing on what I want to
attract or draw into my life. A lot of people
call this process "manifesting" and I kind of
like that concept. It is something I have been
doing my whole life (on a subconscious level) as
an extension of my meditation practice.

One of the most effective ways that I have
discovered for manifesting consciously is to visualize on a
deep level exactly what it is I want to manifest.

I used to make "dream boards" by pasting photos
and images and headlines from magazines and catalogs
on poster board. I would then put the dream board in
my office in a place that I could see it when I looked
up from my work.

The images and words reminded my subconscious mind
of what I wanted to draw into my life.

While the process has always worked, I must say that
the dream boards often raised questions and a bit of
judgmental scrutiny from people who came to visit.

I was embarrassed when clients saw pictures of beautiful
women, new cars, large tropical island homes, and even
Oprah. (That was actually what was on my dream board a
few years ago...and it worked: I met and married Molly,
I bought the new car I wanted, I purchased a gorgeous
executive home a block away from the beach in Maui, and
I met Oprah -- and I even flew on her private jet.)

So while I knew the process of manifesting with dream
boards worked, I just didn't like my personal desires
staring strangers in the face. I didn't like the scrutiny.

That is probably why I haven't made a dream board in
a while.

But I didn't stop manifesting. Here is what I did...

Instead, I have been doing conscious manifestation
exercises by renting DVDs from Netflix
that gave me the feelings and images and stories I want
to draw deeper into my life.

After all, watching the moving pictures is way more
powerful than staring at a poster board. Combine that
with the riveting musical score that many films use
to "create atmosphere" and I have found a great way
to bathe my subconscious mind with powerful imagery.

So basically, for the past few years, I have been
consciously watching videos to help me manifest.

That is why I got so excited when I learned about
http://www-mindmovie.com

They have a kit that easily lets you
build your own manifestation video which you can
watch on your computer, iPod or even your big
screen TV.

I love how easy it is to build the movies and I am
working on my own to draw the next big pieces to my
life. (Which includes a new dog!!!)

So, I encourage you to check out the introduction at:

http://www-mindmovie.com

...and while you are there, you can download your
own free mind movies -- 6 of them.

But mind movies are much more
powerful if you make them yourself using your
own pictures and music. To check out the
software kit that is on sale for half price now,
go to:
http://www-mindmovie.com/try.html

So, that is my embarrassing confession as well
as my STRONG recommendation. Please check it
out and let me know what you think by
commenting below.

By the way, the kit is on sale for 50% off now
and includes over $2,000 in bonuses. If you
are curious, check it out -- as with most
online purchases, it is backed by a satisfaction
guarantee so if it doesn't work (or you don't
like it), they will buy it back from you. See it yourself
http://www-mindmovie.com

I am still kicking...

2008-08-27T09:07:51.000Z

I know it has been a couple of weeks since
I wrote last, so I wanted to drop you a line
and let you know that I am still kicking.

There are still many sad moments like today
when I passed the dog treats
aisle at the Safeway and I felt those familiar
pangs of "I should buy Maui one of her favorite
treats"...

...then I "remembered" that there was no dog
at home waiting for me to return from the store.

The good news is that with each passing day, those
sad moments are fewer, the sting less harsh, and
the recovery time much faster. (Thank goodness
for meditation.)

So life is--and I have been getting by those
sad times by thrusting myself into my work. I
have been working with Dr. Dressler, Maui's vet
on a very cool project that I think will help
a lot of dog lovers. Details will be coming soon.
(I promise.)

I am also planning a romantic getaway with Molly
to celebrate our first wedding anniversary in
early September.

Thank you again for your kind emails, letters
and messages. I appreciate them all.

This transition has inspired me in some beautiful
ways which I am now just finding the words to
descibe. Stay tuned for those...

In the meanwhile, please keep supporting one
another in our amazing community here at
http://IRememberLove.com.

2 Amazing True stories after Maui passed

2008-08-06T22:30:00.000Z

It has been almost 2 weeks since Maui passed and I am just now getting back to my regular schedule.

I recorded a video to share a couple of amazing experiences that happened shortly after Maui passed.

Some of the stories I share in the video may seem a little woo-woo, but they are 100% true.

(Fair warning: I have grown a beard in the last few weeks--let me know what you think.)

Find more videos like this on I Remember Love
http://www.irememberlove.com/video/video/show?id=2013722%3AVideo%3A29275

Do You Remember Love New design

2008-07-16T08:00:00.000Z

It has been many months and millions of
viewers since I launched "DoYouRememberLove.com"
to celebrate Maui and all that she has taught me
about love.

I decided to change the look of the site and
give it a more web 2.0 look and also make it
easier for people to share the video with their
friends--so it has undergone a re-design which
I just put up today.

Please check out the new design at http://DoYouRememberLove.com and please post your comments below.

Thank you.

Globe-trotting dogs

2008-07-16T07:51:03.000Z

I have traveled around the world and for 13 years, I used to commute between Washington DC and Maui--a total of 72 round trips. But I have nothing on this pair of Scotties.

Take a look at all the places they have been. It is pretty amazing.

Great news! Biopsy results show no cancer...

2008-07-02T06:09:34.000Z

I am so happy to report that Tuesday afternoon my friend
Dr. Dressler got the results for the biopsy he performed
on his dog last week. And it is great news:

It is NOT cancer.

What a relief. I am so touched that hundreds of people
wrote to me and many also left comments on IRememberLove.com
expressing how they were praying for Bjorn and hoping to
hear that the biopsy report would come back as negative.

Those prayers were answered and I must confess to you that
I wasn't sure what Demian would say when I told him that
so many of you were praying for his dog. (After all, he
is a man of SCIENCE.)

I am delighted he took it the way he did and believes the
prayers may even have helped bring about the positive results.

I videotaped him as soon as he got home and you have got to
see what this veterinarian says about prayer and the whole
process that he went thru with his beloved chow chow.

Dog cancer vet does a biopsy on his own dog - watch these videos

2008-06-25T07:30:00.000Z

A while ago I wrote that my good friend and Maui's veterinarian, Dr. Demian Dressler is researching and writing about dog cancer.

Well, here is some sad news...

Demian's beloved chow chow named Bjorn may have cancer.

Demian discovered an unusual spot in his dog's mouth recently and he had to do a biopsy on Monday.

At Demian's request, I videotaped the preparation for and the biopsy procedure itself. If you care about dogs and love dogs, you must watch both of these videos. (There is nothing gory at all.)

It may take a moment for these videos to load in this blog page, but it is well worth it. The first video is 3 minutes long, the second video is 5 minutes.

Please watch these and comment below.

Dog Cancer Biopsy Preparation

Please post your comments to these videos below.

Dog Cancer Biopsy Procedure

Please post your comments to these videos below.

Help Dr. Dressler and Win a $20 Amazon gift certificate

Also, if you are interested in taking a quick survey that will help Dr. Dressler in his dog cancer project, please visit his dog cancer website and take a quick survey. You may even win a $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com for your help. (The gift certificate drawing end June 30, 2008.)

How to give your dog medicine

2008-06-11T22:21:50.000Z

I have had a dickens of a time getting Maui to take her medicine recently.

I used to put it in a dab of cream cheese, but that no longer works.

I have tried disguising pills in little sandwiches of lamb, beef and chicken...
alas, she has caught on to that.

Just last week I discovered a miracle: pill pockets.

I am not sure why I never heard about them before, but they are ingenius.

You simple place the pill inside of this bowl-shaped-pill which is made of a meaty-textured protein material that dogs like. It kind of smells like commercially-available dog treats. I am not sure if they are the best thing in the world as a main component of a dog's diet, but they sure do the trick to get the medicine down.

I found them on Amazon.com and the shipping was free. (That is a good thing when you live in Hawaii.)

Check them out if you have problems getting your dog to take his medicine. Just click one of the packages below.

Also, if you have other ideas for ways to get the medicine down, please write a comment below.

Finally, here is a video from a vet who recommends these pill pockets.