Author: JackJack Canine Explorer

Well friends – life has been pretty ruff lately. My football teams playing this weekend were the underdogs, and the only “upset” was mine when both teams lost – badly. Michigan State Spartans and the Detroit Lions. Upset is not a strong enough word to describe how I was feeling. All week long I was looking forward to Big 10 Football and NFL Sunday. I had my Sparty party ready to go with milk bones and chew sticks. My lion mane was fluffed and my schedule was clear. Then one by one my teams took beatings. No fight song. No dancing in the end zone. Just solid disappointment.  

I took a ride on an emotional rollercoaster, feeling the highs and lows of every sensation. Shock – what is going on here? Denial – this can not be happening!  Anger – Grrrr…how come my team stinks so bad? Depression – maybe if I just take a nap things will look better in the morning.  

And don’t forget the embarrassment that comes with such a loss. I picture my fellow canines in the dog park, the fans of winning teams. I can see them now kicking grass in my face and turning up their noses. Ya, I am the mongrel who rooted for the LOSING teams. Woof! I feel like digging a hole and crawling in it for a while. 

But the truth is – I am still proud of my teams. Ya they took a beating, but they still finished the game. They didn’t give up. They worked together and although the score was not in their favor – they still persevered.

I suppose it would be easier if I jumped sides. Become one of those “fair weather fans” that talk bad about their teams to save face and not be associated with the losers. Only I could never do that –  I love the Lions and I am a Spartan at heart. So I suppose if I need to take a beating in the dog park I will. I will stand my ground for the teams I love so much.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to lend support when the chips are down. When it looks like there is no win in sight. Shocked by the situation and irate that play after play things just are not working in your favor. The good news is, there will always be another game to play – and that brings me hope. 

It is important to be hopeful. To know that even though times can be tough, we have others to rely on. Teammates who lift us up and help us off the field when we get hit too hard. Friends who will stick up for us and stand alongside us as we work toward the win. 

So friends, as we head into another week, let’s support the underdogs. Cheering each other on no matter the cost. Lending hope that the next game will be better. Reminding each other that when we get knocked down, we’ve gotta get up and push on. Get back out on the field and keep trying. After all, at the end of every losing streak – there is a win. 

Bark at ya next week!

Your friend,

Happy October friends! I can hardly believe we are headed into another new month – time seems to be flying by! As I trotted along my leaf lined trail this week, I got to thinking about time – how I spend it and who I spend it with. That got me thinking about my best buddy Nixin.

Nix is my closest canine pal. You may think that canines that have similar breeds, run in the same pack. Nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to me and Nix. I am short and he is tall. I am white and he is black. He is quiet and am LOUD. Nixin and I may not look like we have anything in common, but the truth is we just “get” each other. We haven’t been able to see each other much lately, yet when the two of us reconnect – it is like no time has passed at all. 

That’s the great thing about finding a good friend. It doesn’t matter how long it has been since we’ve seen each other or all the various differences between us – we still feel as close as family. When Nixin and I first met, we just “clicked”. Neither one of us were showing off or trying to be faster than each other. We were cool just hanging out and walking around the yard together. True friends don’t need to compete with each other (unless we are in a dog race – of course). 

Sure Nix and I have had our disagreements. Like the time I was over at his place and found a ball in the woods. I was pretty excited about my discovery since it was my favorite kind of squeaky ball. Well…as soon as I squeaked it – Nixin came running. Turns out he had lost that ball and had been looking for it for a while. I felt like “finders keepers” rules applied – so I squeaked it in his face a few times. Then Nixin got in MY face and let me know with a few serious growls that it was HIS ball. So, I dropped it pretty quickly and let him have it back. Sometimes being a good friend means you have to compromise. 

I like to think that another reason Nix and I are good friends is because we like some of the same things. Plus, since I am a little more high strung, it’s nice to have a friend that is pretty chill. Since he’s a low-key kinda canine – we balance each other out. Even though we can be quite different, we have a lot in common. We bark at the same things, like the same treats, and have each other’s backs when stranger dogs come into the park. Good friends support each other.

One time, when we were at the park – a mutt named Clyde showed up. Nix didn’t like him from the start. He gave him a low growl that let me know something was up. I kept my distance from Clyde, but Nix wanted to investigate. Being a good friend I joined Nixin in the investigation. Bad idea. Clyde turned on my buddy. He started snapping and growling. I got in there to break it up and that mongrel Clyde pounced on me! He had me pinned to the ground! Then the hoomans got involved and broke us apart.

That’s the great thing about having a good friend – they defend you when you need it and lend courage if you don’t have enough of your own. That ordeal with Clyde was a scary situation, but Nixin was right by my side. Guarding me until Clyde’s hooman could get him out of the park. I know Nixin will have my back if I need his help. A good friend is a trustworthy and helps you feel safe.  

So friends, as we head into another week, let’s make some time for our friends. I know we are all busy, but take a minute to recognize all the good things about your friends and spend some quality time together. I’m lucky to have a best buddy like Nixin where I can be myself and I know he can be himself too. Friends should love you just the way you are.

I am glad you are my friends too – please share my story with your friends!

Bark at you next week!

Your friend,

I’m not sure how much u know about me…I am a Jack Russel-Beagle-Heeler. That means I have a very LOUD hound dog bark & aaaall the energy to bark for hours and hours. I bark like nobody’s listening! Acorns fall from the trees – I bark. The wind blows open the screen door – I bark. A stick snaps under my paws – I bark. 

Back in the shutdown days, when all my hoomans were home and the only thing to do was go for walks – I didn’t have too much to bark about. But now that we are “back to normal”, all of a sudden, I have A LOT to say. I am not sure why I feel like barking so much, but I share my thoughts about every little thing – even if my hoomans don’t really care to hear it.

The other night, when I went on my afterwork walk with my hooman, the owls were hooting. I DESPISE owls. They hoot “hoohoohoo cooks for you”.  GRRRR! Hooting owls really get my hackles up. I was so annoyed – I just started barking. I wasn’t quite sure where the owls were – so I decided to bark while running through the woods. When that didn’t silence the old birds, I stopped running and barked up to the sky. My echoed barks made me sound extra fierce – so I barked even more. Still the owls kept asking “hoooo hoooo who cooks for you?” GRRRRRR!

Because I was barking so much – my hooman started barking too, “QUIET! QUIET! QUIET!”, she barked. So I barked back at her because her barks were making me nervous. I added a little jumping around for extra effect. After a few minutes, it started to feel like a fun game and I began really enjoying myself. I forgot all about those irritating owls. 

Then I noticed my hooman did not look happy. So I stopped barking. She stopped barking too. In fact, she stopped talking to me all together and walked back to the house. When she was drying off my muddy paws she said I was being too loud. She told me I have to learn how to be quiet. She said that she doesn’t like my barking all the time. 

This got me to thinking…there is a time to bark and a time to be quiet. Sometimes I get confused between the two, but I am learning how to take cues from my hoomans. I realize I do not need to give my opinions on every little thing. It is not easy, but I am trying to speak up when I have a good reason or something important to add to what is going on around me. 

So friends, as we head into another week…let’s try to watch our tongues and use our voices for good. Adding to conversations verses just barking. Sometimes when all we do is bark, our hoomans stop listening. If we really want our voices to be heard, we should speak up when we have important things to say and save all that extra yapping for the birds. 

Thanks for joining me on my canine adventures. I will bark at ya next week (see what I did there)! 

Your friend, 

Fall officially arrives this week, and there are still plenty of wildflowers out there to find. September seems to bring the cardinals out too – cardinal flowers that is! I found both red and blue cardinal flowers on my latest hunt. You know what they say – “cardinals appear when angels are near”. So maybe my Gram has been joining me on my hikes! Whether you believe in those types of things or not, I hope you will be able to spot some cardinals (either flowers or birds or both) on your next adventure.

Here are my top picks from my neck of the woods. I will continued to use my “dog sizing scale” that will help put in perspective the height and size of the flowers. Wildflowers come in many shapes and sizes. A few of the flowers I shared in the August wildflower posts are still around – so make some time this fall to go exploring.

Wildflower Size Scale:

Flower size

• Small dog nose (like a dime or smaller)
• Medium dog (like my nose the size of a quarter)
• Large dog (larger than a quarter)

Plant height

• At the paw (ground level 1-2 inches)
• My dew claw (3-4 inches off ground)
• My dog leg (6 inches or taller)

My Top Picks

#1 Blue Cardinal Flower (blue/purple)

Flower size: medium dog nose

Height: dog leg (or taller)

Blue cardinal flowers are also called the Great Blue Lobelia. They bloom from late summer to early fall. I found these in wet muddy areas of my woods. They are not as tall as the red cardinal flower but are just as beautiful.

#2 Red Cardinal Flower (red)

Flower size: medium dog nose

Height: dog leg (or taller)

Red cardinal flowers look like red rockets shooting out of the ground. They are one of my favorite wildflowers. They show up later in my woods – late summer early fall and are worth the wait.

#3 Pale Smartweed (white/pale pink)

Flower size: smaller than a small dog nose

Height: dog leg (or taller)

Does this wildflower make me look smart? It is called pale smartweed or nodding smartweed. It can grow up to 4 feet tall. I think it is also from the buckwheat family. I guess it kinda resembles wheat. What do you think?

Still Blooming…

Jewelweed or Touch-Me-Not (orange)

These bright orange flowers are still around but fading fast! They have little red flecks are are a pretty cool shape. They make an interesting stop for butterflies and humming birds to get a treat.

Woodland Sunflower (yellow)

Woodland sunflowers look like a bright yellow daisies. Their flowers are bigger than a large dog nose. Birds love them for thier seeds – apparently they taste delicious (if you are a bird). I am a dog, so I don’t typically eat seeds.

So there you have it friends, a few more wildflowers to hunt for this month. I hope you enjoy this September special edition of my Canine Adventures – it will be my last one on wildflowers until next spring. I look forward to this next season and sharing all my fall adventures with you. Leave me a comment or send me a pic of what you are discovering and don’t forget to share my adventures with your friends!

Bark at you next week!

Your freind, 

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Hello friends! Sorry I have been offline for a while…I decided to slooow things down a little and just be an observer as the world keeps turning. It seems as soon as nights begin to cool, my hoomans begin to rev up their activity. Big yellow buses ramble down my road, football games roar through the tv, calendars are pulled out and schedules filled up. In Michigan, September becomes all about apples (not sure why hoomans are so fascinated by this fruit) and everything around me begins to change. 

My woods decided to change too. My favorite wildflower, Jack-in-the-pulpit, has morphed into a stick of berries. The maidenhair ferns are fading along with the shade of the forest as the trees shed their leafy coats. I took myself for a long walk, and as the acorns fell, I began to wonder… why do things always have to change? 

Long gone are those lazy hazy summer days. Instead, my hoomans scurry from one important thing to the next. The house is often empty and quiet. Even the frogs in the creek seemed to have hopped off to somewhere unknown. The nights are arriving earlier and the screen door is now locked. I feel like the world decided to change without even asking if I was ready or not.

I guess that is the funny thing about change – it happens whether you are ready or not. Even if you know change is coming…it can still somehow surprise you. I knew summer would end one day, but now that it is gone, I wish I would have savored it just a little longer. I miss those warm afternoons splashing in the cool creek and shaking my wet coat all over my hooman to make her yelp in surprise. I am not sure I like change, but there is really nothing I can do about it. I just have to accept it and cherish the memories. 

So friends, as we head into a new season, if you find yourself racing around like my hoomans – I suggest you change your pace. I know there are places to go, lunches to pack, and paperwork to complete. But do yourself a favor and sloooow it down. Savor the season and time with each other, because one thing is for certain – we will never have this time again.

Bark at you next week!

Your friend, 

P.S. Be sure to follow me on all the socials like Facebook and Instagram and I’ll see ya on the internets. 😉

Well friends…while I may be the world famous canine explorer, this week I learned there are some adventures we have to go on alone. My Grandma (Gram) passed over the rainbow bridge this week. I spent many long days waiting for my hoomans to return – they were constantly running here and there spinning in a state of chaos. A lot of other hoomans were coming in and out, bringing food and giving me extra pets. Family I havent seen in a while were pulling into my driveway at all hours of the night.

My hooman explained to me, that even though we were all overjoyed that Gram got to walk across the rainbow bridge – we all have to stay behind. We won’t see her again until it is our turn to go over. Then I realized…I lost my number one fan! My whole world felt upside down. I didn’t know what to do – I just wanted to snuggle and sleep. 

See, Gram had a way of making me feel like the most important canine in the whole wide world. EVERYTHING I did was AMAZING! I could never do anything wrong in the eyes of my Gram. If I accidentally ate a cookie off the coffee table, Gram would say hoomans shouldn’t leave food where I could get to it. If I destroyed a stuffy toy and left stuffing everywhere – she would tell me how smart I was at getting the squeaky out. If I was too hyper – Gram would tell the hoomans to take me for more walks. If I’d shake my furry coat in the house – she would tell hoomans to brush me more. And my all time favorite…Gram would let me get on the couch! She once told my hooman that if I get my hair on the couch – they should just use a vacuum to clean it up. But now…she is gone. So who is going to be on MY side? 

I am a bit worried she will not be here to remind my hoomans of how amazing and smart I am. To let me on the couch or forgive me unconditionally when a cookie accidentally falls into my mouth. My hooman spent many many hours in deep conversations with Gram about how to care for things, cook things, raise the other pups, fix things, and solve problems big and small. Since Gram was my hooman’s trainer, she taught her to be patient and “wait”, to look at things from others point of view, and to not take things too seriously. 

Gram was always laughing about something and I think she may have had some secret powers too! She could make the whole house happier just by walking into a room. I could be feeling great and Gram would give me a little scratch behind the ears and I felt even BETTER! Now we are all going to have to figure all this life stuff out without her and that feels scary. Even though there are all kinds of hoomans around – I can’t help but feel a bit lonely. The world feels different without Gram in it.  

So friends, as we head into another week…remember some of us are headed into the unknown. Losing loved ones is an adventure we all must travel (whether we like it our not). All I can say is be as brave as you can and take care of each other. We are all going over the rainbow bridge someday, but until it is our turn…love each other fiercely and remember what my Gram always said…”this too shall pass – it will all work out – just wait and see”. 

I will miss you forever Gram! Until we meet again…

Bark at you next week.

Your friend, 

Well friends, I am not sure what time it is in your neck of the woods, but here in Michigan it is the last week of summer vacation! As we wave goodbye to our good friend summer, take a minute to soak it all in and relive those summer memories. I put together a look back at my favorite Canine Explorer moments that I enjoyed sharing with you. Click on the photo to relive the adventure!

I had a great time sharing my summer canine adventures with you. If you missed any other adventures – no worries! You can check them out by scrolling through my home page.

So friends, as we move into the last week of summer, be sure to take some time and reflect on the great memories you made. As my pal Ryan says…these are the good old days! Leave me a comment of your favorite summer memory.

Thanks for being on this journey we me. I look forward to starting another season of adventures with you.

Bark at you next week!

Your friend,

P.S. I on social as HikingJack.IG! Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what else I am doing throughout the week! 🐾

The hot, humid temps of mid-August have created the perfect conditions for hopper hunting! My hooman is my guide as she points to places where the feisty frogs are hiding – then I LEAP into action! I’d like to think I am pretty good at hopper hunting…only the scoreboard is not in my favor. Kermit 10 – Jack Jack ZERO. 

It seems every time I get close to catching one of those cagey croakers, they somehow escape my grasp. Part of the problem is their disguise. I just don’t SEE them. Sometimes my hooman will be pointing and earnestly shouting “Hopper! Hopper! Hopper!”. Only I have no idea what she is pointing at. Unless those pesky polliwogs are on the move – my senses are paralyzed. On the rare occasion when I actually do see one, I panic and over attack. Pouncing and splashing all over the place. When I stop to investigate if my attempt was successful – the slippery sucker is gone. Blasted! Hopper hunting is hard!

Once, my brudder-hooman was home for a visit and I watched him as he snuck up on the hooper and scooped him up in his paw! He even showed him to me so I could get an up close sniff. But when he put his paw in the water – the frogger had escaped! Disappeared in the creek – never to be seen again. I was AMAZED at the talent of both of them. My brudder, slow and stealthy. The frogger quick and quiet. 

I am not stealthy or quiet. I am LOUD and prefer to make an entrance. I mean, why just wander into a room when you can ARRIVE. Am I right? Unfortunately, my talents do not fit into the skill set required to be a successful frog hunter. Below are some picture of frogs in my creek that I have yet to catch.

As much as I would love to be able to successfully catch frogs, I just dont think it is in my wheelhouse. I mean, we all know I am a world famous canine explorer. I can’t be good at EVERYTHING. When it comes to frog hunting, I have accepted the best role for me is one of an observer. Sure I will participate – but I know there are others that are far more talented than me who can capture those agile amphibians. 

Now don’t get me wrong – I will not stop hopper hunting. The thrill of the hunt, (although not ever successful) is just enough to keep me jumping. Just because I am not great at it doesn’t mean I should give up soemthing I enjoy. Plus I like to think the hoppers are having fun too!

So friends, as we go into another week, know it is ok to NOT be good at everything. We all have special gifts and talents. It’s what makes us extra special. Meanwhile, I will keep working on refining my hopper hunting skills. Maybe I can catch a slow one. 😉🐸

Bark at you next week! 

Your friend,  

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My Top 5 Picks

August in my woods is HOT and STEAMY! It is also the month some of my favorite flowers turn into berries. I love watching the wildflowers become berries for my woodland friends to snack on. Remember to leave the berries for the critters. If you need a snack, stick to ones provided by your hoomans (just to make sure you to stay safe and healthy). 😉

Many of the wildflowers I am sharing this month are taller than me – but I am sticking to my “dog nose sizing scale” that will help put in perspective the size of the flower. Wildflowers come in many shapes and sizes. A few of the flowers I shared in the July wildflower posts are still around – so keep hunting!

Wildflower Size Scale:

Flower size

• Small dog nose (like a dime or smaller)
• Medium dog (like my nose the size of a quarter)
• Large dog (larger than a quarter)

Plant height

• At the paw (ground level 1-2 inches)
• My dewclaw (3-4 inches off ground)
• My dogleg (6 inches or more)

#1 Cardinal Flower (red)

Height: taller than me (but range 1-4 ft)

Flower size: medium dog nose (like mine)

When I seed cardinal flower in the woods, I jump for JOY! This very tall bright flower usually it grows straight up. Mine in this pic is a bit crooked cuz I think it was pushed by recent downpouring rain – but no worries! Look for bright red fan-shaped flowers. You can’t miss them!

#2 Touch-me-not or Jewelweed (orange)

Height: taller than me (at least 3 ft)

Flowersize: medium dog nose (like mine)

OK. So these “touch-me-nots” (also called jewelweed) are serious about thier name. If you touch them – they will fall off thier thin stems. So fair warning – do not touch! As you can see from the pic I am in… I ran around this plant and knocked all the flowers off except for one at the tippy top. Usually these look like a brightly colored bush of orange flowers with red flecks (like jewels). Their cool shape make an interesting stop for butterflies and humming birds to get a treat. My hooman sometime crushes the leaves and rubs it on her skin if she gets pricked by nettles. Native Americans have used the touch-me-not sap as a medicine to aid with anti-itch releif. I just use my hind leg to scratch an itch but it is up to you.

#3 Pokeweed (white)

Height: taller than me (at least 3 ft)

Flower size: small dog nose

Holy tallness! This plant is tall and feels like a small tree and grows FAST. One day they just sprung up in the sandy lot in my woods and they are over 5 feet tall. Not sure why they are called Pokeweeds. They are not sharpe at all, but rather have really intersting green and white flowers. They look like teeny green tomotoes with a white ruffle and will one day soon be dark purple berries.

#4 Woodland Sunflower (yellow)

Height: dogleg or taller

Flower size: larger thand a large dog nose

Woodland sunflowers are easy to spot. They look like a bright yellow daisy and grown in partial sunlight. They are also called the “Jerusalem Artichoke” but I am not sure why – since the only edible part for hoomans is the rootes. Birds love them tho cuz thier seeds are apparently delicious (if you are a bird). I am a dog, so I don’t typically eat flowers.

#5 Nightshade (purple flowers/bright red berries)

Height: my dogleg or higher – climbing vine

Flower size: medium dog nose

Ta-Da! I know I featured this flower last month but had to share with you the bright berries! This is one of my favorites – also called bittersweet. The purple flowers are now turning into green then red berries. It climbs like a vine on sapling trees and twigs at the waters edge. Never eat berries unless you know if they are safe.

So there you have it friends, 5 more wildflowers to hunt for this month. While the dog days of summer are slipping away – never fear! There is still more summer to be had and more wildflowers to find. I hope you enjoy this August special edition of my Canine Adventures. Leave me a comment or send me a pic of what you are discovering in your neck of the woods and don’t forget to share my adventures with your friends!

Bark at you next week!

Your freind, 

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