I remember the day Greg taught Poke how to "shake hands". Kev and I came back to the house and Greg nonchalantly told us that Poke learned how to shake hands. We sort of didn't believe him because we had such a hard time trying to teach Poke in the past. When Greg showed us, Kev and I were cracking up and so happy. It was the cutest thing ever because you could see Poke thinking and working so hard just for that treat that we holding in front of him.

Greg also taught Abby and Poke to beg. I wish I had taken a picture of this. Again, Kev and I arrived at the house and Greg told us he taught Abby to beg but he didn't think Poke got it. A couple days later, I was giving a treat to Abby and asked her to beg... and there was Poke begging right beside her. He knew all along but was a stubborn little guy that only entertained for those chicken jerky treats.

I really miss Poke's hugs. I'd call him over and he would sit right in front of me and rest his head on my shoulder. We would hug for a few seconds and my heart would be full. Or sometimes we would do forehead-to-forehead and enjoy each other's presence. I cherished and appreciated every single day with my Poke. He was such a gift to me. My heart aches for the day that I get to see him again.

Can't wait for this day......

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals that had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Poke in some unusual positions

Poke did some funny poses that I captured on my phone. I did not tell Poke to do what he is doing in the photo. They were taken candidly. The first was when I saw him with his face in his food bowl. The second was when he put his front arm in his mouth as if he was biting it. I loved seeing him pose in these strange but funny positions. I will miss you Poke! - Greg

Go Inside!

Poke's command to go "inside" was entertaining to us. Any cave, crate, corner, or box.... he would go inside, thanks to my Mom's great idea to crate-train him. We always got a kick out of it. This is when we were moving out of the Archstone Apartments in Placentia... packing Poke away for the move! :)

He knew the command "go pee pee" and even when he didn't have to go, he would squat and dribble out a couple of courtesy droplets to satisfy us.

I miss when poke would lean against me. I could feel all his weight.. He was kinda jiggly :)

He would sneeze on my face, arms, and legs out of nowhere. It never bothered me.

Poke would clean his eyes really well. Even when he got sick, he came home with dried up tears and he cleaned himself really well. I miss telling him what a good job he did. We would try to wipe them but he always did it so much better.

He was super affectionate. He would jump up and then onto my lap, ouch! He had pegs for legs! & he loved "Billy Goat'n" it up my chest 2 my shoulders.

Poke would put his head next to mine and I would tell him how sweet he was... Then all of a sudden he would growl at me in a playful way. Made me laugh everytime :)

When he was sleeping, Poke would randomly exhale 3 times loudly... I wouldnt move or look at him, just count with each breath. 1..2..3... then smile. It had always been music to my ears.

I miss when he got "hyped"... it was soo funny how he would cock his head back and start running around wildly, making weird "he-he-he" sounds.

I miss saying his name everytime I come home.

I miss him begging under the table during EVERY meal. I wish I gave him all the table food he wanted.

I miss it when I would be working in my office... he would come up and sleep on my feet. Making my toes fall asleep.

I miss he and I wrestling. He loved it when we put Abby in he crate, and he and I were able to wrestle mono y mono. He would gnaw my elbow. Hahah miss that sooo

When we lived in Rowland Heights, Poke would always sleep in his crate either in the kitchen or garage. The first night that we moved out, I took a shower and when I went back to my room, Poke was laying on my bed with his head on my pillow. From then on, he took over and got to sleep wherever he wanted. 

We deeply miss watching him fall asleep, his eyes slowly getting heavy, but peaking every 30 seconds to make sure we're still there.

We were at the dog park and Poke's sister, Abby got attacked and pinned down by a boxer twice her size. There was a huge commotion and Kev ran over.. But before he could get there, Poke bit the boxer's back to try to make it stop. That's when we knew that, although he didn't show it.. He loved his little sister Abby.

Streeeetch!

Poke loved to stretch and while we scratched his shoulders. He would hold this position for a really long time because it felt so good.

Our cutie pie.

Poke also loved it when we scratched his ears... He would always close his eyes and tilt his head into our hands.

Poke and his friend, Keona

I think it was over a year ago when we met Keona (& her parents Lem & Erin) when we were living at the Archstone Apartments in Placentia. They didn't get to spend too much time together, but each of their play dates were very fun and they made their parents laugh. Keona was extremely sweet to our little Poke and we cherish the memories they had together.

Poke liked laying on the top 3 steps of the stairs, looking down on the living room. He wanted to see everything that was going on. Every time I walk up the stairs, I still picture him lying there.

When we accidentally stepped on his tail or foot, he would bark at us nonstop until we hugged him and apologized. Then all was forgiven.

I miss my morning pee and having him sneak between my legs to smell ... sorry seems gross, but I loved it and now miss it every morning.

Our Dear Poker

The smell of the top of Poke's head was always soothing and comforting to me. When we went to Orange Hill for Kev's birthday last year, his dessert (lemon curr) tasted exactly how Poke's head smelled :)

When we brushed our teeth, he would come in the bathroom and sit in between our legs.

When he laid on the bed and I wanted my space, I could whisper "Get down" and he would lift his head because he wasn't sure if he heard me right. Then I would say it again, and he would get down without any fuss. If we said "Get down" in a regular voice, he would jump down right away.

Before going to sleep almost every night, he would jump up onto Kev's bed and try to play with him. He would nibble at his ears, paw at his face, and do his little howling bark.

I would wrestle with Poke and get him all crazy, then out of nowhere I'd command him to Sit or Shake, and he would.. no matter how excited he was during our wrestle.

He tried to be like us and would sleep with his head on the pillow.

He hated baths and hated when he heard us turn on the hose or shower. But he would still come (slowly with his head and tail down) when we called him for it.

I would tap on the couch, bed, or anywhere twice and he knew exactly what I wanted. Poke jumped up and sat in the exact spot that I asked him to.

He liked sniffing our faces VERY close, but never licked.

Sometimes we would just be hanging out watching TV and he would come over to one of us and climb up our chests, asking for attention and showing his affection to us.

He burped a lot and his lips would puff out :)

Sometimes I would talk to Poke very close and tell him how much I love him, and he would walk away from me mid-sentence.

I loved petting his chest because the fur was so fluffy and white.... and it protruded like a t-rex. :)