Who’s this dog I’m living with now? Is this the same crazy dog I’ve shared my life with for the past ten years? Who knew that after all these years her personality could be so transformed.

Jackie Chan has grown in ways she’d never shown before, and I hadn’t even thought were possible. And in saying that she’s still completely mental and does the goofiest things. But she’s my goofball, and I’m so here for it.

I knew when Bolo passed on that our life would be different, and that’s exactly right, but it’s turned out to be in the most wonderful ways.

All these new, let’s call them nuances, are completely transforming our relationship.

Jackie Chan hops on and off my bed all day long, where she rarely got up there before. It took her quite some time after Bolo passed away to even come near my room, let alone enter. She has even started to sleep with me now. Mind you she’s at the far opposite end of the bed, but this is amazing in itself! She’s always stayed in the guest room and continues to go in for an occasional lie in. She is so much more affectionate than she’s ever been. I’ve questioned why this is, and have had a few fleeting moments when I thought about how I might have not been present enough for her in the past. Upon reflection, Bolo did tend to block her from getting too close, he always wanted his mama all to himself. She’s never had this much access, space and freedom, and it suits her well.

One of JC’s new moves is to zoom around – mostly on the bed. Zoomies are a new phenomenon to her in this new context. When she wants to go out, she flips out, spinning and jumping up and down, on and off the bed. She roots under the covers and we play games of pee-a-boo. This is a fascinating new side of her. She’ll be 11 next year, and she’s acting as she did as a puppy.

Jackie wants to be near me, I mean she follows me into the bathroom! (I can do without this one)

Where is she while I’m washing the dishes? Well, laying right on the floor beside me of course. It’s just a surprisingly nice connection we’ve got going on right now.

When I’m working, she’s pretty much by my side, whether that’s sticking close by on the porch, inside at the dining table or in my office.

We walk together every day, and we’ve slid into a very natural flow in our routine. She is walking amazingly well and heeling on lead, and following commands much better than ever before. Her trust is growing and our new, yet renewed bond, is just what we both needed. I’m just so happy – and relieved, to see her doing so well and enjoying her time to its fullest. I’m loving her up right now and grateful her health and well-being seem to be on track.