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Transcript

"I don't like those dogs commented a young girl as we walked past. Well maybe he doesn't like you, I nearly said. Well I suppose Jake can look scary ... if you don't know him.

I'd never heard my boyfriend shout until we got a dog. Jake a fluff ball on legs moved in with us on October 2004m the house hasn't been the same since.

Little Jake - the fatty of the litter - kept us up that first night. He missed his brothers and sisters but we soon became friends. Jake didn't stay little for long, one week I could lift him up and the next week I couldn't. One ear up and one ear down - he looked like a bit of a clown but with a smart, shiny coat.

To save our shoes, sofa and chairs we got Jake plenty of toys. His favourite were cuddly toys and in particular a duck which quacked when it was squeezed. The duck was like a comfort blanket until his teeth became too powerful and little by little Ducky's stuffing disappeared until poor Ducky became nothing more than a rag.

Jake makes me laugh by the things that he does like catching snowballs, fighting with cardboard boxes and he loves playing hide and seek. Spending time with him helps me forget about my worries. He doesn't understand about paying the bills, he just chews them.

Visitors beware, stand outside the gate and you'll hear his deafening bark. If you dare come inside he'll insist on checking you out. You'll soon know if he likes you or not. If you're old, he'll be gentle ... wary, and he'll watch you ... playful, and he'll wear you out!

Someone asked me how I could live with such a big dog but to me he's just a big teddy bear. I just have to watch out for his big teeth!"