It’s official—I am a dog mom of two!
This is Yellowstone “Jerma” vom Kistha Haus-Jackson.
He is from the Y litter and so every registered name needed to begin with the letter "Y".
I chose Yellowstone because that's my favourite National Park, and my favourite "Y" name out of the list I came up with. I almost went with Yosemite after Yosemite National Park because I loved that it doubled as an homage not just for my love of the wild, but to California being our home.
But I couldn't stop thinking about Yosemite Sam whenever I thought of that name LMAOOOO
Though his registered name is Yellowstone, his call name is Jerma after Jerma985.
Jerma is one of my favourite artists/creatives, and naming my next dog "Jerma" started as a joke between a friend and I years ago back when I did schutzhund.
I thought it'd be so funny to compete in the DVG nationals, calling out the name "Jerma" on the field as my dog ran the blinds searching for the helper. But over time, the name grew on me. And so I told myself that if he was born under an Earth sun sign I would name him Jerma.
Before I even had one dog, I told myself I wanted two. It was a goal of mine I wanted to accomplish before I hit 36 as part of my 5 year plan once I reached 31 (getting my first dog was part of the 5 year plan before I hit 31). I loved daydreaming about a life with two German Shepherds. I absolutely adored Halle Berry’s John Wick character and her two Belgian Malinois.
I am not one to make big spontaneous, life changing decisions. I have to think about it—turning it over and over until it's a well polished stone, breaking down the decision and it’s consequences to it's atomic particles before I make my choice. And the more I researched and contemplated, the more the reality—and responsibility—of having two dogs seemed like something I did not want for my life. Expenses aside, I mainly thought about the life change a second dog would bring into my household.
How would that change my relationship with Eden?
I was very scared I wouldn’t love Eden as much anymore, and that I would end up loving the second dog way more than her.
How would Eden feel about it no longer being just the two of us?
We’ve been together for 8 years. That’s a big change for her.
How would I feel about it no longer being just the two of us?
I really loved the routine and dynamics of it just being us two ladies experiencing the world, together.
How would adding a second dog change my daily life and routine?
For a very long time, I just never felt like I could tackle the responsibility and dedication it took to care for a second dog. Especially as a solo dog mom.
Because I wrote this goal down as part of my 5 year plan, it felt like I couldn’t change my mind. I was very stubborn and tried to force myself into being open to a second dog and making that goal a reality.
I had a couple of opportunities where I could have gotten another dog—either via a breeder or adoption—but I ended up walking away in the end because it just didn’t feel right. It felt like I was trying to force it. And then I began guilting myself because shouldn’t I be open to change and expanding my life? Isn’t that what I wanted?
It felt like the biggest weight was lifted off my shoulders when I finally admitted to myself that no, I didn’t want to expand my life. I didn’t want to add someone new to the mix. I didn’t want a second dog.
I really enjoyed, loved, and treasured what Eden and I had together. I liked things just the way that they were and genuinely felt fulfilled. So I decided that when it was Eden’s time to go, then I would get another dog when I felt good and ready to do so.
Towards the tail-end of 2025, Eden’s breeder reached out to me and told me about an upcoming litter she was working on and asked if I wanted to be on the list for a puppy. I was actually planning on turning her down. But there was something about where I was in my life at that time, and the timing of when I was going to bring the puppy home. And somehow everything just felt right.
I thought about all of the things I once was afraid of—the big life changes and new responsibilities this puppy would bring to me—and I no longer felt scared. It felt like a challenge I could handle.
I was truly content with a life shared with one dog. But the idea of having two now felt like fun, adventurous, uncharted waters for me to sail in to and explore.
