Jax is a special dog. Equal parts king and jester, this lovable little pup comes from a combination of prestigious backgrounds and has the personality to match. This is helped by his wonderful, loving family and the welcoming canine community at Ibis, of which Jax is a much-adored and utterly gregarious part.

 

Wendy and Burton Katzen—who, despite their last name, are dog people—are the loving paw-rents of Jax and were kind enough to introduce us to both him and his story. Currently eight years old, Jax is a Cavachon. This breed is a blend of the King Charles Cavalier spaniel and the French Bichon, and Wendy describes him as “fortunate in inheriting the best of his breed—he’s got the caring of the King Charles as well as the fun-loving silliness of the Bichon.” Jax joined the Katzen family as the latest in a series of dogs—with an additional sign from the universe that this was the right choice for all concerned: “Before Jax, we had Max the Labradoodle, and Casey, a Westie. When Casey passed, we were heartbroken. Enter Jax. We had a contest with our grandchildren to devise a name for the new puppy. Some names were outrageous, but one was rather cute. ‘How about Jax to go with Max?’. The night before we were picking Jax up, I had a meltdown. I asked for a ‘sign’ from our sweet Casey - but nothing. The next morning, an hour or so before we picked him up, I parked in an area I have parked in every week for years. Suddenly, I saw a license tag on the car in front of me - it said ‘MAXNJAX.’ Jax came home with us that afternoon.” Wendy also tells us that their previous dog, Max, came from Gleneden Farm in Virginia, the place of origin for the Cavachon breed. As we’re fond of saying here in Florida, it’s a small world!

 

Jax’s engaging personality and sense of empathy come through in everything he does. He makes friends everywhere he goes—especially loves the Ibis dog park and playing with his friend Owen Cohen. Like many of us in the community, he’s also fond of long walks, golf cart rides, and frozen yogurt.  Vanilla with no toppings is his favorite, for those curious. His love of Ibis living fits right in with Wendy and Burton, who are spending their second season at Ibis and “absolutely love it . . . The other members and the staff have been exceptionally warm and inclusive.” You may spot Wendy, Burton, and Jax enjoying the Ibis lifestyle while cruising around in their golf cart or Cobra sports car—what better image of our laid-back, fun-loving community?

 

As befits his breed and mindset, Jax loves his family. He’s happy to accompany them on any adventure—he’s happy “as long as he’s with us,” Wendy says. He’s also sensitive and caring, as so many good dogs are: “Jax has what you might call a sixth sense. When someone is sad or not feeling well, he will comfort them.”

 

With a royal background and a playful heart, Jax is a real delight to be around and a wonderful addition to Ibis. Say hello when you see him; it might brighten your day a bit!