Should I be Jealous?

One thing is for sure, there is never any shortage of hugs and love around here with a house full of kids, parents and a G-ma.  Cassius has fit right in, out-kissing everyone with those floppy, velvet lips and wet tongue of his.  He loves to crawl up in your lap and stare thoughtfully into your eyes before he launches his attack, followed by squeals and laughter, even disgust if he's especially generous with his... fervor.  And while he adores everyone, he's definitely Mommy's boy, probably because we spend so much time together -- and it doesn't hurt that I do most of the feeding!  So when he does crawl in Daddy's lap to snuggle, nuzzling his ear with his big ol' nose, should I be jealous?  I don't think so.  At the end of every day when he fits himself into that spot behind my knees that seems as if it were made just for him, there's no question that he's his Mommy's boy ;)

Don't tell, but Mom's kind of a sissy... Dad gives the BEST bear snuggles!

Baby's First Christmas

Well, Cash is a BIG fan of Christmas!  People come over, play with him, bring him presents, drop food... feed him beer.  Thankfully, we caught that last one before he got too much yuletide cheer, but Uncle Sam (not that one) did his best to become Cash's favorite with some traditional male bonding.  But after the vigil I kept - checking on him, looking in his eyes, feeling his tummy, it was official, he survived his first Christmas... and developed another new taste for something bad for him.  I think we'll lock up the liquor on New Year's Eve.

I think if I work fast, I can have this thing eaten before she takes it away!

Ol' Squeaky was asking for it.

This ball didn't last 12 hours before I killed it!

Coincidence?... I think not.

Yesterday, we made a trip to our favorite Barkery for some yummies for Cash, and I couldn't help notice the strong resemblance between him and the reindeer cookie.  It got me to thinking that if there were a need, if there were strong fog on Christmas Eve, if I asked nicely... would he be able to guide a sleigh with his big, pink nose?  He would be, to the best of my knowledge, the only polka-dot reindeer in Santa's line-up.  As fast as he's growing, I think I may need to whip up a triple batch of Magic Reindeer Food, adding in his beloved carrots, of course.

So, if on Christmas, you don't hear the jingle of bells, only the sound of crushing metal, don't be alarmed.  It's only Cassius... chewing on his sleigh bells.

Whoever did that guy's ears should be on the naughty list.

Connect the Dots...

Who'd have thought that having a polka-dot puppy could be so fun for the kids?!  After spotting one of them with a green crayon and a guilty grin, I noticed that Cassius had been embellished with green lines on his gorgeous black and white coat -- in the form of lines connecting his spots.  I must have interrupted the process, as there were no visible constellations, but I've been keeping a close watch on the crayons ever since.

Happy Turkey Day!!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to post what I am most thankful for about my polka-dot pony.

1.  Kisses -- While the kisses are sometimes a bit wet and not necessarily executed with the sweetest breath (did I mention how much I miss puppy breath?) it is still wonderful to have someone love you so much that their entire face takes you in.  The occasional slow, sensual lick on bare skin in the early morning hours is omitted from my thanks, mainly because of its extreme creepiness.

2.  Snuggles -- Even at only 6 months old, he is so big and cuddly and I adore the way he walks in circles, getting just the right position to plop before he goes to sleep - right in the bend behind my legs.  I am, however, wondering where my husband will sleep after his next growth spurt.

3.  Protection -- Did I mention that our neighbor (yes, THAT neighbor) wanted to see him the other day and the whole way across the street, he crouched down as if he were planning to pounce.  The sinister roofers are once again out, and while I know he wants to protect me, he shows his loyalty by refusing to go potty outside and only stays inside with me.

4.  He's a Recycler -- There is nothing that Cassius cannot find an alternative use for, including poop.  Poop should end at poop, I think... but no.  Socks, toys, paper... it all has a secondary use.  I'm not sure that eating everything benefits the Earth, unless you count the impending vet bills we will incur, thus helping to support our fellow man.  I'm thinking this hobby is too much stress, unless we reign in our little Earth Dog.

5.  He's a Social Facilitator -- He IS the life of the party.  Everywhere he goes, he makes friends.  He knows no strangers.  In fact, when his big ol' nose gets on a mission, his new friend is thoroughly... probed.  I try to help him retain some decorum, but unless I've done my 200 lb bench presses, it's no easy task.  The good news is that for me, contented to stay antisocial many days, I have met so many nice people as a result of his charm and outgoing nature.

6.  He's a Financial Prioritizer -- Many people are attracted to expensive handbags and impractical shoes, and while I will admit my affection for nice things has not waned, Cash's respect for such things (see #4) has encouraged me to keep such non-necessities in perspective.  The mere thought of his monster mouth, seeping thick Dane drool all over a pair of Louboutins brings a tear to my eye.  I could kid myself and aim for a date that he will outgrow his teething frenzy, but I think that drool is here to stay.

7.  He Offers Vacuuming Assistance -- He's good... I mean  REALLY good.  He can clear sections of flooring faster than my Dyson.  My only complaint is that he doesn't have that little compartment that you can search for lost Lego pieces after they've been mistakenly devoured.

8.  He's a Spa Attendant -- You've all seen how much help he can be in the bath, but he is equally helpful in the shower.  Our shower is a walk-in with no door, so a day does not go by that he doesn't follow us in to dig at the drain, sniff the shampoo, or just freak us out with his tongue.  I will say that he is the cleanest dog we've ever had.

9.  He's a Window Washer -- The back door, the living room, the front door... but no other place is quite so attended as the car windows, streamed with a thick garland of puppy slobber.  In all fairness, I have never spent so much time cleaning the windows as I do now, so his contribution does help the windows stay cleaner.

10.  That Look -- You know... the look he gives me when he doesn't want anything, but those big, sea glass eyes, ringed in black, just stare through me, watching me... waiting to see what we're going to do next.  Looking at me - his buddy.  Looking to see what I want, what would make me happy.  The look that is the reason I do it all.  The reason I am so very thankful.

I hope each of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Don't tell her, but this look usually gets me some kind of yummy treat.

Awww, the calm before the storm.  Bwahahahaa!

a Dane Family Album

Cashy's getting so big and with his 6 month old birthday coming at the end of this month, I thought it would be nice to show what his wonderful mommy and daddy look like.

Is it still a romantic stroll when he mauls her the whole time?

Proud parents watching Cash's sister, Kira, nap.

Daddy Nitro is 18 months old now, weighs 170 lbs, and recently added International Champion, G2 to his list of attributes.  His breeder, Shana Pace, tells me his personality is so much like his daddy, as well as his physical beauty.  I can't wait for them to come to a dog show near us so that we can cheer him on!

Cash's daddy being a RockStar!

Mommy Raven is warm and intelligent and a wonderful mommy.  She has her Canine Good Citizen title and, in my opinion, makes some of the prettiest babies around.  She's weighs 140 lbs.  

Kind of looks like an Estee Lauder ad, eh?

Cash came from a litter of 12 puppies!  I would have absolutely loved to have them all, but you can tell the truth... isn't Cashy the most beautiful?

Cashy's first pack -- always posing for the camera!

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Week

This week was crazy, with the end of the football season, sick parents, one sick kid, and more back and forth in the car than I could stand, but the weekend is finally here and with only a couple things going on this weekend, we have a few moments to chill.

We had the family over and Cash was almost perfect... until he saw his Beagle cousin, Ophelia Mae.  Then after tormenting her with his Johnny Bravo charm and brawn, got sent to isolation to give her a little break.  However, his charm did work on Aunt Kim, who decided to join him in lockdown, for which he seemed most grateful.

Yay! A cell mate to maul!

He also got to spend some quality time with G-ma.  She's always so shiny and clean afterward, but so out of breath, lol.

I just love you sooooo much!!

Our spoiled boy got to go to Brookside Barkery to get some food and pick out a treat - or 10.  He ended up loving his new Bully Stick and Thanksgiving Turkey cookie.  This place is always super helpful and informed about all breeds, but I was happy they knew Dane-specific info.  Lots of good Christmas ideas for our baby!

I'm pretending not to notice all the snack 'ems behind me -- then I'll go in stealth.

This turkey's on borrowed time.

Back by Popular Demand!

My bath boy strikes again, but this time, we got video!

Did I mention that he's a Spoiled Brat?

He can't just let me have something without sharing, and while it was a loving gesture to put his cheek to mine and try to stick his pink tongue into my glass, I wasn't feeling especially "Lady and the Tramp," so I gave him the last couple sips.  He's got the slurp down, but somehow, it's still not very refined.  Oh well, he's still my sugar, but next time, he's getting his own glass.

C'mon, don't hold back... there's still some left!

He's quite an Asiaphile...

At least his taste in movies is good.  We snuggled in bed to watch Red Cliff the other night, the most expensive Asian movie ever made at $80 million, and Cassius, who is usually oblivious to what we're watching, sat up and became quickly engrossed.  I'm not sure whether he was into the actors or maybe he just had to pay close attention to read the subtitles.  Either way, we fell asleep, so he'll get another chance to watch it soon.  The only other TV show he really likes is, of course, the Dog Whisperer, but I'm not sure that he likes it as much as he feels the need to reprimand the "red zone" cases.  My typically sweet and loveable boy turns into a fierce guard dog when those dogs start snarling and misbehaving.  He also protects me from small children that descend the stairs too quickly.

Today on our walk, a line of fur the length of his spine stood on end as we passed the neighborhood landscapers, one of which commented what a beautiful dog he was.  When she approached us though, he licked her face and lay down to let her rub his silly pink polka-dot tummy until he nearly fell asleep.  At that point, I think she could have slaughtered me in cold blood and he would have barely budged.  Thankfully, she didn't.  

He's become such a part of our family, it's hard to remember when he wasn't here, even though it wasn't long ago.  He'll be 5-1/2 months old tomorrow and he's close to 70 lbs, I'm sure.  I think that's cause to celebrate at the Barkery!  I can't wait to see their faces when he comes in to pick out his own treat.  Let's just hope they don't ask about his ears or call him a Dalmation ;)

Don't you just love that John Woo?... now I can brush up on my Mandarin.

That is one BIG baby!

Cash had his 19 week check-up at the vet today and weighed in at 59-lbs!  He did his usual charm-and-slobber rampage through the office, entertaining the girls and scaring the little old ladies.  Dr. Brown thought he was super handsome and gave him a clean bill of health.  The vet tech called him a prodigy after he figured out how to work the pedal on the elevated exam table.  I think all that classical music we play when he's alone in his crate is really paying off ;)

OMG! I missed you so much! It's been 3 whole weeks!!

Tell me you don't just want to smooch my big pink velvet nose!!

This "leave it" trick  is SO HARD... well, for most dogs ;)

Imperial Buffoon

Today we went to Great Dane Drag-Your-Mom-Around-the-Woods-Until-Her-Biceps-Look-Like-Pythons-and-Feel-Like-Noodles Fun Day.  It really was a perfect day.  The weather was unseasonably warm for October, and the autumn colors added a festive, storybook air to the event -- leaves falling, the smell of an outdoor fire, and a pond too tempting not to splash in.  We met so many lovely people, affirming that Dane owners really are a special bunch -- and glad to now be a part of that privilege.

I think we saw every color, shape, size - all so unique in their appearance and personalities, which made me want to spend time getting to know each of them.  These animals have such a soulful depth in their eyes, like they are the ones being so patient in their teaching of us.  Their strength and power are obvious, but shadowed by the majesty of their demeanor.  Lol, I say that, but giggle when I picture Cash eating socks... or poop.  Try to resolve that dichotomy, would you?

My photography skills were tested and failed miserably while Cash pulled like an 80-lb Wahoo in a deep sea fishing expedition.  I did manage to get a couple of shots that didn't come close to doing justice to the pretty puppies we saw.  We also learned more about this amazing breed to give us lots to look forward to.  First call on Tuesday?  Obedience training.

Maybe just a quick break before I take off again.

EASY , Cash!

It must be tradition... or karma... no, tradition.  Every baby we've had initiates Daddy into parenthood with an injury.  With the kids it was always scratched corneas or a lucky shot between the legs.  With our pets, its been an uppercut to the jaw or even the infamous christening from our Dobie, Apollo.  I had always heard that Dane owners were often accused of being abuse victims because of all the bruises and injuries their clumsy babies cause, and while I have been no exception to this, Daddy got it this time.  When a spirited wrestle got a little rowdy, Cash used his hammer paw to play whack-a-mole with Daddy's face and sliced open the side of his nose.  Thankfully, it didn't need stitches and I think will look as good as new with some Neosporin and a week away from any more hullabaloo.  Maybe we could borrow some sparring gear??  Anyone??

If I told you once, I've told you a hundred times... this is MY chair!

Chew, Chew, Chew...

Just when I thought he couldn't chew any more than he already does... he starts eating the most random, gross, creepy things!  Top of his list is socks - ANY sock, swallowed whole and FAST!  Thankfully... expelled later, but scaring me to death waiting for that pleasant event!  The other fun surprise is when he spits it up in the middle of the night.  You can imagine how vigilant we've all become at sock guarding -- Guerrilla warfare vigilant.  Fur pillows, shoes, shoes, and more shoes, dish towels, rugs, clothes, weeds... and people.  Nothing is safe.  He has toys.  Man, does he have toys, but everything else is just too hard to resist.  Pretty soon, he'll think his name is "Leave it."

When he's all grown up, I'll remind myself how cute and charming this phase was (fingers crossed) and how short it lasted (toes crossed,) but until then... wait, wasn't I just wearing socks?!

Steve Madden?  Whatever, that just makes them taste better!

C'mon, G-Ma!  Is that all you got?!

This pork femur isn't too bad.  I'll humor them for a while, but my eye's on mom's shoes.

Bitterman... Would you like to run my bath?

This week has been full of fun with Polka Dot.  His ears were re-taped and later taken down, now standing beautifully, so I'm hopeful he is nearing the end of the tapings.  Either way, we're in it for the long haul. 

We've had some really great walks, sans peepee on neighbors.  He thinks every dog we pass is his new best friend and we should immediately stop to rough-house... which would be fine except for many of them are the size of his big paw and not really intrigued by the idea of a wrestle with the giant.  It's hard being a baby Hagrid.

Cassius has decided he really enjoys the bath.  He's also decided that I am not fast enough for him when he decides to take said bath.  His newest move is using his big pink nose to push the faucet and turn on the water, then he jumps in.  If that weren't enough, he uses the handy pink nose again, this time, pushing all of the soaps and toys (formerly for the boys, currently for the  puppy) into the tub, then splashing around chasing them.  The cool thing is now he's big enough to get himself out... no more weight lifting for me!

Great Dane Days is coming, so Cashy will get to hang out with all the handsome giants, finally he can play rough and not get in trouble!  Bobbing for hot dogs -- don't you wish human parties were that much fun?!

Okay, I'm ready!

Needs. More. Toys!

Cash... REALLY??

Yesterday Cashy and I went for a nice walk through the neighborhood, sniffing every leaf and rock, walking very nicely on lead, only to dash forward and try to trip me when I got too relaxed, and alternating between cowardly lion and vicious attack dog every time we passed a house getting re-roofed or painted.  Apparently, of all the sinister beings, the roofer is the most nefarious of them all.

When we made our safe return, our neighbor wanted to give Cash some lovin' and ask me when his ear supports were coming off... he wasn't wearing any : /  My handsome boy then responded - albeit understandably - by peeing on the man's shoe.  Yes.  He. Peed. On. My neighbor.  Thankfully, he was a very good sport, but he did try a bit harder to avoid the leaky apparatus after that.  Next time I'll be sure to let him relieve himself after a walk before socializing.  Thanks for the heads up on that one, Cesar Millan.

<maniacal chuckle>

Polka Dot Lightning

This morning was Cash's first visit to his regular vet for shots.  He thought the drive was a little boring, so he entertained himself by burrowing his big ol' nose into my hair and nibbling at my earrings.  Once we got there, he decided to forget all of his fancy leash training and help me practice my water skiing on the freshly mopped floor in the vet's office.

While visiting with the vet tech and waiting for Dr. Brown, Cassius thought he'd test the puppy-proofing of the exam room by tearing up the silk plants, pulling the leashes off of the door hooks and even tried hacking into the computer.  My now 16 week old moose-baby weighed in at over 48 lbs!!

He was a very brave boy with his shot and got lots of lovin' and treats from the doc, and even got a new stuffed blue bear.  Dr. Brown and his staff are very sweet, so thanks to Janet Quick at the Great Dane Club/Rescue for the great referral.  Everyone loved him and thought he was amazing... to which I agreed.  

Since I took his ears down before we came, they all got to see him looking dapper and grown up, well, almost.  Tapes will go back on Thursday, so until then, it's freedom to itch all he likes!

Don't I look calm, sweet, and innocent?

All leashes must be destroyed!

Hmmm... I was thinking computer, but I think that other puppy's hiding treats!

What?... wasn't me!!

My Beautiful Baby Brat

This weekend was a little busier than usual since Cash has been here, and as he's grown, he's realizing that the playpen... is really kind of a buzz kill.  After wiping his dirty mouth on Aunt Risa, chasing Uncle Larry, and chewing on Uncle Sam's delicate tootsies, he had to spend part of Drew's birthday party in isolation.

But, now that Monday is here, and all our kids are back in school, the little prince is back to owning the place.  Now, if I could only convince him that the fur pillows are not his prey... /sigh.

Maybe if I sing really loud...

I'm the dog you wish your dog could smell like... I'm on a couch.

We hate Garage Sales

Our career as garage salers was short-lived and painful.  Not much traffic, not many sales, no one got rid of much, so I don't plan on doing that again... EVER!  If I could have sold Cassius to every person who asked, I'd be typing from Tahiti, but alas, I couldn't give up my baby boy -- even though he eats our socks and does other unmentionable disgusting things (which I WILL break him of!) 

Wednesday morning his ear looked yucky, so I took them down and they were infected, so we cleaned them up and they stood beautifully... until one fell on Sunday.  It's now Thursday and they're both down and we're heading back out to see Joy and Jerry!  He'll be so excited.

I swear he's grown each day, such a gorgeous boy!

This garage sale stuff doesn't seem so hard to me.

Who needs tapes?  I'm totally rawkin' this lop-sided look!

Busy day for a handsome boy

Today, we got to see Cash's gorgeous ears out of tapes, standing up perfectly!  He is sooooo handsome.  They had to go back up, but eventually, he'll be tape-free and stylin'.  

Once again, Joy and Jerry helped us out and made a wonderful day for us, playing with their gorgeous puppies and seeing how crazy talented Jerry is!  His art is amazing.  Check it out here:  Jerry Lobato 

He's growing like crazy, and while I don't have a current weight on him, I can tell you that he's getting heavier to hold on my lap now!

Could I get any more handsome?... really?

It's my turn to sit in Mom's computer chair with my new antler ears.

Back to School

Well, the kids are back to school and Cash has been keeping me company in the car on our many trips to taxi them all to and from their activities.  He loves to get tons of lovin' at Tae Kwon Do and football practice, but after a little while, he starts to get a little bucky and jump and nip at people.  I think he's still a little young for long periods of stimuli, but he sure is getting plenty of socialization!  Maybe he just doesn't like all the questions... "What's wrong with his ears?"  "Is that a Dalmation?"  "Why does he have to wear that hat?"  "Did he get hurt?"  Yeah... I'd probably get a little bucky, myself.

Oh, and at his 2 week post-op, he weighed 35 lbs.  Keep the food coming!

My Grandma says I look cool with antler ears.

Who to chase first... ?

Better... I think

It's been almost a week since the surgery and although the stitches don't come out for another week, Cash decided to take matters into his own... err, paws.  He scratched his coffee cup off of one ear and we had to go get them re-taped by a super nice bunch of Great Dane breeders, the Lobatos.  Joy and Jerry are knowledgeable, talented, and the nicest people you could hope to meet.  In addition to getting to visit with them during Cash's ear tapings, we get to visit with their breathtaking fawn Danes.  

What do you think of the new look?

Finn... from Adventure Time?  I still hate it.

Happy New Ears!

Well, it's only been 2 days, but timing is important, so off we go to see Dr. Rose about some big boy ears!  Our boy was a trooper, but I don't think it really helped our "bonding" to make him wear the cone of silence.

I'm not sure about this new look

It's a BOY!!

After 3 hours on the road and a less-than-memorable Chinese buffet, we got our new baby boy, Cassius!  He is a Harlequin Great Dane with eyes the most precious color, like sea glass.  He is outgoing, feisty, and funny!  Of course, he'd have to be to hold his own around here.

He arrived here at 8.5 weeks old and 25 lbs... glad the delivery on this one wasn't my job ;) Thank you Shana Pace at Spirit Danes in OK for this perfect baby!

The car ride home

Aunt Risa holding the new baby

  

Look at that ornery face!