A Moment of Silence, Please...

With a heavy heart and naked feet, I write this post to pay my respects to my favorite pair of Iron Fists.  At noon today, the left shoe was found on my bed in Cash's slobbery jaws, an obvious victim of a homicide.  Its mate, the right shoe, was found safe in my closet, mourning the loss and ready to follow its partner to a final resting place in the trash.  I had considered a proper burial, but it was too painful to imagine him digging them back up to continue his assault further.  Moments like this make me appreciate the good times we had, the heads turned, the dance floors scuffed, but mostly the way they felt on me when I wore them -- arches tall, calves taut, I'm sure you understand.

There will be other shoes, I am sure, but my Parting Kiss booties will hold a special place in my heart -- their name a bitter omen now.  Farewell, lovelies <3

I'm really sorry I eated your byooful shoes, Mom :(

Happy Holidays!

Cassius and I hope this post finds you well, and that all of your holiday wishes came true.

It was Cash's 2nd Christmas, and I think it's fair to say he thoroughly enjoyed his presents and all of the company, attention, and delicious contraband he was able to devour.  Stolen bites of ham, dropped bites of deviled egg, and the rare morsel of sugar cookie all found its way into his slobbery jowls.

In keeping with Christmas Eve tradition, everyone got to open one present and his was a giant femur from the butcher!  As confused as he began, he quickly figured out how yummy it was and has only left it to go outside and to get drinks of water from the kitchen faucet... Yes, the faucet.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

On Christmas morning, he dug his claws into a box of squeaky toys and continued to prance through the house like a reindeer, squeaking and tossing them into the air, then catching them with his monster mouth.  My hearing still has yet to return, but as he's already lost two of three toys, there is hope that I'll one day rejoin the auditory crowd.

You can forget about saving the wrapping paper.

Do you think this means I'm off the Naughty List??

 He's now bigger than I am in every way, and with the exception of his rambunctious moments, is so gentle and affectionate with little awareness of just how powerful he truly is.  Of course, I'm not sure the former owner of the giant femur would agree.

<3 Happy Holidays <3 

Gobble, Gobble...

Happy Turkey Day, all!  This year, Thanksgiving found us less busy than in the past, which was perfectly fine with Cassius and me.  In fact, there is a belated bird in the oven as I type, prompting an excited pup in the house!  If a couple pieces of turkey make their way into his monster mouth, I'm sure he won't complain ;)

The end of this month officially marks Cash's 18 month birthday, which we celebrate with his first bag of ADULT dog food!!  Our baby's growing up... *sniff.  He's starting to become less of a goofy puppy and more of a territorial big man, which is wonderful when a stranger comes to the door, but not so much when the kids have friends over and he lets out one of his wall-shaking barks.  Socialization is key, I think, and I am reminded that I have fallen behind on those duties.  My next purchase will be a good training collar -- no prongs -- and we'll be back on the training wagon once again!

I hope this Thanksgiving found you and yours well, and Cash and I hope you found much to be thankful for.

Gobble, Gobble.

These car rides would be more fun if she'd let me jump out to introduce myself.

Back to Normal

Well, all the prayers did the trick and our feisty boy is back to his energetic, slobbery self!  It was only 3 days, (6) x-rays, (3) anti-nausea pills, and $500 later before he was trying to chew on everything in the house again!

He's back to riding in the car every morning to take the kids to school - head out of the window, jowls-a-flappin' in the breeze, barking at the occasional driver in the cars next to us at stop lights.  He gets a lot of stares and giggles and sometimes even gets to make a friend or two when he sees other puppies.

Halloween is coming up and the debate (non-Presidential thankfully) has begun in our house as to what, if any, costume Cashy's going to sport for the big night.  I don't feel confident that my puny biceps could keep him under control while trick-or-treating, but he still needs to pass out candy, right?  Well, the obvious choice has to be polka-dot Batman, but we're still open to suggestions.

Back to myself just in time for movie night.

A Wake-up Call

There are times in all of our lives that we get busy, get distracted with the daily grind and get caught up in our own world and forget that those we share our lives with are not simply supporting characters in our story, but main characters in their own and beautifully woven into ours.  Today was my day to remember that.  While I was waiting to be "inspired" to write Cash's blog again, waiting for my own life to resemble one I used to know, Cassius was still growing up.  Each day, he was sharing his precious self with me and our family and keeping a smile on my face and plenty of smooches on my cheeks and while I am sure he felt my gratitude, I failed to share his unique, silly exploits with all the other people that love him.

It's no secret that he's quite the chewer.  He chews anything and everything he can get his big ol' slobbery monster mouth around -- which is a lot!  During his patrol through the house, he found a ripped pillow (yes, he did that) in the laundry room and like any ornery baby boy, he grabbed it and ran like a Derby horse out the back door, shaking the filling out all over the backyard.  After I chased him down, took away his toy and started to pick up his mess in the dark, I could see that he was frantically trying to swallow any fluff he could before I could fish it out of his jaws.  I thought I got most of it, but this morning he got sick and up came the fluff... twice.  He seemed to feel a bit better, but after eating his breakfast, he got sick again, giving me my cue to get him to the vet, but not before he got sick in the car on the ride there.

Doc said he felt something in his belly, but the x-ray wasn't showing anything obvious, so they would need to keep him and take another one later.  So here we are... waiting at home, which seems really lonesome and different without my boy here.  I'm scared that he's scared.  I'm scared that this could be really bad.  Mostly, I'm scared that when I saw him earlier, that it may have been the last time I would ever see him alive.

If you would, Cash and I would appreciate any prayers you could send his way for hopefully no surgery, but even more, a swift recovery.  I think this is the part where I bargain and promise more consistent blog posts to share his amazing life with everyone who loves him.  He is such a precious boy, and so incredibly important to me.  Please keep him in your prayers.

Why do they have to make pillows taste so good?!

He's No Picasso

Who'd have thought that painting could be so entertaining for a puppy?!  Cash decided to let his girl know that her paintbrush looked a little dangerous!  I don't think he'll be making any masterpieces of his own anytime soon!

 

My Guard Dog

Cash has become quite the protector... keeping me safe from all sorts of threats like the kids, the FedEx guy, noisy toys, nighttime boogeymen and now the DirecTV screensaver.  His bark is getting so tough and very low!  I just hope if we really do have an intruder, that they won't come with anything smelling like peanut butter, or he'll turn into his usual cuddly teddy bear self!

Happy 1st Birthday, Cassius!!

We did it!  We made it through his first year -- through all the teething, chewing, jumping, slobbering, potty training, leash training, and more!  What an exciting first year, watching our precious puppy grow and mature!  Cassius is such a huge part of our family, so much so that even though it's only been a year (technically 9.5 months since we got him) it seems as though he's been a part of our family forever.  Having a Great Dane is such a unique experience;  he has such personality and a way about him that makes him almost human, more than we've experienced before with other breeds.  I'm so proud of him and he couldn't be more loved.

For his birthday, we made a trip to the Barkery and got him a few yummies, including a nice, big pizzle ;)  He loved his cookie and cupcake, making it worth every bit of green mess it left on the carpet.  It's been so fun to share our journey with you all.  Thank you for caring <3

Mmmm... yummies!

This dino is mine...

Mommy can't resist my big pink nose.

Miss Me Bad?

It's been a while, I know, and thankfully things are starting to settle down for us - or maybe, I'm just a little past it.

Cassius, of course, has been non-stop entertainment, from catching his first baby bird (not a clue how that monster mouth didn't hurt it, but it escaped unharmed with my frantic help!) to his first fence escape early in the morning (fence now repaired and secured).  He now officially outweighs me, which is great for my self-esteem, but not so good for my intimidation abilities - not that I ever really had that going for me with him, lol.  His 1st birthday is approaching, which means he has a surgery in his near future - snip, snip.  (Sorry, Cash!)  He's still not finished growing and although he is already taller than I am standing at the fence, he is still ALL puppy.  He loves to run (through the house, across my bare feet), lick (faces, hair, windows), chew (swingsets, shoes, bedding, arms), and play (rough and in the middle of the night).

We are sure, though, that with Cash, there won't be a dull moment!

Bobbing for basketballs!!

Baby's First Tooth

Well, it's not technically his first tooth, but it's the first one we found, or perhaps just the first he didn't swallow!  After a visit to see Dr. Brown, we were a little worried that his big boy tooth was growing in before he lost his baby tooth.  This would mean that Cash would have to be anesthetized to extract it. 

Danes and anesthesia don't go well together, from what I understand -- too much medicine, not enough support for their large and fragile neck, etc.  We were considering bumping up his neutering and stomach tacking (to help prevent torsion) to get the tooth out at the same time, requiring only one anesthesia for all.  Thankfully, we were able to avoid it when my silly boy lost his tooth - with mommy's help ;)  

I gotta tell ya, if any of my human babies would have had baby teeth like this one, they would have been bottle fed from the beginning!  Ouch!!

Check out the bling... bitches dig it.

Hostile Work-Out

Most who know me know that I've never been a fan of working out.  I'm more likely to jog from the car into Starbucks, while sporting 5" heels than spend time on a treadmill, trying to conjure a couple beads of sweat.  Taking Cash for walks offers quite a work-out, but that's about the extent of it.  Cassius, however, found my dusty free weights and decided to give them a go, only to find out that he disliked them as much as I do!  If he keeps this up, none of his collars will fit his bulging neck muscles;  we'll just have to opt for a bridle.

New Bed and a Familiar Bath

Cash's new bed arrived and he was ecstatic!  I got in to try and show him it was in fact a bed and not a huge, furry animal to kill, but my efforts were for naught.  He still sneaks into our room and comes out dragging this HUGE bed through the house, proud of his kill.

We also spent some time in the tub, as we do multiple times a day, showing how big he's gotten and how little room he's leaving!  It's not going to be easy to explain at Lowe's why we need an even BIGGER tub.  He loves to submerge his big ol' nose underwater and blow bubbles, chasing little flecks of dirt, but today he was more leisurely. 

We hope your MLK day was a great one.  It marks the birthday of our beloved Dobie, Apollo.  RIP, Handsome <3

Apollo 01/1996 - 06/2004

Do YOU know what a Pizzle is?

Yes, a pizzle.  There is much frustration among certain family members as to which treats our little glass cannon can eat.  Rawhides are out because they don't digest well and can cause bloat, along with many other treats.  Cow hooves and pig ears are out because they can splinter and puncture his digestive tract, as would cooked bones.  I am careful not to let him eat treats that aren't natural or healthy because I don't want to throw off the balance of his dog food.  This leaves lots of healthy fruits and veggies, but the pet food isle at the store can be somewhat limited.

One thing he LOVES and can have are Bully Sticks!  We get these at the Barkery and also at BestBullySticks (even though theirs tend to be stinkier) and people always ask me the difference between rawhide and Bully Sticks and I didn't know... until now.  After looking it up -- and holding back a couple dry heaves -- here's what I found.

Per BestBullySticks' site: "Bully Sticks are 100% Beef Sticks Dog Treats and dog chews that are made from the pizzle or penis of the bull."  "In recent years there have been new products introduced to the US market from India (these are water buffalo pizzles) and from Australia and New Zealand."

Water buffalo pizzles... really??  Who thinks of this?!  

So, there you have it.  If you happen to drop by and see the kids and I running from Cash, screaming, "Don't you touch me with that pizzle!" you'll know why.

I'm so hungry, I could eat a water buffalo.

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.