Patience is not an attribute I have

He is getting into everything and ‘talking’ all the time.
The other day he gave a little yelp and spit out a baby tooth. Does this mean he is growing up?
I have the feeling the worst is yet to come. He isn’t quite at that ‘teenage’ age just yet.
It takes three years for a giant breed to develop.
Patience is the absolute key along with constant training.
Baxter will be starting classes at Paws N Effect in Hamden next month. The first of a long succession of classes to make him perhaps a Therapy Dog.
We will keep our fingers crossed on that one.
Housebreaking is coming along ‘okay.’
There are still those accidents or if he has too much water it’s like he has no idea he is supposed to do that outside.
Patience right?

Baxter, the Great Dane, grew again

He grew again.
I find myself saying that a lot these days.
And with the growth spurts come moments of pure chaos.
Out of nowhere Baxter will decide he needs to conquer whatever. A sofa, hallway or who knows what.
He will come bounding and leap through the air with the greatest of ease. And fall sideways, front first … And always get up from the configuration and move on to the next adventure.
I honestly can see some of the growth spurts.
His nose will look different. And if you get up close and personal with it you might notice there is more distance between the eyes or between the eyes and the mouth. Both directions.
Or I might notice that his rear end is higher than his front end.
As always every day with the little guy is an adventure. That tires me out.
The end of the next week we will get a new weight on Baxter. I bet he has gained a few pounds.

Demon dog has arrived

Every day it seems; brings a new challenge. It must be very hard being a puppy – especially a giant breed which takes three years to mature instead of one.
Moment by moment I can see him grow.
For instance, I can look at him and see that his nose grew. Or all of a sudden his feet or legs, which we are calling limbs (of a tree) got bigger.
He is now definitely taller than Chester the Airedale.
Yesterday we had workmen here. So I took advantage of the situation and took the two of them to the kennel for daycare. Certainly a good way for Baxter to get used to being boarded. And all counts said he was well adjusted. Content, going in and out the doggie door to his private patio.
Of course he came home and fell right to sleep.
Today he is acting like a demon dog. Getting into everything. Bouncing and bouncing.
Today he decided the couch in the family room was his. He has never even wanted to get on the couch until now.
Then he decided it was time to shred. He took a magazine off a counter surface and began prancing around. When I saw it he immediately began to shred it.
I could go on and on.
Bottom line -I am enjoying every puppy moment with him. The days are short compared to his adult years.