I am living with a pogo stick these days!

The past few weeks have certainly had their ups and downs with Baxter. He is now 8-months old and as written before he has gone from being a demon boy to a devil dog!
Not all the time - but there have sure been moments.
We have what we call a ‘playpen’ in the backyard for the dogs. It is really an exercise area. They can run, play and do their business in a safe enclosure and at the same time we don’t have a yard loaded with ‘yellow spots.’
Anyway, for a good long while I was in heaven when I would call Baxy and he would stop whatever he was doing and run over to me.
Not these days.
I know good and well that he hears me. He cocks his head and goes in the other direction when I call him.
And the game of tag progresses. Eventually I will get him to come in but it really depends on how much energy he wants to expend first.
And walks are a low point to my day and a very high one for Baxter.
He enjoys them so much he bounces straight up in the air. Seriously it is like you are walking next to someone on a pogo stick! And when he sees someone he gets so excited it is hard to restrain him. And forget it if he encounters another dog …
And yes, we are in classes working on these issues. In class he does better than when he is on his own.
Baxter is also a thief. Anything made of material is fair game to him. Dish towels, doggie face towels are one of his favorites. He sneaks into the room where they are and quickly grabs one and runs back to his bed and lays there until he is caught. “Leave it’ does seem to have made its way into his brain thank goodness!
Later this month we will be going to the vet for his flu shot and an updated kennel cough shot if needed. The best part of the visit will be his weigh in. Can’t wait for the new triple digit!

Maybe we’ve hit a plateau. He’s beginning to listen – a little

No matter how many times I tell myself Baxter will outgrow this, I can’t help but wonder if he really will.
The leash pulling, refusal to make eye contact when he gets stubborn and the refusal to get into the back seat of the Jeep are still a challenge.
Take the other day when we went for a ride to our veterinarians for a weigh in. Yes his weight is the in the triple digits at 104 lbs. He wouldn’t get back in the car to go home.
No matter how hard I tried, he would back away from the open car doors. Fortunately I had my cell phone so I called inside and asked for someone to bring out a treat to help lure him in. And it worked!
Note to self to ALWAYS have treats hidden in the car in case this happens again.
And it did this morning. We went for an early morning walk and he refused again. Tossing a treat into the back seat got him in thank goodness.
And we seem to have the pulling issue under control with the Easy Walk Harness. He sits to have it put on and makes the cutest little noises of excitement.
The only problem on walks in public is whenever he sees people and especially other dogs he starts jumping straight up in the air. He is such a social dog.

Where has Baxter Gone?

It seems like it was just yesterday that Baxter was a loving and obedient puppy. Just waiting to do whatever would please me.
That dog has vanished into thin air and been replaced with DEMON DOG. A canine that appears to be deaf!
Pulling constantly on his leash. Finding trouble at every step he takes.
I am promised that this is just all part of the growth spurts Gt. Danes go through.
I cannot wait for this one to pass. Bring Baxy Back soon please!

Puppy saved from top of speeding training

This is an amazing story.

It's snowing in Baxter Land

The Little Prince's first snowfall.

Proud Mommy

We are VERY proud of The Little Prince.
We took him to see his grandma last weekend at a show and she thought he was looking pretty darn good. She asked if she could enter him that day. AND Baxter won his first blue ribbon.
Yes, this week he is back to being The Little Prince as opposed to being Demon Dog. We know that any minute a growth spurt will overtake him and he will once again be DD. But Little Prince is nice while it lasts.
Lately Baxter has been doing a lot of dreaming. He runs, whimpers and sometimes wakes up wondering what had possessed his body. And then nobs off again.
We just bought him a gentle harness that is supposed to stop the excited pulling he sometimes does.
Later on we will fit him to it and go for a walk.
I know nothing but time will stop the kangaroo leaps straight up in the air, but hopefully the harness will preserve the shoulder.

Here we go again!

I knew this day would come.
However I was beginning to believe it might not.
After all, when I would ask Baxter to come sit next to me on the couch he would back away.
Not anymore.
It’s like overnight he has decided the sofa is the only place he wants to spend time.
He is, after all a Gt. Dane known for being able to find the softest spot in the house to rest those giant bones on.
The Little Prince; as we call him.
It’s either that name or Demon Dog.
He does have those moments when he will grab a dog towel – or dish towel and sneak past you to lay down with it.
Or, like last night, when we were beginning to believe he was FINALLY house broken. He walked into the hallway and peed.
I think we just looked at each other in amazement. Not believing what just took place. OMG!
Tonight I am on my own at doggie school. It will be interesting to see how he behaves with just one mommy.