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?

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.

Already a new collar

Today was a pivotal day for me.
Baxter needed a bigger collar. All of a sudden his collar wouldn’t expand anymore.
I had already decided the peace sign theme was going to be continued. Now it can continue until his neck reaches 24 inches. Will it really get that big? Oh my.
Potty training is still a difficult challenge.
Sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t.
It is truly a challenge with these really hot and humid days. He needs to drink more but then there are the consequences…

Lead breaking is a fine art

Boy am I full of hot air sometimes and yesterday was a fine example.
I was proclaiming Baxter lead broke. He is, really, in the yard with Chester and his moms as his only distractions.
In the yard he has learned the routine.
Yesterday driving to High Plains walking track Baxter was perched on the passenger seat watching everything, cocking his head when something caught his interest.
As we approached the track a tree was being chopped down on Orange Center Road opposite the track. Did I think twice about it? NO.
I got Baxter out of the car and confidently began walking. He sat and wouldn't move.
Read - Mom this is all new and strange to me. Besides - those noises scare me.With a little coaxing he reluctantly began to follow.
We did this back and forth thing for about a half hour. I was glad to be able to get him back to the car walking.
Leash training will be more of a challenge to me than I thought.
I am finding all this puppyhood stuff more of a challenge than I remembered.
And, I am not getting any younger, only older.

Help naming a Great Dane puppy

For the past year and a half we have been on the great dane rescue list for a gentle giant after losing wonderful Bogart. At the same time we let our intentions be known that we would consider a puppy if no rescue came forward. We did have some specifics, brindle in color and if an adult – one that would not intimidate poor Chester the Jester, our extremely mild-mannered Airedale.
Well, no rescues have come forward and the only person we would ever consider a puppy from recently had a litter of puppies. Last weekend we had the pleasure of meeting our soon to be new addition. In this photo he is 3 weeks old.
While we have much work to do – getting up to speed on puppy care, food, and training we also need to choose a name for our new male bundle of joy. I would prefer an Irish name. My first thought was Angus, but my spouse, Lesley is a vegetarian and thought Angus reminded her too much of red meat. Shamus was another idea but nixed as well.
We could really use some help with a name. Your help would be appreciated.