Latest Catch...

85 lbs., 6'5" long (we weighed and measured him this time.) He's a Blacktip, caught off the Florida coast. They are known jumpers - the first time Jesse tried to gaff the shark, he broke the gaff handle, circled around, and jumped almost into the boat trying to bite him. Missed his head by a foot. (I'll take "Things That Suck, Alex, for $500...)

Big Ben

I think the little beast has sunbeam-induced narcolepsy! He never makes it through a sunbeam awake.

He was 13 weeks on Friday, and at the vet a week ago he was about 36 lbs. He has started barking at neighbors, etc., and I must say for a 3 month old puppy he has a pretty commanding bark, already. Jesse has been out of town for a couple of days and Ben has taken to sleeping under the desk (where I have spent most of my time the last month working on the website.) I even put an old throw blanket under there for him. The problem is, he isn't going to fit under there for much longer, and it's already getting uncomfortable for him. I've noticed him circling under there a couple of times and then coming out and "flumping" against the front of the desk instead, between me and the door.

I continue to be encouraged by his progress with training. He has been going to the door on his own whenever he wants to go out, and he hasn't had an accident in the house in quite some time, (except the other night after his bath, after I dried him off he went straight out into the hallway and widdled on the carpet - I think he was peeved at me.) That was an isolated incident though, and for the most part he is getting the hang of the whole house training thing. I can't wait to start teaching him some simple commands (sit, come, etc.) I am going to take your advice, Mom, and look around for a bell I can hang on the doorknob that he can ring when he wants out. Great idea.

Big Fish

Jesse caught a monster! Over 8 lbs, we weighed it. The world record is 6 lbs. No kidding. We ate him, he was delicious! :)

Big Ben

He's getting big! He had his 9 week check at the vet Friday, and he is 23 lbs. It's getting harder to pick him up, the little meatball. Natalie is starting to get attached to him, whereas when we first brought him home she would run for the hills anytime he was out of his crate. Now she's taking him in her room for hours at a time, (hence the sleeping laundry rat) and bringing him down every so often to go out. You should hear her try to whistle to get him to go back upstairs with her. She can't actually whistle, so it sounds like a very high pitched "Woo-Hoo!" He is the sweetest little thing. Loves his belly rubbed and loves to eat the girls stuffed animals, particularly their little stuffed lions for some reason.

Natalie's Haircut

A while back, Natalie cut her own hair, and took a big chunk out of the front on the left. I had it trimmed in the salon twice since then, but the missing chunk never quite seemed to catch up with the rest. So, this time I told her to go ahead and even it up. I didn't intend for it to be quite this short, and when I first saw her, I gasped. But it's growing on me. She's pretty enough to pull it off.

Tiny Dancer

Guess who must have discovered my underwear drawer this morning? She came trotting down the stairs all excited, in her new "dance outfit."

It Runs in the Family

The more I observe Ben, the less there is any doubt in my mind whatsoever that Chuck was part Dane. He is sweet, snuggly, and a certifiable Couch Potato waiting to happen. Notice the forelorn, "Look-how-bad-I-have-it," banished to the floor at only 7 weeks, woe is me look on his face. I was actually sitting on this pillow playing with the little tyke, and got up to make coffee. I might have been gone 5 minutes.

Big Ben

I never would have guessed that a puppy could be so easy to train. We are so thrilled with this little snuggle rat. It's just like having a new baby in the house. He wakes up, goes out to potty, comes in and eats, goes back outside, plays for half an hour or so, then heads for his crate and crashes out for an hour or two. Then we do it all over again. The crate training has been perfect, I have never had a puppy that did not "go" in the house. This is just a dream.

Jesse has been letting him sleep on his lap on the sofa for short periods. Today, after play time, I noticed he headed right for the sofa and tried to jump up (he didn't make it, he's too small.) The thing is, that won't be true for much longer, and a 200 lb. dog (scroll down) takes up a whole sofa. I want to train him to stay off the furniture from the very beginning, so I guess he's not the only one who needs some training!

I have a feeling we are going to be Dane owners for life. I've never been around a puppy who was so low-key, gentle, and easy to train. We are hooked.

We have a new baby!

Announcing the arrival of......


........BIG BEN!!!

Ben is a Great Dane pup. His dad, Homer, is 200 lbs, and his mom, Jasmine, is 165. He is 6 weeks old today, and he is 16lbs. He was the only male fawn in the litter. We are falling fast for our new addition. He spent the drive home (about 2.5 hours) perched on Jesse's shoulders! He crawled up his arm, and nestled between Jesse's head and the headrest, and crashed right out. It was adorable, and we were kicking ourselves for not having the camera. We will keep lots of pictures up as he grows, everyone tells us he will be about the size of a Doberman at 5 months, then he'll hit his first real "growth spurt" about 10 months.

Why do we buy them toys?

Natalie loves to watch TV from here, perched on the edge of the coffee table in this laundry basket. She throws in a pillow and a blanket, and VIOLA! It's the perfect little papasan chair.