1 Feb 2009

It has been a while since I have had time to blog.  I have been very busy. First, the GOOD news.  I am 5 months old today.  And dad is beginning to have trouble weighing me.  287 pounds minus 207 pounds equals 80 pounds.  So - the BAD news is that I was only 80 pounds.  I am still only a Good Dane, but I need 40 more pounds to be a Great Dane.  Dad says I am a VERY-GOOD pup, so I am getting closer.  But - the GOOD news is that I am 28 inches at the shoulders. Mom says that is the minimum standard for dog shows.  But - the BAD news is that I have to be 6 months old to go to dog shows.  Sigh.....  So I guess I can go to dog shows pretty soon, but not yet.  Daisy still needs to grow a little more to get into the big-dog shows.  But I don't laugh at her or tease her about her ears any more.  She proved to me that she can be a show dog - and WIN too.  It's lucky that I don't have to show against her, because I must say she is looking pretty good.

2 Feb 2009

Dog Training...  my FAVORITE!  The dog training class tonight was fun.  There were only about 6 dogs there, some of them cut classes I guess.  But that is good, more room for me to work.  I am getting pretty big, and dad needs to move me pretty fast to keep my attention.  Sometimes while we were working we would have to stop or dodge around other people training.  I was getting upset that they were in our way.  But dad says it is good practice for walking and hiking in crowds later.  Not like we had a choice anyway. First we did the controlled down.  I am beginning to like it.  Dad watches out for me, so I can relax.  I lay against dad and close my eyes while dad strokes me.  It feels good.  Uncle Parker was right, just being with dad is fun.  But after about 15 minutes the Alpha-human made us get up and start practicing other things.

We started out with the HEEL, LEFT and RIGHT turns, the ABOUT-TURN, the AUTOMATIC SIT and the RECALL.  I understand the automatic-sit now.  Whenever dad stops, I have to sit at his left side.  I get it pretty close most of the time, but sometimes dad has to ask me to get closer.  Sigh - I sat... didn't I.  Does it really matter where I sat?  But I will get better with practice.  And my dad is teaching and practicing with me a lot.  Uncle Parker was right about that. As long as I keep trying, dad keeps teaching.  We are having fun together.

Later in the class the Alpha-human taught us a new thing.  It is called SWING. You do it after a recall.  It goes like this.  Dad calls me - "River - COME".  I run to dad and sit right in front of him and look at him.  Sometimes dad asks me to get closer.  It just takes practice.  Anyway... after I sit, dad says "SWING" and I have to go to my dads left and "SWING" my butt around until I sit right next to my dad in heel position.  Dad grins at me, but I don't know why.  Mom said when Uncle Parker heard "SWING" he would leap in the air and almost flip around to land sitting next to dad.  Well, I can't do that yet, so what is dad grinning at?  But when I get the exercises right dad tells me I am a good pup, and he always gives me a gentle touch.  That is the best reward of all.  I like training classes.

6 Feb 2009

Looking back on my blog, I can see that there are lots of things I have done that I have not had time to write about.  So sometimes when I have not done anything exciting for a while, I will go back and pick up on one of these stories from an earlier time.  That way you can get to share some of my great adventures too.  Well - time to go play.