Pictures

It's been so warm out today that I just had to get some pictures of Gunther outside. And the truth of the matter, I finally feel good enough to do it. So here he is.

What a week

Another week has flown by. The good thing about is that Gunther is my daily reminder to slow down and not get caught up in everything. For about 3 weeks now, I've been dealing with bronchitis, at one point we thought it was heading to pneumonia. Gunther stayed with me and by me nearly every minute. I'm a single mom and that means when you are ill you don't get to lay down and get better. You get better on the run, so the few times I had to leave Gunther at home while taking the kids off, and Gunther didn't like it. When I got back, he was so glad to see me much more than usual. Then he was right back at my side. At first the coughing made him back up a little and look at me, but he got use to it and started to snuggle up to me when the coughing was really bad.

Our Thanksgiving was a lot of fun since it was Gunther's first. He didn't eat any human food, but the smells of the food cooking drove him nuts. He sat in the kitchen with his nose in the air sniffing. I didn't have my camera with me, or I'd definitely have a picture of that. It was hilarious. The one thing he didn't like was when I would open the oven door. The heat rushing out, was not something Gunther appreciated. He would run to the other side of the kitchen and then tilt his head, like he was trying to figure out what made that big box do that to me. Another great thing for Gunther was that everyone was home. He is so happy when we are all together.

I have had a couple of emails wanting to know when Gunther will be 4 months. December 1st, Gunther will be 4 months. I will have some new pictures of him on here soon. It has gotten hard now to get his weight, but Dec. 2nd is his next vet apt and I will have a weight then.

Thanks to everyone who has emailed, and asked questions about Gunther. We enjoy hearing from you so much.

Graduation Day

I have another child who has graduated this year. Gunther graduated today from Puppy Classes. Though he was pretty tired toward the end of the class, he did really well. My little guy is some what hesitate around other people (except Cole, Robert, Crystal, Susan, Jay, Barbara and the bunch from the karate school), especially when there is a lot of commotion and people talking, but he'll get through that with a little more exposure to other people. I have been careful about where I take him and who I expose him too, since I went through a terrible experience with a German Shepherd and Parvo. Now that Gun-Buns is about finished with his shots, I can take him more places and he can meet more people.

Anyway, I have some pictures from today that are pretty entertaining. And, by the way, I cannot suggest highly enough that if you are on the south metro side of Atlanta, to go to Doggie Daycare of Fayette. The people there are awesome and they will love your dog as much as you do.

Ok picture one, Gunther's certificate

This beautiful Harl is Cleopatra. She has so much personality. If I remember correctly she's 5 months old. She has a brother at home that looks like Gunther.

Here is Gunther (with alien eyes and ears) and Donna Thompson the Training Coordinator at Doggie Daycare of Fayette

and of course the star of the blog, Gunther, doing what all kids do after a busy day of school and graduating ;-) We'll party later when he gets up.

Too Smart

One of the things that I love about puppy and dogs for that matter, is that you can tell when something clicks for them. The look in their eyes and the expression lets you know, "I got it!" Well yesterday while Gunther and I were going through his commands, and playing around, we had us a moment, but not what I expected. He did his Sit perfectly. So then from the Sit I was giving him the hand signal for the down and at the same time saying the command. Well, Gunther looked at me square in the eyes and took his front right leg and did the Down command hand signal. It was hilarious. He looked at me like why aren't you doing the command? I guess I give him the same look. LOL. The great thing is that he is paying attention, he is interested and he is having a good time. He did do the Down and stayed in it for about 45 seconds which is better than last time.

Today he has school again. It will be a lot fun, he really enjoyed it last week.

Here is the latest 15 week picture of him.

For The Love of Play

Anyone who has a Dane puppy knows, they love to play and play and play... Today while we were outside playing fetch with the Gun-man, I noticed he was starting to get sleepy. But like most little kids he fights going to sleep when he's having a good time. I quickly grabbed my camera and caught this photo. He's sitting waiting for GT to toss the ball, GT tossed it and Gunther didn't see it, because he was sitting there with his EYES CLOSED. LOL. We have laughed till we are in pain. LOL.

OMG We Had A GREAT Time

Puppy class was so much fun. Gunther did really well. He came when called even with a lot of distraction. I learned 2 new ways to teach him the Down command, and he absolutely had a ball going through the agility tunnel. I believe that there were a total of 6 dogs. Cleo is a beautiful 5 month old Dane. She is stunning, full of energy and ssssssooooo much personality. Cleo's parents have another Dane at home. Both of their Danes are going to start in the basic obedience when this puppy class is over. We had almost decided on starting Gunther's official basic training the session after this one. With the holidays are coming up I would have to miss one due to travel, but after finding out there will be more Danes there, I think it would be a whole lot of fun taking the training with them. Maybe somehow I can make the class up. We'll see.

Out of respect to the other dogs and their owners I didn't take any photos this week. But, next week I can take photos. Today it would have been pretty distracting for them with my flash going off all time.

I wish I worked with dogs full time, especially large and giant breeds. It's so much fun. So Gunther is laying here exhausted and I'm starving so we will say bye for now.

He's Almost 42 lbs

Today's vet check and shots went well. He's growing and healthy. He's now 21" at the shoulders.

He has developed some cute habits lately. It seemed that he kind of leveled out and just was happy with how things were, then the other day, he decided that there was a new way to wake mommy up at 7 (actually 6:58 because my clock would go off at 7). He likes to rear up like a horse and drop full force those beautiful front legs straight down on me. Usually he lands on my stomach, though this morning my side was the target. If he wasn't so damn cute, standing there giving me kisses, his tail wagging like it's going to come off, like I'm the most important person in the world and he can't live without me, I'd be really upset. But, I will find a way to correct it so the stomping will stop and and the kisses will stay. ;-)

One of the other things he's started doing is putting his head in my lap while I knit. He has never gotten into my wool and did any damage but he LOVES the smell of the wool and the Alpaca. So when I'm knitting that natural fibers he is right with me. His little nose is very happy.

The big thing this week he's done is consistantly rang the bells I have on the door we use to take him out. He's got it down pat now. At first he didn't like them too well. but now he shakes the sh*& out of them. There is a very good chance that before all is said and done those bells will have to be replaced. LOL. I'll try to get a photo of him doing it. It's pretty funny, bells and ears shaking.

So everyone have a great weekend, love your pets, and be thankful for their love.

He's Growing Up So Quickly

The "little" guy is 14 weeks and still a BUNDLE of joy. LOL. Tomorrow he has his vet check up and then on Saturday he starts school. Puppy Classes! Sort of off track here let me insert that my son's humor is very much like comedians along the lines of Ron White and George Carlin, so you can imagine the one liners that I have heard about taking a puppy who naturally knows how to be a puppy to classes on being a puppy. It's been too funny. Anyway, Puppy classes are starting at the Doggie Daycare of Fayette and that's where we are headed for the next two Saturdays. Then in January, (December is going to be way too busy) we will be starting Basic obedience. Though right now he does just about everything except the Down command. But, I still want to work with a trainer and it will be good for him to be with other dogs and distractions while learning.

13 Weeks and growing

Here he is, the Gun-man. 36 lbs, 4oz.

It's been a while since I posted any funny pictures of my little guy, so I thought this one would make up for it. LOL. The kids and I have laughed till we had tears running down our faces over this photo. We came up with all kinds of "captions" to go with it.

Now this photo proves that even at a young age there is a predisposition for being a couch potato

This next photo is for all of you who have written me and sort of jumped me about not getting his ears done. I got GT to hold his ears up for you.