Friday, May 29, 2009

Overdue ramblings

Some days I wonder if I should keep this blog going or just close up shop. I've tried many times to sit down and catch up on the blog but for some reason just never do. Have I lost interest? Not sure, but I told myself that I need to try to post at least once a week. If I can't keep to that promise I've made to myself, then I figure it's time to close shop. So let's see how I do! Echo is growing like a weed. She'll be as tall as Willow before long. She remains a handful but is as sweet as ever. Her training is coming along and she just graduated from her basic novice class. She is still stubborn when it comes to following commands she doesn't want to do, but with time I know it'll all "click" and she'll realize that being stubborn doesn't get her far!
Some of you probably guessed from the "wordless wednesday" post that we have a new zoo member. My oldest daughter got a pup for her 18th birthday. His hame is Walter and he came from a rescue group several hours away from us. He's sweet but owning a breed other than a dane or dachshund has proved to be an experience! He's quite vocal but his sweetness makes up for it! He gets along with everyone and loves the big dogs.....however, he's learned to run for cover when Echo is out of control, as he knows that could mean trouble for his small little body!

And sweet old Kai....here he is snoozing with his new "baby." He's the only one of the entire pack that doesn't destuff toys. He loves them, mouths them, carries them around, and quite honestly, treats them like they're his "baby." It's really rather cute :) He's still getting around ok, although every day seems to be a "slower" day. He has lost most of his vision but gets around ok since he's been in the same house for the past 5 years and knows the layout like the back of his paw ;) When he goes to take treats from my hand or the ground, he does have trouble finding them. The muscle wasting in his hind quarters is quite significant but his appetite is still really good and he hasn't slowed down with his eating. Several things have happened in the past few weeks that have led me to believe that he most likely has cancer so the goal at this point is to make sure he stays comfortable.

Last week, we had a special visit from The Brat Pack's mom. The dogs tried to be on their best behavior, but we all know how that goes! Here's some of the crew above, saying their goodbyes!



15 comments:

Sharon said...

Walter is a cutie! And those girls have such adorable pink lips in that first picture :)

<3 S and D

Randi said...

Oh - I so know the stress of wanting to blog & update everyone & just feeling the pressure that it doesn't get done..but please don't get discouraged...I know I would SOOO MISS seeing all the danes & dachies pics...no please don't worry about updates...a pic here & there saying -"We are all good" is fine for Randi & I! & sweet baby Kai - how I just love him! Some day we will have a dane in our household as well so I really look to your blog for insights & inspiration!

Give hugs to all your babies!~

& that Walter is a handsome little chap!

Love & Licks,
Randi & her mom

Molly the Airedale said...

What a cutie Walter is! We love your updates! We hope you don't close up shop!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Lorenza said...

I agree with our friends!
Please, don't close your blog!
Kisses and hugs to you all!
Lorenza

Raising Addie said...

OMD look at Echo! She is soooo big now!

Walter is the sweetest thing! Our Hailey has also learned (for the most part) to get out of the way when the big girls start playing. Although the Doxie in her sometimes encourages her to join in. :)

We are glad to see that Kai is happy and enjoying his baby. It is so hard to watch our pups slow down. Just the thought of it brings tears to my eyes.

We sure do hope you don't stop blogging! We love your blog and would miss your family lots.

Give all the pups big hugs from us!

Chasing my tale...
Addie, Lucie, and Hailey

Behr Behr said...

Yay!!!! You came back!! I've missed your posts and hearing about all of the super special pups you have. So glad Kai is still hanging in there for every day of love he can get. What a sweetheart. I consider him the sweetheart dog of all of the dane blogs. :)
Your new one's a cutie. WOOOOO HOOOO!!!! Congrats on Echo finishing obedience classes!!! I'm so proud of her! Behr is still on the wild side, but she's found something she CAN do, and that seems to give her a "job to do", which is good.

It's so true, blogging does take a bit of time between posting and reading. I have been known to disappear during times when it was just "too much" to deal with. I think that's ok. Your family and pups come first. Like Randi said, if you are just able to show up once in a while to let us know how everyone is doing, that's cool. We all look forward to reading your posts when you do have the time. Thanks for the updates when they do show up. Feels like hearing from long lost family when you play catch up with us all :)

Behr Behr and mom :)

Moose said...

Welcome Walter! He is adorable and good to know he is settling in nicely with the rest of the crew!
I am of course sad to hear that Kai is having troubles. I do love the Kai man!
As for blogging, it is always nice to see your posts so hope you stick around. I have gone through varying activity levels as a blogger and think if it gets to be too much maybe take a break but no need to close up shop! Sounds like things have been extra busy for you lately. As I am getting to my busy season I am thinking I will try to do shorter more frequent posts so I can keep it up... just some thoughts! hope you stick around though!
Moose + Dana

Chef said...

Oh we so understand how hard it is to find time to blog and keep up with our friends' blogs, as much as we love them all. But don't feel pressured to update regularly or to visit all the time. Fit it in whenever you feel you can - and please don't stop blogging. I love your furbabies and I'd miss seeing their pictures and reading about them. Kai is such a gentle giant. Hugs to all.

xoxo
Chef

Unknown said...

Oh please don't stop! We would really miss you - we always love to see your updates, even if they're not that frequent! Hee! Hee! :-) yes - even just a picture every now and then is fine...or just take a break, like a lot of people seem to do...

I think the only reason I do very long posts is that I work as a writer and so writing comes very quickly & easily to me - just my "everyday" emails often run to several pages! :-) But I think if blogging became too much of an effort, then I would definitely take a break.

Walter is absolutely adorable!! My husband always says he wants a Bassett and after seeing that photo, he is even more hooked! :-)

Lovely to catch up on all the other dogs too...especially old Kai. He looks so sweet. How old is he now? Honey is like him in that she is quite good with her soft toys and just carries them around (although she used to destuff them with a vengeance when she was younger!)

Take care,
Hsin-Yi (& Honey the Great Dane)

Allison Walton said...

Glad to have an update! I find it hard to keep up when the weather is so nice and the boys are whining and putting their heads on my lap.

Looks like you'll need to add another dog to your banner!

SO sorry to hear about Kai. Those Danes just sneak into our hearts, and don't let go.

Wuv,
Gus and Waldo

Asta said...

I love heawing about youw bootiful cwew and seeing theiw pictoowes. I'm sad that Kai is getting slowew and slowew..I hope he isn't in pain..but I know you awe the bestest family and love and cawe fow each and evewy dawling in the most loving way.
Please don't go away..We all get to busy sometimes, but we would miss ouw fwiends tewwibly if we nevew saw them again
smoochie kisses
ASTA

Noah the Airedale said...

We'd love it if you continued to blog. We understand how time consumming it is. We too try to blog once or twice a week and we only just manage. Keeping up with everyone elses blog is hard too.
We often think of sweet Kai. Thanks for letting us know how he is going.
Echo and Willow look so sweet and the little newby is a cutie.

tailwags
Noah

Nibbles Treats said...

Don't close up shop. We look forward to hearing about how everyone is doing. Our mom loves great danes and laves your crew.

Tinkerbell, Oscar and Tucker

Lady Kaos said...

Walter is very cute and so are the danes and wiener dogs. Mom wants me to ask you if your dacshunds act like they're big dogs since they're living with 3 big dogs. Mom said Sasha used to act like a St. Bernard for a long time because she grew up with one. Sometimes she still acts like she's a big tuff dog instead if a miniature dacshund. Silly girl.
Kaos

Anonymous said...

Sounds like most of us have had the blog blahs... I just come off a downer... I look at Chels and I posted daily, weighed and measured her weekly... poor old Shiloh... I just realised shes almost 9 1/2 months... but its good to come on an get an update of the crew.. Ive hardly gotten round to anybodys... but hope to make up for it...

time to recharge the digitals batteries... your crew are looking fine.. I wouldnt shut down the blog... I know before I got Chels it was great to read other Dane blogs even when they had stopped writing... just drop back when your into it....