Happy Holidays!

Here's a few pictures of my fun today. Enjoy my icy face! I had a blast! 

I'm Big

Mom is always telling me how big I am. She calls me big girl, and sometimes refers to me as plus size (which I think is just plain rude; I have a phenomenal waist line). Her friends often call me a horse and say she should put a sadle on me and ride me around. People say I'm too big to sit on laps, which isn't true. Here's proof....

Anyway, I don't think I'm big. I'm actually very sure all these people are wrong. I'm just your average dog who obviously fits beautifully on a person's lap. Regardless, mom doesn't buy me normal tennis balls anymore. She's says my giant block head is so large, that when there's a tennis ball in my mouth you can't even see it, and that I look silly trying to pick up something so small. None of that is true, of course. I can pick up tiny little things like the green food mom calls a pea just fine. I don't like to eat those things, but if mom drops one, I still pick it up and carry it around a bit. Mom laughs because she says I make funny faces. I DO NOT MAKE FUNNY FACES! That's not the point though. The point is that mom gets me really big balls to play with. I like them a lot. They're really fun. I'll bring the ball back once or twice if mom throws it, but it's not that fun. I don't get why mom likes that game so well. I prefer to lay around and chew on the balls mom gets me instead. If mom tries to take it I get up and walk away. I don't like her to take the ball from me. If she says "let go," I will, but I'd rather not. Here's some of mom's favorite pictures of me and my ball.  

Snow!!!

I don't like the cold, at all.  I just don't think I'm meant for it. Mom keeps me pretty slim because she says she doesn't want me to have joint problems. She says joint problems are common in "giant breed dogs" especially if they are overweight. What the heck is a giant breed dog? I'm not that big. I fit on laps; I'm good with kittens; chihuahuas like me. Plus mom calls me her baby. Babies aren't big. Anyway, I don't have much insulation, and my coat is pretty thin, so I get really cold. I'm just not made to be out in winter. I belong inside the warm house, under blankets, preferably with a person to snuggle.  I shouldn't be outside in the ridiculously cold winter weather. I'll freeze!

So the other morning, mom and I got out of bed like we always do. We went to the back door. When she opened it, I turned and ran the other way. The air was frigid and there was freezing cold snow on the ground. I did NOT need to pee that bad! What was mom thinking?  She made me go out though. I stepped off the patio, peed, and was back inside in less than a minute. That's ok, I thought, it will be better this afternoon, and I'm going to be inside curled up on the couch until then. Boy was I wrong! When mom came home from work she made me go out again, but this time she left me out there forever! It might have only been ten minutes, but I was so cold I was shivering and shaking all over the place. I was whining like a pathetic little baby. I'll admit it, I don't care, it was sooooooo cold. My teeth would have chattered if they knew how. When she finally let me in she was using her nice voice, but I think she was making fun of me. She gave me hugs and petted me though. Then she changed and went out to the garage. She let me come too. That's always good. It means we're going for a ride. I love to go for rides! We always go on fun adventures. Mom says it helps to get my bounces and wiggles out. She says I get antsy if I'm inside to much. I don't know what antsy means, I just know I like to go out and play. 

We went to the park. There's a creek there, but it doesn't have water right now. There's this weird slippery stuff. It's really cold and I slide around sometimes. I just can't keep my long legs under me. I don't understand it. I had so much fun though. I ran, I jumped, I leaped, I rolled, I frolicked! I bit at the snow and ran around like crazy. The snow was still falling and it was really pretty!  I love snow! It's so fun to play in! I don't understand why we can't have this stuff when it's warm out. Mom hates the cold too, but she says it's worth it to see how much fun I have in the snow. She laughs when I get snow all over my face. Mom will do anything to make me happy. I love her, she's the best thing ever, even better than snow. 

Mom makes fun of the way my ears flop around when I run, but that's okay.

I look so predatory sometimes, I think that's why some people are scared of me. 

I'm really just having fun though!

See, I'm just a happy girl running around in the snow. 

Snuggles!!!

Mom's been having a hard time lately. There's a lot going on in her life and she's been kinda sad. I don't like it when she's sad. I give her lots of hugs and snuggles and try to kiss her face.  Sometimes, when she's really sad, I try to give her super big kisses to cheer her up, she says it feels like I'm trying to eat her face.  Mom thinks if other people saw what big gnawing kisses I give it would scare them because I'm so huge. She knows I'm loving on her though and just don't like to see her sad.

Sometimes the cat joins in on the snuggles. 

Kisses!!!!!!!

I think I've told you that I like to give kisses, and I mean really like to give kisses. Mom tells me no, but I keep trying.

                                     

Mom likes it when I shake on command, which I'm super good at. I figure that's a good time to try to get a kiss in.  

                                       

Mom still says no, it makes me sad. I'd cry if I could.  I can't though, so I just make my really sad face. Then mom usually gives me a hug. That makes me feel a little better. Hugs from mom are the best. 

I've missed you!

It's been far too long since I last wrote. Mom's been keeping me super busy with long walks and dog park adventures. The great news is, she takes lots of pictures of me cause I'm so darn cute. Mom says I should be a model. Here are a couple to make you smile, but check back for more.

                                    

I love a good game of tug-o-war, but sometimes I just stand still and hold on tight while you try to take it away. 

               

Some dogs have cute little stuffed animals.  I love those, but my favorite is this "large dog bed." I carry it around the house, and sometimes when I'm done chewing on it gently, I lay around with it still in my mouth. Mom thinks it's weird, but I like having something soft to hold in my mouth. 

                                    

I have very good manners, and love to shake hands. Sometimes I make funny faces and come close to  get a good look at ya.

                                    

Mom buys me special giant tennis balls. I could lay around and chew for hours. Other times, I just carry my ball everywhere I go. 

   

     

Pilly

Friday afternoon mom brought home a brightly colored caterpillar when she came home from work. Like all healthy caterpillars, she had six legs.  I love Pilly! She hasn't been out of my sight since mom walked through the door and handed her to me. Yesterday she mysteriously lost 4 of her legs; they just fell off on the living room floor while we were playing. Mom seemed to think it was my fault, but it wasn't, I promise. I still take Pilly everywhere with me, and she's in great shape aside from the missing legs. It's ok that she can't walk, I carry her everywhere she needs to go. 

Trigger

So mom has this man friend.  He comes to the house A LOT, like a few times a week. I really really like him. He pets me and wrestles with me. He'll play tug of war.  Basically he's really fun, but sometimes when he's over I get kicked off the couch and have to lay on the floor while they snuggle and stuff. I don't think that's fair. Occasionally when he comes over or we go to the dog park with him, he brings his dog.  He's a pretty big pit bull mix. At first we didn't get along very well because he is an old grumpy guy, but now he knows I'm in charge and we go smell stuff together or lay near each other. Sometimes I also steal his toy. Oh, his name is Trigger.  We were at his house recently and he had a really huge rawhide bone. I like rawhide, so I took it. He didn't even argue, so ya we get along great now.

        

Puppy face

Mom took me to the house with the big pit bull I pick on. There was a new puppy there. It was really really tiny and colored a lot like me. It was so scary!!!  It followed me everywhere. I kept hiding behind mom's leg, but it just kept coming after me. Mom picked it up and held it out so I could sniff it all over. That was ok, but when she put it down it was back to chasing me. I mean, it couldn't chase fast because it was super clumsy and kept tripping over it's own feet, but it was still following me. 

                                     

The Min Pin

The last couple days there have been lots of loud noises. They don't bother me too much, but I was wondering what was going on. Tonight mom took me to another house. The pit bull I beat up on and his puppy friend were there along with a small bouncy dog. At first I was kind of mean. I like to make sure other dogs know I'm in charge. I mean, I'm huge, so it should be obvious, but sometimes you have to tell them. The new little one mom called a min pin. I don't know what that means but it was black and brown and super skinny and running everywhere. It was wild. After everyone knew I was in charge and gave me time to smell EVERYTHING and pee EVERYWHERE, I wanted to play.

The min pin liked to run from me, but it got super scared when I caught it, and would hide behind things. That wasn't fair at all!

Hatchi

Mom was in kind of a weird mood today.  She didn't seem to really want to do much.  She laid down on the couch and I laid at (well maybe on) her feet.  She likes it when I do that, I promise, it keeps her feet warm.  She turned on the box that has a whole world inside it.  I think mom calls it "T V."  There was a dog that a man found at a train station and he took it home, kinda like how mom took me home when someone found me wandering around by myself, except mom wasn't the one who found me.  Anyway, the man called the dog Hatchi.  The movie made mom really sad. She started crying so I came and snuggled her closer.  When she cries I always climb completely on top of her and snuggle as close as possible.  Sometimes I wiggle a little just to make sure I've squeezed in as close as I can.  Mom thinks it's sweet when I do that.  Mom really needed me that day.  She hugged me super close and wouldn't let me go.  She kept telling me that if anything ever happens to her, she hopes someone will love me as much as she does.  How could anyone not love me?! I'm super sweet, everyone things I'm beautiful, and I have legs that go for miles.  I'm a catch!  I'm not too worried though, because mom is super young and healthy.  I don't think she's going anywhere and that's good, because I really don't know what I'd do without her.  I lived on the streets for a while, but living with mom is so much better.  She has a big house with lots of comfy places to lay, and I'm allowed on all the furniture.  She makes sure I get lots of yummy food and teaches me to do silly things.  I don't know why she wants me to do them sometimes, but it makes her happy and she pets me, so I'll do whatever she asks.  My favorite thing mom asks me to do is called "up." It means I stand up on my back legs and put my paws on her shoulders.  Usually I give her kisses too.  She acts like she doesn't want them; but how could anyone not love my kisses?  If I didn't mention it yet, I LOVE giving kisses!!!

Softball

Mom worked all day today, and I mean ALL DAY. She got up early, went on her run, got ready and left. She almost forgot to give me breakfast! I was left all alone with the cat. His name is Cheddar.  Mom says he's an orange tabby, whatever that means, and she's always going on about how cute the freckles on his nose are.  Regardless, we snuggled on he couch most of the day. When mom is around I don't snuggle the cat. I'd rather snuggle her. Sometimes I get lonely wen she's gone though, but don't tell. 

When mom finally came home she was bustling all around doing things. She opened the back door for me, but she didn't come out to play. I was afraid she had somewhere else to be and was going to leave again. Then she got out my treats! Of course I was following her everywhere 'cause gosh I like treats. I was bouncing and running and making sure to stay close. The she got the leash and I knew something fun was about to happen!  I love my leash. I love walks, I love going places, I just love doing things with mom. 

Mom took me out to the car. Mom's car is a tiny little car with two doors. I'm kind of a big girl, so I don't fit very well.  I can't ever get comfortable, or even sit up straight. It was okay though, I'm always happy when I'm with mom. We went to a place with lots of grass, and even better lots of people. I love people!!!  Mom seemed to know a lot of them, and they already knew my name. That was weird. I had only met a few of them before. I didn't think much about it though, because they all petted me, and I liked that. I wanted to smell everything, but mom wouldn't let me, she kept saying, "stay with me." 

Then everyone walked away from me and went to play a game I didn't understand. They looked like they were having fun. One person would throw a ball and someone else would hit it with a stick. Sometimes people ran. The were some people who didn't play the game. They sat and watched and yelled sometimes. I don't like yelling, but when they weren't yelling, they petted me lots and let me give them kisses, so that was fun.  Mom called the game softball, but the ball didn't look soft. They wouldn't let me play with the ball.  I like balls, and I'm good at running, but mom said I had to stay with her.  Oh well, I had a lot of fun,  I think I like going to "softball" with mom.  

                                     

     

Adoptiversary

Mom and I celebrated my adoptiversary yesterday. I can't believe it's been a whole year since I rescued her; I guess time does fly when you're having fun. We got out of bed early so I could eat breakfast and go out to pee, but then we went back to bed for extra snuggles. Mom loves it when I lay on her, pinning her down in bed. Sometimes she gets mad if I accidentally elbow her, but she always calls me back for more. I was such a good snuggler that mom went back to sleep for a little bit.

When mom was finally ready to get up she made herself breakfast and gave me a few pieces of cheese. I LOVE cheese! Then we went out back and ran around a bit. I fetched a couple times but I get bored fast. Mom says I have doggy ADD. I don't know what that is, but mom always smiles when she says it, so it must be good. 

After mom took a shower and made herself all pretty, we went to a dog park. I hadn't been to that dog park before, and it was really nice. There were lots of other dogs to play with, although the little dogs had a separate play area. I don't like that because little dog are my favorite. I wore a yorkie as a hat once, but that's another story. As well as lots of new dogs to meet, there was also lots of grass and even a pond and stream. It wasn't warm enough to swim, but I went wading. The best part of a dog park is the people. They always tell mom how beautiful I am, and they just love to pet me. They also let me give kisses, mom doesn't let me give kisses much, but everyone else enjoys my kisses. One of mom's friends came with his two dogs. One was really old and just wanted to sit by an old man who was happy to pet him. The other was wild and crazy. He kept running back and forth for no reason.  I ran with him for a little bit, but I got bored because there wasn't much of a point. I like to run and leap and show off how graceful I am when my face and ears flap in the wind, but I get bored of running quickly. I could frolick and play with mom all day though. She likes to run away and have me come tackle her. She yips like it hurts sometimes, but she's always smiling so I know she's having fun. 

After the dog park we went back home. Mom and I cuddled on the couch while she did some things on her phone. I don't know why she stares at and pokes that thing so much. I've looked at it and even tasted it, and it's not that cool. Then mom went for a run without me. I like to go for runs, but mom is super fast and she likes to run a really long time. I like to stop and smell things and that makes her mad. She spent the evening sewing and doing things around the house, but she kept stopping to pet me. She needs me so much. When she's home she can't go more than ten minutes without hugging me. 

Mom fed me an extra special dinner with yummy treats and let me lick the cat's food can last night. Then after I went potty one more time we went to bed. Mom loves it when I stretch out the entire length of her body. She wraps her arms around me and kisses my head. I don't know what she would do without me. That's ok though, I'm not going anywhere. I love mom and it's fun hanging out with her.

                                 

Introductions

Hello, my name is Java. I would normally introduce myself by sniffing you all over, and probably giving you a few kisses, but this forum makes that difficult, so let me tell you a little about myself. I'm thought to be a Great Dane/German Shorthair Pointer mix and I'm approximately four years old. My story starts about a year ago when I was found as a stray and brought to the humane society. I don't remember much before that, but I was very thin when I was found and I have some mysterious scars. I also have many small tumors in my skin. When I was taken to the humane society I was so stressed that I scratched open a few of my tumors and they had to be removed.  Luckily I wasn't at the shelter long because a sweet young lady took pity on this underweight dog with bald spots and stitches. She's my person now, and I'm by her side every possible second.