...puppy's first Christmas!

     The tree is trimmed, the hats and mits are out in the basket where I normally put them; in a basket by the door.  The winter boots sit out by the coat hooks just waiting to be needed.  The carpet is out by the front door to catch snow and rocks before they enter the house.  All these things I have listed will have to change.  Why you might ask?  Oh, because 'the puppy' cannot handle all this change, apparently.

     As I sit here listening to the rumble coming from Leroy's stomach and wondering what he may be attempting to digest this time, I am reminded of his innocence.  He truly is just a puppy at a mere 8.5 months old.  The biggest problem is he is now over 130 lbs. which seams like a contradiction to his age.  Here are a few things Leroy has taught me about myself this past month:

1.  I will not take a regurgitated piece of clothing and wash it for future use.  I just cannot do it.  No matter if it is in perfect condition.  (Although I have thought about it when it is a glove.  But alas, we will simply wear unmatched gloves and rest assured that these have never graced the intestinal tract of my puppy)

2.  Some of the Christmas ornaments that I believed were sentimental in value were simply 'things'. The memories attached to them cannot be gently removed from a branch and played with until they are a fine glitter on the floor.

3.  Mike and I both require new winter boots.  Shoveling snow in runners because the boots that you once owned had the heels chewed off in a fit of anxiety, is not smart.  Runners become wet and cold which in turn causes the person wearing them to become cold and sick....for the rest of the winter.

The aftermath from the first attack on the tree ornaments.

These are from July and September.

Most recent comparison shot.  Meg is getting back to her normal size and Leroy is still growing.

     Leroy went on a camping trip to PEI this summer.  He loved playing on the beach and especially digging in the sand to find a cool place to lie down.  His friend Meg and brother Flash were there as well.  The most interesting part of the trip for the pups was when I attempted to take them all for a walk.  The operative word here is "attempted".  I'll let the photos speak for themselves. (photo credit goes to my friend, Colleen)

Awe look!  They are singing!

On the left is Leroy and the right is Flash.  Handsome boys they are.

...and we are off.

Hold on.  Just a minute while I get you untangled (after having taken a handful of steps to this point).

This might just work.  I am the puppy master!

Hold on!  We are going this way!  No. Over here!

Um, yeah.  This was it.  Apparently, they had an agenda.  How about we NOT go for a walk.

     Leroy is about 120lbs now.  I believe from this point on he will not grow much bigger in his frame but will fill out significantly.  It is amazing just how fast his growth has been.  I took some reference pictures to compare and it is shocking what transpired in just 9 weeks.

The first picture was July 12 and the second was Sept. 13.  Poor Meg lost weight in this time because she has anxiety issues when we go away on vacation.  She is looking much better today :)

  

...a long time between posts.

     I admit it has been a while since I posted but it is summer, I have 4 children and life happens.  Leroy has been on a number of adventures like camping trips and a visit with some siblings and his father.  Now he is staying with the Grandparents while his family is on vacation and apparently giving them a run for their money.

     They tried to barricade him but he found a way around it.  They tried to put him in the bathroom so he wouldn't hurt himself, the cats, the house, etc... but his affinity for paper got the best of him and he ended up toilet papering the bathroom.  I can only imagine the stories we will hear after he is returned home to us, safe and sound.

     My in-laws are saints for taking in the dogs while we are away.  I know it is a big job and I am very thankful they love them like we do....I think.  I am not sure Leroy is making a strong case for himself just yet.  Somehow he must win them over; I am sure by the end of this vacation.  I mean look at this face:

How can ANYONE resist a face like that!

By the way:  that is the bunny.

THE bunny.

Leroy's Buddy Bunny.  It goes with him wherever he goes, just like a child and his blanket.  They are like peas and carrots. 
 


    

...Sunday morning.

   
I know I still have to blog about our camping trip to Fundy with Flash but I wanted to tell you this story while it is still fresh in my memory.  

     On Sunday mornings I go to the gym from 9 to 10.  Church starts at 11 and for us to get there on time we have to be organized and flawless.  This particular morning Mya is working so we had to get her there by 10:30 which means Mike and the kids had to  leave before me. 

      I got home and as per instructions Leroy was safe in the bathroom.  I let him out, got ready for church and decided that it might be a good idea to let him out to do his 'business' before I left.  

     My first indication as to the kind of mood Leroy was in had already come and gone but I wasn't really focused.  He had managed to get a pull-up, bring it over to his pillow and was gently mouthing it when I caught him.  Don't be alarmed; it wasn't dirty.  I took care of it, he was properly scolded and away we went  Since I was pressed for time I decided to let him out without his leash.  We have done this before and he has been wonderful.  Today, however, is a different story.  At first he made his way to the front yard area where we always take him.  

That is when I knew something was up.

That lowered head...the slow walk....the look of curiosity....and the direction towards to backyard.

He walked slow at first and when I protested he lifted his head in confidence, wagged his tail a little harder and trotted away out of sight.  All I could do was go after him to see what was on his mind.  He is still young yet and I cannot always make an educated guess as to what he is thinking.  It will come in time but for now we have to just roll with it.  He WAS named Leroy Jenkins, after all. ;)

     My neighbors, who in the past few years have had extensive landscaping done, were sitting in their gazebo.  Leroy proceeded to climb up the little hill on their property and arch his back to get into position.  Now, those of you who are experienced with giant breed dogs understand what I'm saying when I tell you a dog of this caliber has EPIC poops.  They are not your run-of-the-mill puppy poops and are scooped with one poopy baggie.  Oh no.  We are talking epic.  

     Realizing what is about to take place, I throw off my flip-flops and run to him in my white maxi-dress and proceed to throw him onto our side of the backyard.  Thankfully, he is able to do his business there but just when I think the drama has ended....

He lowers his head and looks at me with a sparkle in his eye....

Then bolts!

My lumbering, giant puppy is running around like Forrest Gump all up through my neighbors hostas and lillies, stomping on anything he can and blazing a trail.  The neighbors were trying to talk to me asking questions about how big he was going to be and what breed.  My maxi dress, bare feet and I are trying to tackle this puppy before he does anymore damage while I try to gracefully and politely answer their questions.  I have him by the collar at this point and am semi-classy (for a second) when the unthinkable happened.

One lone bloomed lilly was apparently taunting enough and just like that it was...yoink!

IN. HIS. BELLY.

     The only thing in their entire garden with any color other than green was now in my puppy's belly.  I am pretty sure it was in tact for the most part as he didn't even chew.   I was mortified.  Thankfully, my neighbor was ok with it. 

     Moral of the story is don't bother with the lillies in your garden.  The dog will just eat them. ;)

...puppy orientation.

     We took Leroy to puppy orientation at Petsmart as it was included in the Puppy package we bought.  It was an hour long introduction of what you should and shouldn't do with your puppy.  There were dried beef liver treats.  Lots of it.  So much that almost two weeks later Leroy is STILL feeling the effects of it. lol

     Leroy was there with Flash, his brother.  When these two are together it is always a puppy pile.  They rolled around for a bit before going to class.  At one point they met up with a very large Great Dane and were mildly terrified.  Leroy did his best to make himself invisible by trying to hide in his skin by pulling back on his collar.  He managed to cover everything except the end of his nose.  Flash tried to become part of his owner's lap.  In their defense that Great Dane was huge and intimidating.

     The puppies did very well in class; it was probably because of the liver treats the teacher had.  We didn't test the theory but I think Leroy would have rolled over and played dead for more treats.  As well as they both did, they still need more guidance.  They are going to be very large dogs (Giants, remember?) so a sense of control needs to be established now.  Stay tuned for more adventures of Leroy and Flash as they embark on their training...

  When Leroy wakes up each morning you never know what his temperament is going to be.  Yesterday he was so full of energy...

...he was like a bat out of hell...

...he was full of spit and vinegar...

...he was bat-(poop) crazy...

...he was t.r.o.u.b.l.e....

...I think you get the idea but I might have one more...

...nope.  that's it...

     He started off head low and walked out of the room like a dart.  He went for a few sips of water and just kept moving from there.  It was like he just wanted to get into anything he could find.  He went from pulling socks out of the laundry to hanging on to Meggie's tail to stealing Meggie's toys to asking to go outside but just sitting there staring at the trees.  

It was frustrating.  So very frustrating.  

Then it happened.

   He was so very quiet.  My motherly instinct tells me that when the house is quiet there is someone somewhere doing something they shouldn't be doing.  So I was on the hunt for this someone.  Then I heard it.  The tearing sound that I will never forget.  It came from the bathroom.  It took me a moment to rev up my engine to get moving because it was the morning and all.  As I rounded the corner I realized the sound I was hearing was Leroy with a mouth full of the bathmat.

The NEW bathmat.

The one I just bought after looking for years for the perfect bathmat.

 LEROY JENKINS!  NO!!!

     Realizing he was caught, his turbo boosters kicked into high gear and off he went.  Like the fuzzy missile he is, with a mouth full of yarn and rubber, (in my best Forrest Gump impression) he   was   running!!!

   He flew out of the bathroom and dove right into the freshly topped up water bowls.  I would say, after seeing it all spread out on the kitchen floor, there is about 2L of water in those bowls.  He managed to try to bank off the wall because his momentum was so great at that point running from the bathroom that he couldn't stop on his own.  In doing so he ended up swiping the water bowls as he went by knocking them all over the kitchen.

     It is a good thing he is cute.  It was his only redeeming factor yesterday.

...a conversation with Meggie.

     Meggie and Leroy have really amped up their playtime.  Leroy has been renamed "fuzzy missile" as he runs full speed around the table and couch with his ears flapping in the wind.  Or he hangs on to Meggie's tail while Meggie tries to run away.  This lasts for about an hour or so and then he crashes...hard.

    During one of his naps, I had a chance to talk to Meggie.  She asked me why Leroy was still here and when he was leaving.  I had to tell her that he was staying.  She thought she did something wrong and Leroy was punishment.  I explained to her that we thought Leroy would make a nice friend for her.


Disclaimer:  I don't really think my dogs actually talk to me.  I can, however, create entertaining stories from the expression in their eyes. 


     Leroy had a playdate with his brother Flash, recently.  When they reunited for the first time their tails were wagging so much.  It was evident in the nose bumps that they were happy to see each other.  Then they played, and played, and played some more.  This went on for 3 hours!  I don't think Leroy or Flash have been awake for such a long stretch.  When it came time to crash did they ever! 

    
     Leroy has a pretty busy schedule this month.  He is going camping with his family along with Flash's family and he has a vet appointment.    It should make for interesting blog posts. ;)