The Story of BB the Great Dane

The “Brothers Grin” (Kenai with taped ears, BB with natural ears), 24 weeks old. “How come this end of the couch shrunk? We used to both fit here…”

You moved my furniture!! That’s the outcry in BB land, perturbed by the change in his living room. You can just see the edge of the crate on the left: that’s for big bro Kenai once a bed gets made for it (I’m working on it). I’m tired of the two fussing about who sleeps in the curve of the sectional, so I seperated the ends and put the crate between them. No curve to fuss over.

BB is so bent out of shape about the re-arrangement that he won’t get on his side of the couch!! He’d rather lay on his mattress, even with the expen open. Not until Kenai got up there by Mom did BB decide he wanted up too. Tough luck, toots, the crate stays…

We took both pups out yesterday, and it’s getting to be a tight fit for Beebs in the hatch area. We’re just about to the point of having to go in seperate cars, with the boys getting so big now. But together we went, first to the puppy store for the necessary stuff and the not so necessary stuff too.

BB loves that puppy store. I mean he LOVES that puppy store. He gets to pick out a toy for himself, just one, that goes in his expen, and he doesn’t have to let Kenai play with it. He gets to play all he wants there, and he gets to choose between this training treat and that training treat. Does it get better than that for a pup?

He also loves the attention he gets at the puppy store. While we were there, though, a young girl came in who was instantly afraid of the two guys. Anything bigger than a toy dog scares her, despite her Mom’s best efforts. Kenai did an immediate down, and tried to ooch a little closer. He even waved a paw at her, to no avail.

BB reacted the way I would expect a timid pup to react to a fearful child: he barked. Only once, because our funny bananna butt is learning how to “shush”. All the same, even happy, well mannered Kenai couldn’t convice the little girl not to be scared. They left shortly. 

With the food and toys in the car (getting even tighter to fit), we headed off to a grill that has an outdoor eating area. BB was in such a hurry to get out that he didn’t wait for help. I heard him hit ground… he dropped some 3 feet to the pavement, landing squarely on his good side hip. He didn’t cry, and got right up, but you know that had to hurt. I almost decided to put him back and head home, but he didn’t show any pain.

For some reason the owner almost gave us a hard time, since they weren’t tiny anymore. We dutifully sat in the corner, but the attitude sort of left a bad taste in my mouth. The boys were so very good. BB didn’t even bark at anyone, all chilled on his bed, with big brother beside him. They didn’t do anything but grow a little, what’s the big deal?

Four ladies came and asked to pet them, and they soaked up the love. BB’s soft, natural ears and gimpy hindquarters always gets him some love! Those big eyes just steal your heart, every time. I was glad somebody wasn’t freaked out about their size… I’m sure Danes don’t understand why people are afraid of them. It’s not like they’re serial killers or something, just a little bigger than most dogs.

I can understand being a uncertain of a large dog that is loose and unsupervised. I would hesitate to go near a dog without it’s owner, or that was showing the wrong kind of energy. But two puppies, leashed, obedient, and one with a service dog vest? Heck, they behave better than most people’s kids!

Anyway, we finished up and headed home for a nap. BB was sore, shifting around on his bed, and not too comfortable, so I gave him a pain pill. He slept like a log, and woke up feeling a little better. Poor kiddo went splat awfully hard on that concrete. We didn’t bother him with his PT, and let him sleep off his pill. Gotta rest up from the thud.  

Today he’ll be in his pen until Mom comes home, so that’s 5 or 6 hours to relax. Unfortunately that’s also 5 or 6 hours to stiffen up. But if the two knuckleheads don’t give me much trouble, I’ll take Beebs out for a small wander through the field and a bit of play time. He’ll enjoy that a bunch.