The Story of BB the Great Dane

BB taking a break from the puppy games at Melba’s, 31 wks

BB had a really tough few days, starting Thursday. That’s Mom’s errand running day, and he was stressed by her absence. Most dogs are stressed by being left by their owners. He had Auntie Lisa and Big Brother with him, though, so he was handling his lonesome okay. Then without warning, my 2 year old niece appeared. My brother had decided with his ex he would take her for 3 or 4 days, without so much as telling Mom, let alone asking.

My nieces’ presence changes our plans, since we have to keep a close eye on the Brothers Grin. Kenai is usually very good for a puppy, taking her noise and running about in stride. But BB is still quite reactive to small children. For a timid pup, stressed by children, having a 2 year old in the house is like stuffing a clausterphobic person in an elevator for a few days. So we try to limit the time he has to deal with Emily, or he’s an absolute wreck.

Needless to say, already stressed BB came unglued Thursday morning. If I wasn’t fast enough at getting his attention, he would spin around barking, lunge at Emily yipping when she came close to the expen, shake and curl up while she had her fits… The look at that game we learned from the “Control Unleashed” book prevented most of his barking and panic, but I had two puppies to handle and Kenai was in a heightened state just because his brother was.

It took my brother an hour and a half to get the idea that I meant it when I said he absolutely had to take Emily out of the room and keep her out. Beebs was just shy of going wild, and Kenai was getting bent out of shape too. I was losing control of both of them, and together they have a combined weight of just over 180 pounds. He didn’t leave with his daughter until Mom came home and let him know how ticked off she was about the circus he caused.

Thursday was hell on earth. Emily literally screamed, whined, demanded, and pitched hissy fits all day long. Up and down the stairs, charging into the living room, ignoring when she was told not to do something… BB was so freaked out by evening that he started peeing. The rugs, his bed, his spot on the couch next to Mom all got soaked. If you touched him, he jumped.

So Friday it was decided that we would take both pups to Melba’s house. BB loves going there, getting to play with their lab Chloe, having attention, and generally making his puppy self tired out. Good for him, hard on me. Keeping the excited boys from picking fights and causing trouble requires just as much vigilance from me as keeping BB under control around Emily does.

I could only handle 3 hours before I had to bring Kenai home. But BB got the run of Melba’s place when we were gone and came home completely exhausted. He was too pooped to do more than sit up in his pen with Em in the room. He was tired, but not relaxed. His muscles were taught as piano wires.

Saturday was not quite as horrid as Thursday had been, and Mike was on notice to lay down the law to his daughter and make it stick. Had she been allowed to carry on Saturday the way she did Thursday, Mom was going to send her home. I guess my brother got the idea he had crossed a line, and Emily went home Saturday night. He was fairly cautious Sunday, and didn’t even appear upstairs more than to get some food and return to the basement.

Today is Monday, and BB is still wound up, in desperate need of run time outside to detox the last of that extended weekend out of his system. It’s already been declared than next weekend our house is an Emily-free zone. Mike can go to see her, but she doesn’t come through that door. Nobody cares if he likes it.

Beebs is getting lots of massage and relaxation work, but it’s not going to help until he has some exercise. He’s hurting and a little wobbly, but his mind needs the outdoor time to play. As much as dogs loving being in the house with their human pack members, we still must remember that they are creatures of the natural world. Our artifical world isn’t enough to satisfy their need to explore and run.

I’ve got a big day with Kenai, but I will try with all my will to get Banana Butt out to the field. The CFIDS makes my muscles go weak and trembling, sometimes they quit working altogether. But Mom isn’t getting him out to play, so I will try to push through the weakness and migraine pain.

He’s such a fun and loving little boy, he deserves to have his needs met, his limits respected. BB would do anything for us, and I see no reason not to reciprocate! So if you pray, send a wish or two up on his behalf? And mine, so I can have the strength to help him.