A Whole New Dog

What a week! This week has been the craziest and best week! Since the move there have been lots and lots of changes happening in the home dynamics and in Keena! Before I moved here Keena was a pretty lazy dog who didn't play with toys, was pretty much a mute and slept all day and night. I love her no matter what (cuz let's face it, I'm a pretty lazy person when I'm at home) but I just thought she was an extremely low energy dog. Boy was I wrong! Since we have moved in she has been full of energy and plays all the time! My friend (and new roommate) Caitlyn and I were wondering how long it was going to take all of our dogs to get along. Keena can be reactive to other dogs and is protective of me and one of Caitlyn's dogs is the same with her. It turns out dogs adapt way better than people do....they are all good friends now and love to play, run, chase, and play bitey face! It's such a wonderful thing to see...it actually melts my heart and makes me smile. My baby girl has friends! As I sit typing this Keena, Manii, Shelby and Enzo are all curled up in balls all over the apartment sleeping. This living situation is going fantastically! Another thing I found interesting was that Keena has NEVER been interested in toys and has only barked a few times since I have had her. I came home from work when my Caitlyn had been off work and she had all the dogs out and they had been playing all day. She told me Keena played tug of war with the other dogs AND barked when she was playing. She has done this several times since then and I even got a few pictures of it! I am extremely happy with the way things have turned out and am loving our new home! :)

Manii attacking Keena

Keena has never played submissive before...I like it.

Three way tug of war

I love this picture...fair fight? (Enzo is the little one)

Keena...playing with a toy!!!

Moving Day

  We have moved!  Keena and I are officially in our new home. Life is crazy and the next few weeks with four dogs and a cat!!! So far I am just going to try to keep Keena in her safe place (my room) and let her out when the other dogs are up. I know they will eventually get used to each other but it will take a little while. I have faith in them! I have no picture as of yet and I am soooo exhausted I dont think I will have any for a few days. Have a great week everyone!

Back to the Fifties Festival

Fall is here and I am in love! Fall is my favorite season and with this glorious weather comes festivals galore! I have always loved festivals and when I found out that my little town is having it's annual "Back to the Fifties Festival" tonight and tomorrow I knew I would be making an appearance tonight! I was hoping to bring Keena with me because I love to introduce to her new people, places and experiences but this particular festival said no pets. :( Now, for those of you who know about the Fall Festival in Evansville, IN where I am from....this festival was MUCH smaller. It covered about one block with approximately five food booths and one blow up bouncy house. The Fall Festival back home cover multiple blocks (cant even tell you off the top of my head) with over a hundred and twenty food booths and an entire section devoted to rides and carnival games! The Fifties festival, however had something my hometown's lacks, Shirly Ann and Bobby, the official "Fifties" couple. Shirly Ann and Bobby have been married for 60 years and the few moments I got to speak to them were very inspiring and sweet. They love each other so much and are so adorable I could cry. I spoke with them after they finished one of their dance numbers and told them how much hope and happiness they give me. Shirly asked me if I have a young man in my life and I said yes. (I just wish Charles had been there with me!) She told me to love him with my heart and be honest and if he was a good man who cherished me the rest would take care of itself. How sweet is she?! I'm pretty sure that I won't let down Shirly Ann and I know Charles will make Bobby proud....he makes me proud everyday! What a wonderful little festival for a sweet little town in Indiana. :)

They had a bunch of really cool old cars so I took some pictures of my favorites.

Our cute court house with the local band set up in front.

These are Shirly Ann's and Bobby's bikes! Too cute! The signs say that they gratuated from schools in Fishers IN in 1941

Shirly Ann and Bobby

Meanwhile....back at the house this is what Keena was doing. :)

ZZZzzzzZzZzZZZZzzZZ........

 

Hiking

Today we went on a hike! The Indianapolis Great Dane Group had a meetup today at Eagle Creek Park.  This was the first time I was able to go on one of these hikes because they have always fallen on Saturdays that I am scheduled to work. Charles and I packed up Keena and headed to the park. It took us a bit to find the entrance we were supposed to find and we were close to being late but made it just in time. Keena really enjoyed the hike and since the weather has been in the 70's for the past week she did not get nearly as tired as she normally does. Charles and I, on the otherhand, were a litte sleepy after this long trek....but we had a lot of fun! Luckily, on of my "dane friends" took pictures so I stole them from her! It feels good to get out and hike and be in the woods. We even saw three deer!! Keena actually spotted them first, I saw her looking in the woods and could not figure out what she was looking out then I saw them. They surprisingly did not run away from us and our dogs and were standing pretty close to us for at least 5-10 minutes. We were extra careful because it seemed to be a doe with her twin babies. :) Nature is fantastic!

My friend Trice with one of her danes Frisco.

Charles walking Keena...I am really glad he is wiling to get involved in her care and taking charge of her. She is a powerful dog that doesn't listen to just anyboody...you need to get her to respect you. It's special to me to see her gaining more and more respect for Charles. :)

Frisco cooling off...he was sitting in the water for a while...too funny.

From the left (dane wise) is Gracie, Keena, Cooper

Gracie and Dutchess

All that walking makes a girl thirsty.

Cooper is one of my favorite danes in the club. He is so vocal and will "talk" to you. Trice is giving him some loving and he is talking away!

Fortune Cookie Training

Who said fortune cookies are just for telling your fortune? Turns out they are very good motivation for a little training session. :)

Waiting for her release word.

Devouring the fortune cookie.

Sniffing for more fortune cookie.

Sad that she ate the whole cookie already.

Labor Day...No Labor Involved. :)

 Aaahhhh....it's nice to be off work! Unfortunately, I did have to work this weekend but on this lovely Sunday evening I am enjoying the promise of getting to sleep in tomorrow because I do not work! When you work with animals you are pretty much guaranteed to work every other weekend and on some holidays. It isn't always fun, but it's a necessary evil. I am lucky because when I work on a weekend I get the Friday before the weekend and the Monday following it. Since my normal scheduled day off falls on a Holiday...I get another day off! Yay! So, this week is going to be very short and I will only be working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and get a three day weekend next weekend! Now, all of this is fantastic BUT during this time off I have things I need to get accomplished. My move is approaching (like 26 days until I must vacate my apartment) and I know those days will go by very quickly. For those of you who know me you know that cleaning and packing are NOT my strong suits. I'm actually pretty proud of how far I have already come. One thing I have learned about myself is that I am a person who needs time to chill after work for a few hours before I can get into the mood to clean.  I know someday this will be a huge struggle but for now as a 24 year old with a fur-child....it works out pretty well. Keena is my best "chilaxing" pal. She knows how to get down and do NOTHING! Actually, she is finding all of the cleaning and packing quite exhausting and will lay on my bed and look at me like I'm a fool when I'm hard at work. Oh, the life of a dog! The weather could not be better for our relaxation session at a cool 70ish. I'm hoping the open windows and smell of approaching fall will get me motivated!

Great Dane smile? I told you, this girl knows how to relax.

She keeps sniffing the air....we love the windows open!