{11aug2010: wordless Wednesday}

spoiled pup edition:

{09aug2010: Dane Outreach}

Our local Dane rescue group, Dane Outreach, had their annual Great Dane Education Day and we were able to get out there this year.  Some of our Dane friends from Marymoor were at the event.  And we got to meet Lindsay, Bess and Heffner's mom, who made the drive up from Oregon with Bess to do a couple demonstrations too!
{Bess & Lindsay and our Marymoor friends, Hank Ali & Parker}
 
There were a bunch of presentations varying from training, choosing a pup, emergency kits,  agility, and Lindsay did a great presentation on ball exercises and core work outs for Danes.  It was so cool!
Right before the agility demo we headed outside with Darwin to give her some space and let her stretch her legs a bit.  While we were out there our friends Hank and Parker came over and Darwin and Hank got some play time in.
 
 
Seeing Darwin and Hank play reminded us of when Darwin was a tiny pup and was playing with Hank at Marymoor.  I remember thinking how big Hank and Parker seemed compared to 4.5month old Darwin, and now she's almost as big as them (ok, they will always be big boys compared to her, but there's no way she can sit on Hank anymore).
 

 
 
   
Lindsay took Bess through the agility course which was fun to watch.  Darwin didn't like when Bess would jump through the tire or crawl through the tunnel and kept barking whenever it happened. 
   
   
   
  
The best part of the event was when Lindsay showed off her ball exercises with Bess.  So cool!
  
  
Ok, that's not a ball, but it is an inflatable air mattress that does require some balancing.  Before the demo, I got Darwin to take a few steps on it too!
Lindsay started with a flat inflatable disk...
  
And then added a block for more balancing. 

Then she swapped out the block for another disc.

Next was a big pill shaped ball.

And then the grand finale, was a giant round ball that she got Bess to stand on!


   
   
So cool!  Before we had gotten to the event I was telling Jason what Lindsay was going to be showing, and he totally didn't believe me, saying "I'll believe it when I see it."  By the end of the demo he was very impressed.  Now I want to go out and find a flat disc to exercise Darwin with!
Lindsay has videos on their blog showing her train Bess and Heff to use the balls.  If you haven't seen them before it's totally worth it to watch.  I mean how often do you see giant dogs on giant inflatable balls?! 

{06aug2010: Birthday Bash... cont}

See part 1 and part 2 to catch up on Remi's Birthday Bash!

The play time and the romance continued the whole time we were there.
 
 
{can i have my friend back?}
 
{sorry remi... we're in loooovvveeeeee}
 
 
A new dog showed up and tried to work his moves with Darwin, but she wasn't interested in any of his shenanigans.
 
 
Her boys even came to her rescue. 
{wahhhh what are you doing to her?!}
{there'll be none of that at MY party!}
    
{ha ha ha ha!  my boys told YOU!} 
    
{now where were we?}
   
{come on bud, let's leave the two lovebirds alone} 
    
    
Since it was Remi's party his mom let him have another cupcake too!
         
   
    
    
After Remi's cupcake break it was back to play time!
    
      
     
     
     
Darwin has very little tolerance for being in the sun, so every opportunity she gets she'll hang out in the shade.  Memphis took notice of this and the two of them would hang out in the shady areas together.
{whatcha doing up there Darwin?}
     
    
     
I had errands to run after the party, so we gathered our things and said goodbye to Darwin's new boyfriend.  She wasn't too bummed out though because we left the party with this:
     
A doggy bag goodie bag... and one of the best things in it.... 
      
A bully stick!  It was the perfect thing to entertain Darwin when we got home, because while we were out finding her a new love interest (and celebrating Remi's 1st birthday), Jason was at home steam cleaning the carpet!  When we got back the carpet was still soggy, so we had to hang out on the balcony and with her new party favor she was happy to hang outside for a while.
Thanks to Remi's mom for inviting us to a great party!  We'll have to head to that dog park again so Darwin can be reunited with her boyfriend! 

{05aug2010: Birthday Bash... cont}

Sorry for the delay!  It's been crazy at work, meaning early mornings and late nights.  No fun.  But now the birthday bash continues!  See part one of Remi's Birthday Bash here.  
Remi's mom had brought cupcakes for the dogs and from the first moment we got there Remi was ready to dig in!

Darwin knew there were treats to be had too.  
{are those treats for me?!}

{hurry up mommmmmmmmmm!}


{look how nice i'm sitting mom... now can i have it?!}


After a cupcake break the play time continued as did the romance with Memphis.
 
 
 
 




 
Some of the play even happened under Memphis!
 
 
 

More birthday bash pictures to come (I took about 200mb worth of pictures - ha)!