Phoenix at the Beach

We are very fortunate to live only a couple miles from the Beach. Phoenix loves to walk on the shore and investigate all the new happenings, like new crab shells or washed up jelly fish.



Mom and Phoenix!



Sniffin!


Sittin Pretty



I love my dad!

Phoenix at the Beach II

More pictures of the beach!

Walkin' with Dad!

Puppy footprints in the sand

Log jumpin!

What is it dad....is it a ball? Can I eat it?

Death of the Chicken

That's Right. Phoenix has officially dis-embowled his beloved chicken from Uncle Tarzan. However, Though a little lighter and without squeeker, he is still transported from room to room in the house and ocassionally used for tug-of-war.

What did I do?

Close up?

After a hard days work! Next we move on to the squeeky bone!

Phoenix and the horses

These were taken before Phoenix's unfortunate incident where Armani's hind foot collided with his head. Phoenix has learned his lesson about circling the horses in the field. However, for the most part, they all get a long well.

Ultimate Trust

Phoenix, age 8 months

I don't know why, but there is something

I really like about this shot! It's very

textural, and I like the imagery it paints of

the puppy, content, all alone, with his stick.

During an impromptu ride (note the jeans,

sweatshirt, and muck boots). While it is noteably

not Armani's most photographic moment, Phoenix

of course stands by with ears perked!

Phoenix is about to experience attack of the Green

Glob, thanks to Armani (note the lips of green foam).

The Glob smells oddly of Alfalfa treats. :o)

For Jami

Okay Jami - You said you check our blog practically everyday, so, here's a new one for you, in honor of our biggest fan!

Here are some updated Phoenix pics. These are from a little while back, but, he certainly is photogenic. :o)


What a cuddler


Portrait with Rope Toy


Looking at Dad,
(Protecting the chicken he got from Tarzan)

After a hard days work

Yoga Dog! Personally I think it looks more like

"Cat Stretch" than "Downward Dog" :o)

Prayers For Phoenix!

Last night Phoenix ventured out onto the 50mph road we live on. This is pretty untypical of him, so I am not sure if he just got brave, or if something provoked it. When he didn't come back when we called him, we got worried. We looked for him for an hour or so, on our property, our neighbors, etc.

Finally, we found him laying down next to back side of the house. He had been trying to be a good boy and came home as far as he could. He was very cold and lethargic, and not willing to move. We rushed him to the ER Vet and it looks like he was hit by a car. (So nice of the person to stop and let us know). He is doing okay, but in a lot of pain. Nothing broken that we (or the x-rays) could tell. He is not eating well, the narcotics are making him sick to his stomach, and Jeremy has to pick him up to take him to go potty.

He has really had a hard life this first year. To re-cap, he was in a lot of pain due to what we now know is a condition called Cranio-mandiubular Osteopathy. It is basically where the bones in his head grow too quickly. It is fortunately self-limiting and will stop happening once he is full grown. Until then, it managed by pain pills/anti-inflammatories.

Until this was diagnosed, he was on chronic antibiotics, thinking it was a bone infection. This has damaged his digestive system, though we are getting it back under control now.

During that time he was kicked in the head by Armani. He came away unscathed, but with a much bigger respect for the horses, and doesn't venture there much anymore.

We just hope that incident will teach him a lesson about going into the road. He is such a special pup, and brings us so much joy and laughter!

Welcome Phoenix!

Meet the newest member of our family! This if Phoenix, the Great Dane-Pit Bull Mix. He is 6 months old, and about the mellowest puppy we have ever met. He entered our lives on Saturday, August 17th. Max, the neighbor puggle (see other blog) was waiting to greet him when he arrived and they played for 2 hours straight that night, and over an hour the next day!

He is very attached to "his people" and sticks close by when we are outside. He was fully potty trained when we got him, and we put him in the laundry room on his bed with no problems for his first night. We have left him out during the day and he does great! No chewing, accidents, or other destruction. No major barking yet either. Just a few "ruffs" when someone comes to the door, but then he calms down.

He loves to play with the horses, although we are not sure yet if he realizes that they CAN hurt him, though they don't. It didn't take him very long to figure out that horse poop is his favorite treat. He sneaks into the horse paddocks when he thinks they aren't looking to find nice fresh ones.

Phoenix is VERY stubborn and, with those Great Dane eyes, always looks like he is glaring at you when you ask him to do something he doesn't want to do. He does pretty good on the leash though, and has proven that, despite the stubborn-ness, is trainable.

He has a rough first week though. He ran into SOMETHING (not difficult since he is pretty awkward and clumsy) and had a HUGE bump on his head. So, we took him to the vet to check it out, and get his vaccinations. In the process we learned that he also had an upper-respiratory infection. So, he is on puppy pain pills, antibiotics, and to top it all off, had to swallow 3 nasty wormer pills. For the most part he is taking it in good spirits, and doesn't appear to be upset with us, as he is still very much a cuddle bug.