Gader, the Glamorous

 After nearly a year or of silence, it is time for me to start knitting and chatting again! 

First thing I have to learn, is how to work the new Typepad. I don't have the foggiest how it works now. It has been changed a couple of times since I last used it. So, be kind if I screw-up somewhere, with this first post.

All of my friends knew how hard Vader's loss hit me. Many of you wrote to me both on this blog and to me personally and I thank you. I have saved all of them. Vader was my companion and my loyal friend for almost 12 years. We had a long time together before the 2009 came along. I kept him going for a year. I think he enjoyed being high on various medications. He ate well and limped a lot but then I noticed a lump on his left back ankle and we started treatment on it. I was told it was an infection. For weeks, he suffered me washing it out with tubes and medications - let alone trips to the Vet and the awful time lifting a 130 pound dog into and out of "his" SUV.  To cut a long story short - after months of fruitless treatment, with the old vet he had been seeing since he was a baby, I changed Veterinarians. I went to see a well known Irish Vet in Coquille. DR. McConnell took one look and said it was a cancer. He offered to operate because he found 7 more tumors. Vader had a strong heart and he was a calm, easy going fellow. He wasn't afraid. He came through surgery fine. He had a lot of stitches and I had my nurses job back, but I was grateful we had a few more months together. He did fine. Of course, the day arrived when I could see our time together was over. 

He went to sleep in the back of his beloved SUV. The DR said that he wouldn't feel anything and he didn't. It was my turn to hurt. He left an empty spot in my heart that led me down a path of tears and depression. So,I began to look for another puppy.

I searched out a kennel in Washington state that raised all German bred Shepherds. Guaranteed to be sound and without the genetic disposition for certain diseases that Shepherds are prone too in this country.  It was really out of my financial league, but I paid a large deposit for choice of males in her litter due Jan 25, 2010. You have heard most of this, so lets jet forward to Gader at 9 months old.

Gader weighs around 80+ pounds now and still thinks he can get on my lap. That started when he was quite ill for several weeks after coming home with me with a bacterial disease that we don't have here. It was drug resistant. The breeder had medicine mixed in California that was being used...and finally, the puppy started to improve. DR McConnell was seriously concerned I had gotten a bad puppy. However, he finally was cured of an infection.  The entire liter had of 8 had gotten it from the mother. By then, he was on my lap constantly. He was about 4 months old and had grown a lot and still on my lap or nursing on a corner of a toy.  Now, at 80 + pounds, he thinks he still can still sit on my lap. (he is very sneeky about this bone crunching habit).

Another antic I have been putting up with is Gader's sudden urges to get up off his bed in the front room and run around my tiny house going full tilt around tables, down the  hall, slipping and sliding around. Last week, he had an attack of racing. On his last pass around the house, he ran full speed and jumped on his bed--but his brakes failed and he bed slid. Unfortunately, Gader didn't.  He popped off the bed and lodged his left foot in 1/2 inch drywall in the front room. Now, a large and glaring hole marks the wall the puppy ran into the wall. He looked up at me with this, "What the Hell...? look.  Withdrew his foot and was fortunate not have any injuries. Whew. Here is the guilty party.                       MR INNOCENT

No doubt bored, the little mind is working.

 

"Ah, I will do my "foot through the wall trick."

 

He moved so fast, I didn't get any of the run - just the hole in the wall.                                       THE HOLE!

             

                    Gader has been scolded and is pouting!

Trying to look humble and 'sorry' and get back into my good graces!  

 Stay tuned - for more of Gader's efforts to make me groan, then laugh!       

 

Comments

[Anne]

Glad to see you back! OMG Gader is HUGE!!! I can't imagine a dog that size running around the house -- but I know what you mean. Lackie and Daisy, all of a sudden, will just take off and run around and around the living room - luckily they are small enough to go under the end table and around the couch without damaging anyting - but you should see the toe nail marks on the carpet!!!

They don't do is now that we go for a long walk every day - Hubby retired in April, so there is no excuse - a quick drive down the road to the park, and around we go -- does wonders!

They also like to sleep on me while we watch tv at night - I try to knit, but sometines I can't just because of the way they are lying.......aren't they cute Hubby says LOL!!! But 80 lbs....oh dear, you are going to have to break him of this - maybe so that he just puts his head in your lap???

What a gorgeous looking dog - you've had a rough go so far - but he is totally beautiful -- give him a big hug from me!

Anne

[Terri]

Glad to see you back, too! My oh my, Gader is such a BIG handsome boy! How can you scold that face?! :-)

[Laritza]

Lovely puppy....is he done growing? I sure hope so!

[Joan]

Hooray! Welcome back, Junieann!It's nice to see you back. I have been following along and mourning your loss with you. So glad you are giving another "puppy" a good home:)!
Cannot wait to see what you have on the needles!
Take care and be well,
Joan in Ellicott City, MD a/k/a FSK