15 Weeks and Pushing the Limits

LOA: N/A (he was not cooperative)

Beam: N/A (he was not cooperative)

Gross Tonnage: 32.6 lbs. (from the vet's scale today)

Draft: N/A (he was not cooperative)

Wait a minute, I thought I already killed this thing.

He loves Dr. Trail and had a good check-up today.

Today Bali was a "pin cushion" at the doctor. I distracted him with biscuits and he never noticed the three shots he had in his butt. He's a bruiser. And, Dr. Trail said that he'd be tired afterwards. No such luck . . .

Exhibit A

This used to be a digital camera battery recharger. It turned into his first real victim. Not only did he sever the cord into four lengths, but he ate a good deal of it too. We saw the evidence of that the next morning.

Also notice the savagely attacked prongs of the plug. We're still trying to figure out how he has bear DNA . . .

14 Weeks and Too Big for Puppy Speak

LOA: 39"

Beam: 9"

Gross Tonnage: 30.5 lbs.

Draft: 18"

That's it. He's too big for "Puppy Speak." You'll be glad to know that we've ceased all of that sort of talk. Although we occasionally drop an "Icky Poopy" (or is it "Icky Pooky?") when he tries to eat poop or wood or rubber or plastic.

Here, he can fit underneath the settee, but not for long . . .

We're trying to follow the Dog Whisperer's mantra of "calm but assertive," emphasizing exercise, discipline, and affection . . . in that order. Here's what he looks like after that.

We're all very calm and happy . . .

After only seven short weeks Bali noticed that there's a cat living upstairs. Calypso has lived in the master bedroom for that entire time. We call it her "old lady apartment."

Here's her old ear and Bali's glowing eyes looking up at her.

A Problem With Puppy Speak

After Bali's first real trail hike, I succumbed to "Puppy Speak." I said, "him so tired, him feet hurt." Now, I realize that nobody--and I mean NOBODY--wants to hear Puppy Speak. It's almost as bad as people talking to their real human babies in "Baby Speak," as in "do ew habo go poopy poopy?" (which I ask Bali several times each day). But I'm trying to keep it in check.

Anyway, we had a great hike and he instinctively stays right with us even without the leash. He's very concerned about keeping the pack together.

We're making great progress, but where's mom? Why is she so far behind? "Why is Mommy Mommy so faw behind. Her too slow." Sorry . . .

Bali is a natural car passenger. This is the first thing we've discovered that he's actually better at than Gorda was. He sits there and chills.

He just looks out the window at the big, big world.

Here, Bali smells lilacs, one of Kel's favorite flowers. Afterwards, he ate them.

See Bali on the trail and our new dandelion removal system.

13 Weeks and a Momentous Night

LOA: 39"

Beam: 9"

Gross Tonnage: 27 lbs.

Draft: 18"

Last night was momentous. For the first time Bali the Better Behaved made it the whole night without barking in his crate and without needing to go out during the wee hours. It's the best sleep we've had in weeks. Oh, glorious day! And, what's more, he hasn't eaten any of his poop in weeks. Small achievements can seem enormous at this stage. We'll see what happens tonight and tomorrow.

Kel struggles to hold Bali's bulk and Bali struggles to hold his bone.

Bali drops his bone (notice it falling in front of Kel's left arm). Also notice the general chaos of our house in the background . . .

New Adventure With Old Friends

Bali gets to meet our dear friends (from college at UWSP--23 years ago!) The next time we meet Bali will not be able to sit in Spike's lap.

All the Boys.

12 Weeks: It's getting Better All the Time

LOA: 38"

Beam: 8.5

Gross Tonnage: 22 lbs.

Draft: 15"

From now on we'll pose Bali with the hedgehog to give a sense of his growth. He's doubled his weight in four weeks. He's a very, very big boy.

The daffodils are blooming and it's starting to feel a little more human around here.

He's such a mommy's boy.

He's Already a Local Celebrity

Some of the Best Days Yet

The Monster is getting better by the day. He quit leaking in his crate (so far) and he's figured out how to walk on a lead (sort of). We're so proud of his leakskis and dookers on walks! What does this say about us? When he goes, it's almost like we've gone . . .

That's how satisfying it is!

Easter Sunday with Rose of Sharon.

Huge pink pads, like Calypso's. But these pads are actually about the size of Calypso.

Madness and Sadness in Dogville and Happy Easter

Today was a sad and happy day on Lakeside Lane. Our friends and neighbors, Steve and Yvonne, lost their beloved Chelsea (while the whole time thinking they were losing Fonz, her best friend). But that's how life works, right? You expect one thing and then something entirely different comes out of left field. I think John Lennon said that "life is what happens when you're making other plans."

Meanwhile, our other friends and neighbors (Zorro's parents), Sharon and Isaac, unexpectedly came home with two new puppies! They're three days younger than Bali and less than half his size. Pictures of Missy and Moser will, I'm sure, be forthcoming.

Happy Easter! Despite Bali's decidedly Hindu namesake, here he seems to show a great deal of reverence to The Holy Virgin Mother. We don't think he knows what any of that means, but that's why they call it faith, right?

Today was Bali's first day of "school." It turned out to be more of a "meet and greet" because he's actually too young (and dumb) to start for another four weeks. Here, he moves in fearlessly on a pack of noble and beautiful Shepherds. Notice his plan to overtake the chew toy being guarded by the Shepherd on the left.

Notice Bali's success in this endeavor.

Bali, after successfully dividing and conquering the pack, and robbing them of their goods, enabled me to quickly move in and take my place. Just call me Wolf Man.

Bali chills with our UWSP alma mater mascot Pointer and a big European Shepherd as we listen to orientation. We felt like we were in an episode of The Dog Whisperer.

Yesterday I came home to find that Bali had been kidnapped . . . by Kel. Her coworkers had been dying to meet him while he was still a pup.

Caren and pup.

Caryn and pup.

Kelly and pup.

So, that's it from the realm of the Majestic Mountain Dog . . . wait a minute, I think he just peed in his crate . . .