15 Months and Little to No Progress

LOA: 64"

Beam: 12"

Gross Tonnage: 88 lbs.

Draft: 29"

It's finally Bali's second spring and we're all looking forward to it. Of course, before we know it the temperatures will be too high for the big, black monster. He's not built for heat or water. He prefers the conditions of his ancestral homeland (snowy slopes).

And there isn't much evidence that he's maturing on any level except, of course, for size. Here he is in March of last year . . .

And here he is, with the same daffodils, in April of this year . . .

On other fronts, like in Afghanistan, the casualties continue to mount. Here's a group shot of recent victims.

The poor frog lost one of his eyes . . .

Other images capture some (but not all) of the recent shenanigans . . .

These used to be receipts.

Chillin' on the deck . . .

Whose head is bigger . . .??

JAWS!!

Advice at One Year--Chew Your Food, Don't Be Wude

LOA: 64"

Beam: 11"

Gross Tonnage: 85.2 lbs.

Draft: 29"

On the 13th Bali celebrated his first birthday! . . . at the kennel, while we were in Mexico. He wouldn't have liked Mexico anyway.

But he was certainly glad to see us. If you listen closely, you can hear him actually whimper with excitement shortly before he nearly broke my fingers as I struggled with his leash and collar.

Actually, we did make it back in time for his birthday and he really had a good one. Here he celebrates with one of his biggest weaknesses--his Kong filled with frozen peanut butter!

And another weakness--a Bully Stick! (and for those in the know, you KNOW what that is)

Other than that, things on this end are status quo antebellum.

Walks along the trail . . .

Evidence of various crimes . . .

This is why we have to keep the toilet seat closed (that's a chew toy)

Sometimes listening attentively . . .

Sometimes just chillin' . . .

And generally trying to deal with the snow. Luckily, he's snow-proof!

But Chew Your Food!

And Don't be Wude!

Another Turkey Day With a Young Boy and an Old Girl

Turkey Day was overcast and drizzly. But we still had a good hike. Here Bali actually looks towards the camera for this portrait.

The life of leisure for a dog.

And more leisure.

And more leisure. Meanwhile, Calypso still refuses to come downstairs. We don't think they'll ever reconcile at this point. She's just too old and he's just too much of a . . . um . . . bonehead.

We raked leaves last weekend and he was a big help.

A really, really big help . . .

Bali tries to "eat" the airflow as we're blowing leaves off the deck.

Somewhere Between Nine and Ten Months

We've verified recently that Berners remain puppies for about two years. That means that we have roughly 14 months to go. I guess we didn't really realize this during our "research period." Now, most of our neighbors remind us that, "oh, sure, a lot of the larger breeds are slow to mature," suggesting that this was common knowledge. Why didn't they speak up earlier, during the "research period?"

Anyway, we've learned a few things over the past couple months. First, Bali is a natural climber. His humongous paws and pads negotiate even the most splintered and unsteady of woodpiles. This one is nothing . . .

We've learned that he's a consummate goofball (actually, we already knew that). Here he rests his oversized head on his nose, causing his front teeth to be exposed and causing about the most ridiculous look you can imagine.

We've learned that he's a natural camper (which is what we had hoped)! We set up camp in the back yard and Bali took it all in stride. He slept in the tent and didn't destroy anything.

Of course, he's a natural hiker . . .

Here Bali attempts to "hunt" squirrels.

But, we've learned that he's most adept at catching plastic bottles.

And here is evidence of Bali learning "place."

This was a bad day. He consumed part of a remote AND Kel's glasses.

This was our Saturday routine all summer. After school, we head to Muth's Farm for our CSA veggies. This is Bali's friend, Pushkin (he's the small dog). Notice the hot wheels in the background (the '70 Mustang, not the '04 Element).

But it's good enough for him . .

We've learned that he has no natural fear of 22-ton hydraulic wood splitters.

More exhibits . . .

He wants to help, the poor kid just doesn't know how to . . .

No thanks to him . . .

A Week Away From Eight Months

LOA: 63"

Beam: 10"

Gross Tonnage: 80 lbs.

Draft: 25"

Bali is getting older, but also naughtier. He's destroyed my Birkenstocks and took a good piece out of Kel's. He's chewed and swallowed plastic "chew keys," multiple leaves, and at least one electrical cord. Luckily, it wasn't plugged in. He's a puppy caught inside a big dog's body.

Here's Kel attempting to weigh his massiveness. Our readings are only rough estimates because the scale measure jumps wildly. All we really know is that he's big.

Like Gorda, he loves to rest his massive head on anything.

Exhibit C (we think, but we've lost track).

Exhibit D. Bali wanted to leave his mark on Amy and Jaysin's anniversary card. We mailed it anyway.

A comparison in head sizes. Look who's bigger. Cabeza Grande!

Bali is the only one to use the hammock all summer. He loves to climb on anything.

Days Away From Seven Months

LOA: 62"

Beam: 10"

Gross Tonnage: 76 lbs.

Draft: 25"

Bali has good weeks and bad weeks at school. Last week was a bad week. Here he is with all his classmates. He's the biggest, but youngest, dog there and we think they forget he's still a puppy. It's very distracting for a young boy.

A typical scene from home during the dog days of summer . . .

It's been too hot to move for weeks and weeks.

6 1/2 Months

LOA: 59"

Beam: 9"

Gross Tonnage: 70 lbs.

Draft: 25"

Bali has a "sloppy sit" above, but it was 100 degrees. He just came out for the shot and then went right back into the AC.

Bali has new digs! Yes, at 6 1/2 months, he's outgrown Gorda's crate.

Kel fits in there too . . .

Suddenly, this image is making me very nervous.

A podiatric comparison.

Bali gets into it with some Pit Bulls at his first (and only) socialization class.

He doesn't need it. He came pre-socialized. He was the best in the class.