26 week measurements

26 weeks, 88.9 lbs, 29.75" tall

25 week measurements

25 weeks, 84.6 lbs, 29.75" tall

A Dog's Purpose

Mom read this on another dog's blog...thought it was very sweet and wanted to share it with you. So I gave her permission to post.

~Murphy


A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker.

The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.

They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''

The Six-year-old continued,''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Hot times, they are for diggin

Seriously..its been hot here in San Diego. I'm just a pup, and havent been around the block much (well, that's not entirely true...I've been around the block lots of time on our nightly walks, but Mom said it was just a "figure of speech"...whatever that means). Anyway, like I was sayin...its been HOT! Mom said San Diego isnt normally this hot, at least not this many days in a row, but I'm not sure I believe her. Last weekend was hot...it was hot during the week...this weekend was hot...this whole week is suppose to be hot...oh, and yeah, guess what? The coming weekend is suppose to be hot too.

When I say hot, I'm talkin 90 degrees F. That's too hot to even go outside! And, since its not typically this hot in San Diego, Mom said we dont have something called A/C.

I think A/C stands for "always cool". I've felt it when we've gone on walks. A store will have its door open, and there's a nice cool breeze comin from inside. I always want to go inside...just a little, even if its just for a moment to lie on the nice cool tile, but Mom always says "no dogs allowed". Grrrrr.

Last night, it was so hot that I couldnt even sleep in the bed with Mom. I was pantin and pantin, so finally I jumped down off the bed and went to lie on the nice cool wood floors in the bedroom. Awww...much better.

Tonight I decided to make my own nice cool spot to lie. You see..there was this tangerine tree in the yard. Mom said it was a dwarf, but I think it just didnt like the spot she decided to plant it. It just wouldnt grow. It wasn't happy. I could tell, cuz I'm smart like that.

So, I decided to help Mom move it. And during the relocation process, I found that the dirt in the hole was nice and cool! Oh boy...once I got started, I just couldnt stop. It was soooo much fun to dig!! Dirt flyin everywhere. Worms in the dirt! Findin the rocks and flingin them out of the hole! Whooohooo!

What fun! Mom gave me a little bit of the stink eye when she first came out and saw my masterpiece..but then she started laughin. And I dont know why, but whenever she does, she always says to me "its a good thing you're cute!"

Anyone know what she means by that?

Great Dane & Mastiff Meetup

It was Great Dane & Mastiff Meetup day at dog beach on Coronado! Yippee!

Introductions were the first order of business. First, I got to meet the old Mastiff (oops...didnt catch his name!). He was a bit of a grump, but I think its just cuz he knows what trouble us young pups can be. After a few grumbles and growls, I decided quickly that it was a good idea to leave him alone.

Ari didnt seem to have any trouble with him, but she is a regal girl and super mature at 4 years old. Gosh, in Great Dane terms she is almost middle aged! Im sure she's gonna live to be 100 though, so we wont tell her that thought ran thru my head.

Then I got to meet Bently and Tuttle. Bently is the real pretty fawn boy, while Tuttle is the one with the spots. Mom says that colors called Harlequin. Whatever...spots is spots.

Another mastiff at the meetup was Lulu. She looked like a rhinocerous when she put her head down! Boy did she have a lot of wrinkles and extra skin. (Mom said that wasnt a very nice thing to say about girls...but it was true!) She didnt really play much, but had a good time patrolling the area.

Another beauty at the beach today was Cleo. I think she was 4 or 5 as well, and much too dignified to play with the likes of a young pup like me. I sure tried though! Mainly cuz I thought she was so pretty! Plus, I bet she can really run fast. She's one of those danes where you can really see the greyhound in her...dont you agree?

My most favoristest dog of the day though was Bella. Her daddy said she was an English Mastiff. I couldn't hear an English accent, but she sure was pretty. She was very calm and regal. I think she mighta played alot before me and Mom got to the beach though, so she mighta already been a bit tired out. After the beach I got to go to a restaurant with her and play some more while all the doggie parents ate lunch. She was super sweet...I really like lying my head on her, and she didnt seem to mind either!

Anyway...once the introductions were over, the fun could begin! I love love love the water!! Since it was so hot out, the cool ocean water really felt good. I ran and ran, playing with all sorts of really nice doggies. Some of them even shared their toys with me! Mom said they werent really sharing...I was stealing and she kept yellin at me to give them back. She can be no fun sometimes!

'scuze me? could I borrow that for a minute?

Come on...dont cha wanna share?


Yay! I dont think they noticed!


Finally! Victory!

check out how fast Im goin!

Tuttle and Bently liked to tease a lot. I tried and tried, but just could not keep up with them. I think its the advantage of their long legs. Just wait til I grow some more! Boy are they gonna be in trouble!

What's Black & White & Blue all over?

My favoritest neighbor, Adelle, musta been bored today (I guess that's what happens when you come over to walk your favoritest neighbor-dog and he hasnt had a poop accident in his kennel). When she came over to thank Mom for the Thank You card (doesnt that sound silly?), she was toting Sifl (her Papillon, named after a sock puppet and one of my bestest buddies!) and Haley (her daughter and also one of my bestest buddies!) along with her. Nothing unusual about that, right?

Yeah, right! Nothing unusual until I took a snif and a look at Sifl! He was BLUE! And not just a little blue...a whole lotta blue!

I hafta say, he looked a little like a cotton candy dog. Or a smurf dog. Or a dog who ate one too many Louie Bloo Raspberry Otter Pops. Any way you looked at it though, he sure was cute!

Haley & Sifl

P.S. Dont worry...Neighbor Adelle said its just something called veggie-table dye and will wash out in a couple days.

What color do you think I should be?

24 week measurements

24 weeks, 81.3 lbs, 29" tall