Griffin

We got to visit Griffin yesterday when we took Abbi (his new foster sister) over. He is doing wonderfully and said to tell everyone hello. He watches TV now, sits up straight to watch himself in the mirror and you can sure tell it is his home and that Char is his mommy and what a wonderful Mommy she is. He has grown so much and filled out, so beautiful and majestic looking. It is so hard to believe he is the same guy we brought into rescue in August. To see his latest video, click here. The other Black Giant is his new foster sister Abbi.

I finally got Griffin's adoption video up. It was hard for me to do. Graham is the skinny one in it. I can't believe Griffin looks so healthy. I talked to Charlotte last night and she said Griffin is doing wonderfully. So smart and well mannered. Very eager to please. He sits, lays down and comes when called. She took him running with his new Greyhound (she is a rescue too) friend at the local middle school's soccer field that is fenced in and she said Griffin gave her a run for her money. She may have done the distance, but he was ahead by leaps and bounds when they started. I told her that Griffin will figure it out. That little girl is a retired race girl and was trained for distance. It won't take him long. Charlotte said he saw a little Yorkie and his ears perked up and his butt started wagging because he thought it was The General, but when he got up close to it, he was disappointed, but played anyway. She said he is good with all sizes of dogs.

Griffin is still not going upstairs at his new home, will follow Charlotte to the basement, but will not go up the steps to the second floor so she has been sleeping downstairs with him. She said he won't get on the bed yet either, but is showing an interest. She tucks him in every night and he has his head on the pillow and she said he stays that way until the next morning. She said he is so loving. Bill and I wish we could hug him, but it will have to wait for a while. Here are the pictures she send of him in her store.

Hi everyone. It is me, Juliana. Griffin left at 11:00 today and will be spending Christmas at his new forever home with his new Mom, his sister Sissy (yes, her name is Sissy too) and his new feline brother. We took him over there yesterday for a walk through his new neighborhood and to visit his new house and mark his area so it wouldn't be so strange for him today and we took him to the Farmer's Market where his new Mom goes every Saturday from May until December to sell her homemade Jams that she makes from the fruits she grows on her farm in Central KY. She has a commercial kitchen here in Louisville and Griffin will be going to work with her everyday. Our house is sure quiet and we miss him so much. I cried all afternoon and Knight misses his buddy. Griffin was a little confused when he saw me putting his things in boxes today, but he is a smart guy and will get it all figured out soon. Below are pictures I took of him this morning with his Christmas presents from Miss Mariah Marie, Master Volker, Bobette and John. Video will be up soon.

9:00 p.m. I just talked to Charlotte and Griffin is doing fine. She took him for two long walks, he has met almost everyone in the neighborhood and has new canine friends and the ones that were not at home when they were out have been coming over to visit when they got home. One is a Chi and he played with her in her backyard. He really likes her. He also has human neighborhood children to play with. She said that he and Sissy are getting along well and he likes his feline brother. She said he won't go upstairs, is afraid of the steps, but I told her it took a couple of weeks for him to go up and down the steps here. She said that she is going to sleep downstairs with him until he learns to climb the steps. There is a big bed downstairs and it is level with the windows and is for his use at any time but he has yet to climb on it. I saw it and can picture him on that bed looking out the windows. He will love it when he gets up there. We are very comfortable about this placement and will get to see him often, but will not go see him for a while because we don't want to confuse him. We want him to settle in and get used to his new mom, sister and feline brother.

I will be posting updates periodically and new pictures so please continue to visit. Merry Christmas everyone and have a Blessed New Year.

Today my foster mom and dad took me for a ride around town. We went to this new neighborhood and visited a house but there was no one at home. She kept telling me I was going to be adopted by a nice lady and would have a sister and a furry feline brother. We walked down this place with a side walk and there were lots of new smells. I marked as many places as I could. It sure was interesting. Then she took me to the place called the farmer's market and we saw that nice lady Charlotte again and met some more people. When we got home she hugged my neck and cried into my fur. She keeps talking about my new home, not sure I like the sound of that, but we will see.

She brought a new little mini rescue in yesterday, I could tell by his bark and smell, but I haven't got to meet him yet. She said she had to keep him away from all of us. She had to give him a bath and groom him. She came upstairs and told Bill that he was just covered with fleas and that he wasn't beige, it was dried flea blood. I remember those things. I don't have them anymore and will never have them again. She had to take him to the vet this morning, she said she had to put medicine in his ears and give him pills just like she did me.

Knight, Sissy and I romped in the yard today and met the federal express man. He brought two big boxes. Juliana said they were from Bobette, John, Master Volker and Miss Mariah Marie for Christmas, but we couldn't have them today. Those are the nice people and Giants that sent me the toys, nice blankets, treats and bowls when I first got here. I love my toys. Toys are wonderful. They squeak and I can shake them.

Well she said we have to go bake another cheesecake now so I will write more later. Merry Christmas everyone in case I don't get to write more in the next day or so.

I had a Road Trip today and it was a good one. Not that the others I have had in the past were not good, Hannah took me to her house and then my foster Dad took me to Louisville, but I was too sick then to really appreciate what a road trip was all about. But that is in the past, so let me continue to tell you what I did today with my foster Dad. We went to Lexington to see Hannah. It was so exciting. She was happy to see me and couldn't believe I was the same guy she pulled from the shelter almost 6 months ago. My foster dad took lots of pictures but they were with Hannah's camera, so you will have to come back and see the pictures once Hannah sends them to my foster mom and she gets them up. Road trips are so much fun. We stopped at a rest area and there were all kinds of good smells. Also got to go into a PetSmart in Lexington and everyone oohed and awed at me. Said I was gorgeous. My foster mom said they are right. Pictures just don't do me justice. She said I have perfect stance and I stack really well. When we left Lexington we went to Frankfort to see Hannah's husband, he couldn't believe it was really me. I will never ever forget Hannah.

Yesterday I had lots of visitors. Charlotte and Chris came to visit me, and then a nice lady named Kim and her 3 children came to visit. They were little children and Juliana said I was ever so good with them. Very gentle and loving. She said it was just like me to be that way too. One was just a little guy, not much bigger than my mini foster brothers. Knight, Sissy and Graham (he's my new foster brother if I haven't mentioned him before) were gentle too. Juliana told me it was typical Giant behavior for us to instinctively know how to behave. Ube and Jackson barked at them. Cassi, well she was Cassi. Always the lady and very good. Those kids sure would have been fun to play with. Kim took pictures, but we don't have those yet either. But we do have a couple of pictures Juliana took of me and Charlotte.

Juliana said we have a very busy week this week. Christmas is right around the corner and there are a lot of people coming. Thursday is booked solid, so she told someone on that thing she holds up to her ear and talks to and they would have to come and see me Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. She doesn't allow visitors between 5:00 and 6:00 because we eat at 5:30 everyday and she doesn't like our routine disrupted. We eat at 5:30 every morning too and we all get up around 4:45. Well that is it for tonight. Juliana says we have a real big day tomorrow.

Strange things are going on around here. My Mom and Dad brought a tree into the house. Can you believe it, a tree? They then proceeded to put all of these things called decorations on it. In fact there are decorations all over the house and it sure is exciting and they are sure pretty. Would like to take some off of that tree and play with them, but I am being very good. The other thing they did was bring in a new foster brother for me. His name is Graham. He is not little like the other foster brothers and sisters that have come in and then left, he is big like me. Everyone says that he is not in as bad as shape as I was in, but not in good shape either, whatever that means. I know he can't play because it hurts him. He tried to play with me and laid down and cried. My foster mommy told me in a few weeks he might be able to play. I have to watch him closely, he seems to be way to interested in Ube, Jackson and The General. They are afraid of him and he is always sniffing them. When I think he is sniffing too much, I walk over and make him get away. He has to learn the rules. I know Sissy didn't waste anytime setting him straight where she was concerned.

Juliana keeps talking to me about being adopted and then she cries, says she is going to miss me terribly whenever I leave. Not sure what this being adopted thing is, but I guess I will find out. She keeps saying she never thought I would make it and what a good boy I am. So gentle and loving and ever so smart and then she hugs me really tight. I don't like it when she cries like that, but I do like the big hugs. She says that I have a gentle, kind soul and whoever adopts me will be getting the bestest boy ever. She said she loves how I get along with everyone and how I sit and growl at the inflatable snowman across the street when the wind blows. She likes the staring contest I have with the man across the street when he stands on his porch and looks over in our yard at all of us. She said I could outstare a cat and I don't move when he is doing that. She said she would like to know what he and I are both thinking while that is going on, wish I could tell her.

She says we have to go now. Time to get dressed and get the day started. It is daylight now and she says we have lots to do today. More later.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. Griffin sure did. It has been a busy month and a half for Griffin. He has totally regained the strength in his leg and only limps when he first gets up and then it is go, go, go. He is a wonderful foster baby, gets along with everyone. He and Knight run and play until they both drop. He is going up and down all of the steps in the house now. He has been helping with Christmas Decorations too. He especially liked the red bows on the outside tree, so much so we took them all off before he did. Now there is just lights. He would pull one off and run like the wind flipping his head, just thought he was real cute and of course he was. He knew I didn't really mean no, I mean how could I? I was laughing too hard, so we just thought it would be easier on all of us to take them off. He is never in his crate unless we are not home. He is just so well behaved. He laid quietly during Thanksgiving dinner and while I was preparing dinner, he only tried to surf the counter and kitchen table once, and when I told him No, go lay down he did. He laid under the dining room table where he had a good view of everything that was going on. Whoever is lucky enough to get to adopt this Griffin is going to have one heck of a companion. He is lovable, huggable, playful, and super smart. More pictures coming in the next day or two.

I am free, free, free. Well almost. My foster Mom still pulls the rein in if she thinks I am doing too much. Like today, I started playing with Knight and running and guess what happened? She said I might get hurt and I had to go in. Can't believe it. Doesn't she think I know what I am doing? I was good about it. I went right to the door.

She keeps trying to get me to go up and down these things called steps, but I am having no part of it. Forget it, no way! I don't know what is up there or down there and not sure I want to know, although I am a little curious as everyone else runs up and down those things like it is no big deal. I know the one steps lead to food and Sissy goes with my foster mom to get it when it is time to eat, I just wait in the kitchen. The other steps that go up, well everyone is always real happy to go up there and sometimes they don't come down for a long time, like I won't see them all night long. My foster Mom said I could come up there and sleep, but I just don't think so, not yet anyway.

I barked today. Big bark. First of all there was this lady running on the street with her little cocker and she let that little dog come up to my fence and run back and forth. It was not on a leash. It wouldn't come when she called it either. Knight just stood there, he wasn't at all interested. This was about 5:30 a.m. Then around 10:30 tonight, these two big black labs were running in front of our fence, no leash and no humans in site. Knight was upset about that and I joined in. Knight had a mean bark. Then Sissy and Cassi joined in and oh you should have heard us. Juliana and Bill made us come in and they chased those labs off. Bill said if those people didn't start keeping those dogs confined he was going to put them in the dog run in our back yard and call lab rescue, but Juliana said no, those dogs are mean and if they got out could hurt one of us. She said Knight had already had an encounter with the boy one when they were walking one evening and she and Knight had to run into a neighbors house while the nice neighbor got a hold of the lab. Bill told Juliana she needed to carry pepper spray or mace when she walked us. Anyway I had a real exciting day. Below is a link to a video she took of me and Knight today.

Griffin is doing great without his cast. Using his leg more and more each day and limping less. I am still going to keep him reined in some even after his two weeks are up, just to be on the safe side. Here are some pictures we took today of Mr. Wiggle Butt.

I got my cast off today and it feels good. I just woke up from a long nap too. I still have to walk on a leash and my activity has to be curtailed for two more weeks while I get used to not having it on. I can take walks but no running. My foster mom took some pictures of me and Dr. Joyce and some of her staff today, they are below. I am almost home free. Everyone says my hair is so beautiful. Dr. Joyce said I need to take it easy on the food for a while, I had gained another 3 pounds since last week, now I weigh 89. She said when I start running it will be better, she doesn't want me to get obese, but golly gee, all I can do is lie around, walk on a leash and through the house.

Hi everyone, it is me Griffin. I know I haven’t written in a while, but I have been really busy doing puppy things. Like tonight I was really bad. Juliana got mad at me. She normally lets me walk around with her while she works in the yard, and I am usually pretty good about walking with her and I never run and so I haven’t had to have a leash on, but tonight that all ended. For some reason I just took off running and running, then when she thought she was going to catch me, I would run again. I would crouch, tuck my head down bring my back legs up and just run. It felt so good. I jumped on her too and then would take off running so fast. When she did catch me, she had a leash and that my dear friends was the end of my freedom I am sure for a long time. She then worked with me on my leash manners and she always tells me I am good.

Knight showed me how to wipe my beard on the couch yesterday, sure is a lot better than having it drip. Sissy is easing up on me for the most part, but she still doesn’t have any problems letting me know who is boss. I also found out who the real boss is too. It is Cassi. Cassi is very easy going, she has only snapped at me one time until this morning and then I guess I aggravated her just a bit too much and she let me have it. She has never done that before. I straightened up real quick because she meant business.

I have a new mini foster sister and a mini foster brother here now. I know they are in the house, I smell them and hear them, but I haven’t got to meet them. Bill talked to me about them and said they were in quarantine because they might have germs and they didn’t want me or the others to get them. I keep going to that basement door, I know they are down there and I want to see. No one else seems very interested in them.

I have also learned that as long as I am good and don’t get rowdy I get to stay out of my kennel a whole lot more, but the minute I start trying to run and wrestle, Juliana takes me potty and in the kennel I go. They should call that kennel, puppy prison. Did you guys know I am housebroke? Juliana said I am because I go to the door and bark when I need to go potty.

My pictures that Juliana took tonight are attached. The one where I look like I am drunk is when she finally caught me.

P. S. I am really loving all of the toys Master Volker and Miss Mariah Marie sent me. I can really drive these humans crazy with the squeaks.

Griffin

It has been a busy two weeks here for Griffin. He is getting stronger and stronger and has grown taller and he is very vocal. He wants to run and play and he can't do it yet, so trying to keep him occupied with toys in his kennel. It is no longer safe to let him out in the house because he is no longer content to just lie there, he is a true Giant Puppy.

He had visitors last week, Julie and her Mom came in, Donna and her Granddaughter, My Dad was up from FL and my Sister. Everyone of course loves him. He had his cast redone on Friday, new x-ray taken and it looks like it will be two more weeks and then he can go to light duty. I do take him out by himself for about 30 minutes in the morning and evenings and he is content to just walk around and sniff.

Hi there. Me Griffin again. I have been up to mischief these last couple of days. Aggravating Sissy, sticking my broke leg in the water dish, counter surfing every opportunity I get and of course trying to run with Knight.

Because I stuck my foot in the water bowl I had to go back to see Dr. Joyce and get my cast redone. It was soaked. Juliana wasn't too pleased, but I could tell she thought it was pretty cute. She tried to scold me, but I saw the laughter in her eyes and could tell by her voice she wasn't real mad. I made a big splash, then did it again. Oh and she has to wrap it all the way to the top of my leg with Sarah wrap when I go potty, other wise I go potty on it. That soaks it too.

I was in the kitchen last night waiting for my medicine and noticed there were a lot of things up on the counter, so I decided to investigate further and I just stood up on my hind legs, put my paws on the counter and you wouldn't believe the things that were up there. I knocked a lot of things off and it was really pretty easy, just took my paw and did a big swipe and and a basket of fruit came tumbling down. It was good, I ate some figs before Juliana could get to me. She told me that was not a good thing to do and told me if I did it again I would have to start waiting in my kennel for my pills. She said I have to learn some things called kitchen manners.

A couple of days ago I was out of my kennel and laying on the floor beside Sissy and decided to play so I started mouthing her, she wasn't in the mood and growled at me. Scared me to death. What a grump she can be sometimes. I laid right back down and was good.

I got my tags put on my new collar yesterday. They jingle a lot and I shake my head and body to make them jingle. Bill said I am now an authorized citizen.

Dr. Joyce said I had gained another 4 pounds. I weigh 68 pounds, but still very thin, even though my hip and rib bones are disappearing.

I had more company last night. Annie and Doug. They were nice. They foster minis, ones just like Ube and Jackson. They brought one named Banjo with them. Minis are fun. There will be more company Sunday and Monday too. Something about a Holiday Weekend and it will be busy. She said she is fixing special dinners and that I will like them.

It is me Griffin. Yes, I am finally able to write. Starting to feel a whole lot better, so much so that when we were outside today and I saw Knight chasing a rabbit, I jerked the leash right out of Juliana's hand and joined the chase. The rabbit got away, but I just kept running with Knight. Then Sissy joined in and oh was it fun, but Juliana got very mad and when she caught me, she made me go in the house and said I couldn't go out anymore if Knight and Sissy were out. She is afraid I will get hurt. She told me there would be plenty of time for running in a couple of months. So, that took care of that.

Miss Mariah Marie and Master Volker and their humans sent me a very large box yesterday. It was filled with toys, treats, a brand new blanket, a padded quilt for me to lay on, 4 new food and water dishes, and a food and water dish stand. I have never had so many nice things in my life. Juliana and Bill keep telling me there are a lot of people out there that love me and want me to get better and have donated a lot of money to help HT-Z pay for my vet care. I didn't know humans could be so nice. I have a cool place to when it is hot outside, Juliana never lets us stay out very long when it is hot and when it rains, she puts plastic over my broke leg so I don't get it wet and she leads me under the awning so I don't wet. I really hate rain. I also have lots of fresh water, she is always filling my dish. It is nice to have lots of food too. I think I may have had a nice home at one time, Juliana and Bill said I am so well behaved that someone had to have worked with me and treated me good at some point, but I don't remember. I was so tired when Hannah rescued me, just ready to give up on life. I knew though that when Hannah took me to her house, there were better things to come and I was right. Life is so good right now and Knight and Sissy told me it would keep getting better, that as long as Mom, Dad, HT-Z, and all of the nice people from the Giant Schnauzer groups were around, no one would ever be mean to me again. They would see to it.

Dr. Joyce and everyone at her office is good to me too. They all stop what they are doing when I walk in. Even other people that visit there ask about me and visit with me.

Griffin had a really busy weekend. A constant flow of company and lots of attention. He is always very accepting of attention and does a goofy dance, flips his head and wags his butt. I think he would spin in circles if he was able.

He was so cute this morning when we took him to the vet. Bill walked out the front door with him to take him to the car, and I shut the front door behind them. Bill said he stood there looking up at the front door with a terribly confused look on his face, not real sure about the door being closed and him on the outside of it, Bill told him it was okay and then I walked around the corner of the house and he started wagging his butt and flipping his head and it became okay then.

Griffin is home from the vet. Very happy to be at home. His leg was splinted again, still afraid to put a hard cast on it until his wound is totally healed because of infection. His foot is in place as it should be and pointing in the right direction. He had his shots today and tomorrow we will go get him a license so that he is in compliance and a will be an authorized citizen should AC come knocking on the door. His hair is growing out and he has gained 5 more pounds. He was a little afraid when we left the vet as we drove my car and not the VW Camper. He had never been in my car before and was a little leery, then settled right in and started looking out the window.

He got a big box from the UPS man. It was from NY. It was filled with lots of squeak toys, a blanket, bed, 4 stainless steal bowls, a bowl stand and good treats. Will post pictures and video shortly of his new things and him playing with his toys. He really likes them.

He is really doing great and I missed him so much today while he was gone. That sweet sweet face and that cute little butt. He is out little big guy.