#lifewithluger has new challenges

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If you know us at all you will know that we care deeply for our animals. We would do anything and everything we could to give them the best care. They are a part of our family! They infiltrate our hearts and our homes and become a significant part of the family unit.

Granted I am a lot older than I was when Osa was this young but Luger and Osa are polar opposites! He is a boy...she was a girl. He likes to go to day care and dog parks...she hated every dog that she saw. He is crazy and has an extreme amount of drive and energy...she was sweet, calm and affectionate. He is toy driven...she was food driven. Having said that, these two animals have been our family.

Because Luger is so toy driven and absolutely loves the Kong Wubba toys, he can be quite obsessive. He doesn't know when to stop. Because he doesn't always eat his food regularly, (our philosophy is he will eat when he is hungry) toy time is the reward for eating all of his food. 

The morning of June 19 he only had a few kernels left, we encouraged him so he could get his toy. Did I say he is obsessive with this toy? He is an amazing catcher and is a great goalie but this particular day I threw the toy up in the air. He jumped so high and landed on his backside. He got up and wouldn't put any weight on his hind leg. We took him to our vet and they referred him to Northlake Veterinary Surgery. They took an x-ray and Luger tore his ligament. 

So now he is in a custom splint waiting for the swelling to go down and hopefully have ligament reconstruction surgery Monday. He will be immobile for 8-10 more weeks. After that we will be put on a walking regimen. 

It is really difficult to slow this dog down (medication helps 😊) but he is adjusting pretty well to the splint. He sometimes goes on three legs.

We are praying for a successful surgery and recovery! I am confident in Dr. Coleman and his hospital staff. We have heard so many good outcomes from other clients while sitting in the waiting room.

So #lifewithluger has new challenges but we are managing! Thank you for your prayers and your "sweet" get well gifts Aunt Cyndy Morris.

Thanksgiving 2017

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We drove to Ohio for Thanksgiving to be with the Dake/Marshall clan. It is a long drive especially when you have a crazy anxious 70lb German Shepherd in the back seat coupled with standstill traffic! Yikes! 

We had a great time being together for the few days we were there. When you are there for just a short time you try to do everything you can in a little bit of time you have. 

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Thanksgiving 2017

Bruce, Noah, Doris, Ron, Becky, Bernie, Laura & Luger

 

Wednesday was a great evening spent with Bernie’s siblings, nieces, nephew and grandniece! Our niece Liz and her husband Eric revealed to us that they were having a boy and his name is going to be Nolan Ellis! 

 

We had a lovely Thanksgiving meal served by the hostess of the century...Doris (Mom Dake) with a surprise for Dad...a graham cracker cream pie from his favorite place in Hornell NY. Bruce, Bernie’s brother, was very thoughtful and went out of the way to pick it up. It was a great surprise and we were all able to share it. ;)

Our niece Jen brought over the newest “grand pup” so that Luger could meet him and have a play date. Luger was very good with him and Aspen wasn’t so sure. But someday in the very near future, Aspen will be bigger than Luger. It was so much fun for me. German Shepherd pups are my fav! 

 

We spent half the day in Wooster, first at Sure House coffee with the family. I loved this place! Quant, modern, great coffee and AMAZING #cretzels They are a croissant pretzel filled with chocolate or cinnamon sugar. Oh my! I need to learn how to make those! Later that afternoon we had lunch with our friends Brett & Jessica and their family at Gouda Bar & Grill. Great time catching up. Thankful they had some time to spend with us because they are Salvation Army officers in Ashland OH. 

Saturday we left to go back home. We drove all they way taking turns driving. Grateful that we beat the holiday traffic. 

All in all a great time with family.

P.S. Thanks for the venison Ed! ;)

P.S.S. I missed my family!

Luger

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This boy has my heart.

He is a strong being...physically and in will but on the other hand can be the sweetest boy. Wanting to be in the same chair as you on your lap. Let me remind you he is at least 75lbs but I don't care! 😘

I have to admit that I could have given up on him many times in the being training phase of life because he tests my patience to the very limit. I can't compare him to Osa. They are on complete opposites of the spectrum.

After being gone for 13 or so days we have a new bond. Maybe he's just growing up and moving out of puppy stage but I'll take it!

📸 : lauradake

📸 : lauradake

Page 20-36 of 365

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I have posted a photo every day for the last 36 days. I haven't always been good about putting them up on my blog. Sometimes there isn't really a story to write about. Sometimes I take a certain photo because I'm participating in a photo challenge, sometimes it's something I have seen or experienced.

Here is a collection of photos from the last week or so.

Page 2 of 365

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I love photography and I'm snapping all the time but forget to post in this space of mine. I'm going to take on this challenge of taking a photo a day. Let's see how this goes. 

Today is our last day of vacation and I'm enjoying this moment where Luger is chill and relaxed! He has been a crazy wound up mess over this holiday so I'm grateful for this peaceful moment. 

 

photo credit: lauradake  

photo credit: lauradake  

#lifewithLuger | Growing Up Fast

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Life with Luger is awesome. Challenging. Frustrating. Beautiful. He knows how to push my buttons and pull my strings and then he wants to be close to you. Cuddle with you. Fall asleep near you. Love you!

It's hard not to compare him to Osa. Let's be honest, it's hard not calling him Osa. She was with us for so many years. I do it all the time ;) He has his own personality and I love him more every day. He is definitely all boy as I have heard so many mother's say who have boys. My mother said the other day, if my brother came first I may never have come to being. ;)

He is growing so fast. My parents had him last week while we were out of town and I couldn't believe how much he grew. We take him Friday to the vet and it will be interesting to see how much more he weighs from the last time, which was three weeks ago.

It's nice having a furry kid back in our house!

#lifewithLuger | Week 1

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Well, we survived week one with Luger. It has been an adjustment for all of us. Sleep deprived. Running around making sure he does get into something he shouldn't. Or do something inside that should be done outside. Puppies cannot be trusted. 😜

Life for Luger has been turned upside down. He was one of ten puppies. For eight weeks he has been with his siblings and breeder. Then one day he was taken from his surroundings, all he knows. We are working through separation anxiety. He is very attached to me. My little shadow which is awesome because I love him already but he doesn't like the crate because he knows that we will be leaving him. So that is our challenge! Other than that, he is a good boy and we are happy to have him as part of our family.