release the hounds

Apparently if you leave the door of the bathroom cabinet open, then go and look for the puppy 10 minutes later, you will find him surrounded by pills, Valley of the Dolls-style. Those Neurofen child-proof lids don’t really do the job if you just chew straight through the bottle, you know.

Brenin is fine and we don’t think he ate any pills, but he had a lovely overnight stay at the university vet hospital and had the enjoyable experience of having his stomach pumped. He came home the next morning chirpy and a little bit lighter, much like our bank account. Probably because he didn’t have a headache.

Going to visit Ashleigh and Liam… although not allowed in the pool. Brenin just watched and bore the brunt of the splashing.

Throw me a noodle.

Essendon supporter… or destroyer?

Brenin met up with Kuma the Saint Bernard for his beach visit today… it was far too hot for Kuma, who wanted only to wallow in the water, but he hadn’t counted on a little puppy interested in his every move. Brenin has no problems swimming – whenever Kuma walked into deeper water, Brenin just swam after him. One tired little dog that night!

O HAI

Cooling down with Kuma

I’m swimming! Look at me!

Playing chase with Kuma

I am a tired dog.

Brenin is thriving, unlike the back lawn. We remain in severe drought here in Melbourne, and can’t water the lawn at any time. It doesn’t seem to bother Brenin, who is happy to collapse onto grass, plants, flowers or tomato plants with impunity. We have watched him grazing the cherry tomatoes – Trent has to be quick or else we get none ourselves!

There’s a drought, you say? I thought you were just landscaping to match my lovely coat colour.

I will just stand in the water bowl, like all the dogs before me.

Fitting his head and both front feet in the waterbowl at the same time.

I bought a new portrait lens for the camera. When Brenin is still enough (a very rare event) it takes some great photos! Note I am not attributing any skill of my own… it’s all in the lens. And perhaps something to do with the puppy.

I has a stick.

I has a viking.

Australia Day long weekend means walks on the beach at low tide! Brenin gets carried down past the low tide mark: this is much nicer to do on the way down, when he’s dry, rather than on the way back, when he’s wet and sandy and squirmy. He has absolutely no fear of water and simply swims when he walks out of his depth. Could this be another water Leonberger? All signs point to yes…

Wait for meeee…

All tired out already – must be those stumpy legs.
I’m talking about the PUPPY.

He looks much bigger next to me. Why is that?

Enjoying a late afternoon paddle.

A few photos of Brenin at 8 weeks old, when we brought him home. He walked straight into the house and was very interested in the cats. The cats were, strangely enough, not nearly as interested in him.

Will the cats let me play with their toys?

Watering the front garden with Trent

Sitting under the tap catching the last drips

Why yes I am covered in sawdust. Why do you ask?

Brenin is Welsh for “king”, which he seems to think very appropriate. His pedigree name is Adlihtam Legend of Zorro, and he was bred by Lyndsay Edwards via Saffy and Zorro. We had no plans for a puppy but once Lyndsay offered him to us after the loss of Basso, it was impossible to think of refusing. I have come to the conclusion that puppies must release some sort of pheremone making them impossible to resist. Trust me, I have a science degree.

Brenin was one of the smallest puppies in the litter, but soon applied himself to some steady eating. Without appearing overly interested in food, somehow over the course of a day we realise he has steadily put away breakfast, dinner, biscuits, milk and the odd chicken wing or six. Currently he is 9 months old, weighs 45kg and eats more at a sitting than Trent. (He was out-eating me months ago.) Not at all fat, he is putting all his energy into growing upwards rather than outwards. Brenin’s coat is just starting to wave, and I plan to lend him to L’Oreal so they can interpret his lovely red-gold colour into a hair dye. We’ll make a fortune.