BEAU AT HOME . . . 5 DECEMBER 2009
Chuck writes: SECOND PUPPYHOOD? I'm beginning to wonder how old Beau really is. The way he jumps around and is chewing things up, I'm beginning to suspect that he is really less than a year old. He got us up at 2:15 this morning, with his barking and howling. We had gone to bed at 10:30. Heck, I had to be at work at 5 a.m. and I needed my beauty rest. At my age, imitating Rip Van Winkle wouldn't be a bad idea. I took his sorry little butt outside because I thought he might have to do his business. Nope, he just ran all over the yard and was doing play bows. Then when I got home from work, he grabs the toilet plunger out of the bathroom for his own amusement, Beau, this is NOT a chew toy!
I don't see Beau developing any close relationships with any of the other dogs. Andy surprised me and went after Beau last night when we came into the house from outside. Don't know what caused it; might have been a bit of jealousy, which is unheard of with Andy. Had to bail Andy out and he just hit the deck. Never had to do that before. I did see Beau & Matt (one of the little dogs) playing chase in the back yard. Now that is something, as Matt is an old curmudgeon who doesn't like to play with the other dogs.
I hope Beau will let us sleep in tomorrow morning. It's my one day to get some good sleep. And to think I ALMOST adopted a 14-week-old female Airedale. These experiences have sure served as a wake-up call. What the heck was I thinking? On 6 December, Chuck writes: WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES! Well, another baby step for Beau. He seems to do most of his potty business outside now. He isn't letting us know that he has to go out, but at least he appears to be holding it in most of the time until he goes out with the rest of the troops.
	Beau started his howling and barking about 3 a.m. this morning, but we just ignored him and stayed in bed. We hoomans wanted to sleep and that dog wasn't going to ruin our one morning of catching up on our beauty rest for us. Of course the rest of the crowd tried to get us up also but a few shouts of "Quiet!" and "No!" from us quieted them back down.
Beau is now coming to me for attention. Everything is a game with him, especially when it's time to come back in the house after a potty break. He runs all over the yard, does a couple of play bows and takes off again. When he's had enough, he'll sit or lie down and wait for me to hook a finger on his collar to guide him in the door. Hopefully he'll just walk right in without any "help" one of these days. Of course, to him there is no "entertainment value" in that. Why should he just walk in the door when he can play hide and seek behind the picnic table and the bounce all over the place in an attempt to get me to chase him?
I'll chase a little bit but dang it, I'm to old and out of shape to do much of it. His running and bouncing is so "puppyish"; he lacks a lot of coordination that a more mature dog would have. This should get better in time. Dog help me if this little guy gets good enough to be Olympic material. Gotta go now. I'm getting the evil eye from our Chihuahua because she isn't in a lap right now. Don't believe a word he says! I didn't do whatever he says I did! Pam Simpson: Now that is one cute PUPPY! Priscilla Lundblad: Beau might be full of the devil but he is just about the cutest little guy I've ever seen! I still have one of the five Colorado puppies born in my home last summer. She & Beau are identical in their actions! Bob Anderson: What a beautiful Airedale! So photogenic . . . . Lizzie Hurtt: How lovely to see that terrified boy that had to be carried around coming out of his shell . . . even lovelier that I'm seeing it at a distance and not at 3 a.m. in my house. Lizzie (down at a lovely wet, wet, wet, Wombat Bend) Janie Miller: Thanks for the update! Had to laugh at the free boy's antics! Now he can be a real dog!! What a wonderful ending. Jackie McGuinness: Beau is delightful; he is so much like Mahri both in looks and the way Chuck describes him. Better watch out cos he will worm his way into your heart! And on 10 December comes the [not unexpected] news from Chuck & Jay: I just thought that I'd share the news. We've just adopted another rescue 'dale. We've always wanted to have two Airedales at the same time and now we've done it. Although this means that we now have seven critters; all of them are rescues. Jackie McGuinness: I just knew he was going to work his magic on you; he is so adorable, you were beaten the minute your eyes met. You have given him the best xmas present in the world: a real home. No doubt he will see you as his own special SantaPaws. Special 'dalehugs to you & all the critters. Jackie & The Wild Bunch (we run around so fast you'd think there was seven of us!) On 13 December, Chuck writes: Beau is starting to find his niche. He's getting into everything. He's working on the hallway carpet which now has a hole in it. He's really starting to countersurf and it's not necessarily for food. Just something to chew on. I started to get a little suspicious of some of the things that he was doing so when I caught up with the little guy, I put my forehead up against his and asked "Casey, are you in there?' It's like the Case-monster's adolescence all over again. Ah, how one forgets so quickly all the interesting little things these guys get into when they are young. Now if he'll just turn into the wonderful, playful goofball type of dog that Casey was I'll be satisfied. Hey you! Hairball! What's that in your mouth? It doesn't look like a bone to me. Put down that phone! Now! Ya know what? We love this little boy! And now he's starting to give BIGNOSEPOKES; there's hope for him yet. Later that day: Life around here this morning . . . Let's see now: one Airedale sharing my chair (Andy) another big dog with his head stuck between my knees wanting his neck massaged (Mugs) and another Airedale (Beau) doing AireSnaps and barking, trying to get somebody, ANYBODY, to play with him. Bear is sitting quietly (for now) at my feet. Jay is in the living room with Minnie (Gordita) & Wiener Dog in his lap and Dog knows what Matt is up to. Probably lifting his leg on Bear's crate again. Ah, the joys of home. Beau is bringing a lot of joy to this house. Andy is such a laid back Airedale that there just wasn't much to write about. Beau, on the other hand, is bringing fun, "excitement" (if you know what I mean) and life to this house. I wonder if Beau will wrestle like Casey did? Andy just doesn't get it. Heck, Andy doesn't even bark at squirrels; he just watches them. The Case-monster used to go totally bonkers and scare them to pieces. It's a good thing Airedales can't climb trees; I would have been calling the fire dept. on a regular basis to get him down. Beau, these are the kind of shoes you have to fill. Charlotte Anderson: He has the sweetest face I've ever seen!A couple of the pictures of him from the rear make it look like he is wearing a thong!

SEE BEAU AT HOME, BEFORE & AFTER GROOMING HERE