My beautiful girl(dog) - Orchid Board

Kevin_PR · #1 10-13-2013, 12:17 AM

This is my dog Athena(Left), accompanied by my roommates dog Kodak(center) and his GF Sandy(right).
She is a 75lb Great Dane-American Pit Bull mix. Right now she is a year and a half. We have the same birthday. She was acquired from a friend who has a banana farm. I never had a dog before her, I have always been a cat person, but when I saw her as a puppy nursing under a banana tree I felt an instant connection. She was exactly 1 month old and she fit entirely on my hand. Her fur was soft as velvet and she did not cry when I picked her up, or on the drive home. I raised her in my bed room, and as soon as she could crawl out of her box she came into my bed(I sleep on a futon). She used to try and suckle on my ear lobe

. I have never had any problem with her. She is easy to train, but is still a strong individual. She is an alpha, even dominating Kodak, he's a 2yo chocolate Lab. She still sleeps with me in bed till this day, although sometimes she hogs all the space so I kick her off.
I read great danes were used to hunt boar. She is an excellent sprinter and shows great hunting skills(She practices on Kodak the chocolate Lab). She uses 2 distinct hunting strategies, one is cheetah like, the other is more wolf like.
1 She will line up her body and sink low, watching her prey and waiting then take off at full speed(Cheetah style).
2 She runs in figure 8 pattern with Kodak in the center. She then harasses him and entices him to chase her. She then uses her superior speed and agility to put distance between them, then circle back and slam her body into him, essentially knocking him to the ground. She will do this several times until he is too tired to chase her.(I can definitely see how this technique can work on boars)
It may not be clear in the pic but she has one blue eye and one hazel eye. I do worry about the serious health issues found in both of her parents breeds and am hoping hybrid vigor will give her a long and healthy life. It saddens me to know that they have short lives. I take more care in feeding her than I do myself. She is on a raw diet, its 100% meat and bone, it keeps her lean and fit with a beautiful and soft coat that shines. I don't think I can say enough good things about her. She already went through her chewing phase which was an adventure everyday. I went through many pairs of sandals, 1 sofa, 1 PS3, and atleast 3 pairs of glasses. I used to fall asleep with my glasses on so she would pull them off while I was asleep and help herself to a new chew toy.
My roommate used to have her sister too, but unfortunately our neighbors poisoned her, because she kept crawling under the fence to their property, since then I never let my dog sleep outside. This happened when they were still young and could fit into small spaces. And yes I'm sure it was the neighbor because he told us he did it and would do it again if he found any dog on his property.(needless to say we don't speak) Unfortunately dog poisoning is common in PR. Our neighbor did it by slipping rat poison in a hot dog and feeding it to the dog, it was extremely sad and traumatic to see her vomiting and convulsing. In PR they say people will poison your dogs just before they break into your house. Fortunately I have not experienced this yet.

TOMMYMIAMI · #2 10-13-2013, 12:33 AM

Kevin, she is absolutely gorgeous! You are one happy daddy! We have 2 Yorkies, we love them to death! Their names are Tarzan & Jane:-) He got his name because when we were picking a puppy he was jumping like crazy in the cage. We had a great deal of stress with both of them, especially him, he had liver shunts when puppy and went through surgery with 30%chance of success, but thanks God, he is fine. They both had many other health issues, but they are fine, 8 years old now:-) And regarding the neighbor, If someone would do this to my Dog, I am arrested and in jail for the rest of my life, because both me and my partner, we would kill that "sob", and I am not kidding! These are our kids! Best of luck with your girl, she is precious!

nikkik · #3 10-13-2013, 12:39 AM

Beautiful dog! I have a Great Dane and so does my best friend the figure eight you described is something I see ours do on a regular basis! She loves to taunt my mastiff, he's pretty laid back so unless he feels like playing he just stands there. I refer to this figure eight, crazy energy as a "zoomie". My Dane has one brown eye and one walleye (half blue/half brown). Two different colored eyes is heterochromia (my youngest child also has two different colored eyes).

I have two cats too. I've learned I'm not a cat or dog person, I'm an animal person. Both animals have traits I love and some I could do without, but I wouldn't trade them. My mastiff and ragdoll cat are best buds, all my animals get along, but these two really love each other.

I'm sorry to here about the poisoning of Athena's sister, that is beyond sad! It is very sad that it is common practice there. I hate to hear of animals being harmed by cruel people.

Carpe Diem · #4 10-13-2013, 01:12 AM

What a Trio!

Kevin_PR · #5 10-13-2013, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOMMYMIAMI

Kevin, she is absolutely gorgeous! You are one happy daddy! We have 2 Yorkies, we love them to death! Their names are Tarzan & Jane:-) He got his name because when we were picking a puppy he was jumping like crazy in the cage. We had a great deal of stress with both of them, especially him, he had liver shunts when puppy and went through surgery with 30%chance of success, but thanks God, he is fine. They both had many other health issues, but they are fine, 8 years old now:-) And regarding the neighbor, If someone would do this to my Dog, I am arrested and in jail for the rest of my life, because both me and my partner, we would kill that "sob", and I am not kidding! These are our kids! Best of luck with your girl, she is precious!

Yeah he and his hag of a mother are both scum of the Earth. At least I know it was him for sure and I told him I would take a bat to him if something happened to any of my other animals. I don't put any of my chids near his property either for fear that hell throw an herbicide on them or something out of spite.

TOMMYMIAMI · #6 10-13-2013, 01:16 AM

It sucks to have neighbors like this, but what can you do for now, just protect your orchids and animal kids!

Carpe Diem · #7 10-13-2013, 01:20 AM

What you have living next to you, I would call "The Neighbor from Hell".

Bud · #8 10-13-2013, 02:06 AM

They are such adorable puppies....

MrsSky · #9 10-13-2013, 11:54 AM

What a cute pack!
I am really saddened to hear about her sister. Keep safe!

Optimist · #10 12-03-2013, 06:55 PM

I love dogs. They are so "human." I mean, think of it, what animal has been gazing adoringly at us and learning all about us for 10,000 years! With out dogs, we would not be human and without humans dogs would not be dogs. There is a very close and unbreakable relationship. I am absolutely stunned and angry when people mistreat dogs. When retired, I WILL foster and re-home dogs-- several a year-- not enough to be known as a crazy dog lady.