It's a boy!

We've been casually looking here and there for a buddy for General that would be about his size. We really love Great Danes, but we never wanted to pay the hundreds of dollars for them as we found them.

Once I talked to a breeder about an ad he put out that mentioned less than perfect Danes being sold for less than the "show quality" ones. I told him we didn't want a show dog, just one that would look kinda like a Dane and have the temperament, but he'd be a family dog. He told me that after he put that ad out he decided he didn't want his name associated with less than perfect dogs and drowned the inferior puppies. That turned me off to breeders completely.

That brought me to the Arkansas Great Dane Rescue. The few times they had puppies we were interested in, they were difficult to deal with and still wanted hundreds of dollars for them. I realize it costs a lot to neuter and vet these animals but surely there's going to be one out there for the Friskys: practically free.

Our patience paid off.

We kept in touch with the lady from the place we got General. She was a mail lady who fostered him with her Pomeranians and Chihuahuas and fell in love with him. She told us that if we ever wanted to get rid of him to call her first. I'd like to say that's why I kept in touch with her but really, he's an awesome dog and I just felt sorry for her and knew she would love to know how loved he is.

One day on her mail route, she found an abandoned house with four grey puppies pinned in the back. Two brothers, two sisters.

They're all vetted and ready for adoption. His brother and sisters were adopted out this weekend and someone wanted him- they were holding him for us- so we made the quick decision to bring him home yesterday.

He's what they call a blue merle- dark grayish with black spots all over. He's almost as big as General, although I forget just how big (and handsome) General is until there's another dog around to compare. He looks very muscular and graceful next to this awkward, gangly puppy. He seems to be a sweet relatively calm boy- cuddly- and so far knows the meaning of "no".

I'll post pictures once he gets comfortable.