{{Stephanie & Ellie}} ::passing you my DEA agent "badge" that I just photoshopped through the interwebs::

... what?

a sleepypod to travel back and forth from puppy daycare

Sparky. You just broke my brain.

and you know your dad's probably having one custom-colored to match her eyes or something...

Awww...it's a face that says "I will take up all the space in your house, pull your arms from your sockets and accidentally eat your child while watching TV."

From what I have heard about the breed, they are highly intelligent, and not difficult to train. The space-taking-up thing there just isn't much that can be done about, but I would be highly surprised to find that it's difficult to train these dogs to walk reasonably on a leash. As far as the safety of the children goes, there's this ancient legend, found here [link] to tell against it:

In the 13th century, LLewelyn, Prince of North Wales, had a palace in Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, his faithful hound, who was unaccountably absent. On Llewelyn’s return, the truant hound, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The Prince, alarmed, hastened to find his infant son, and found the bed empty, the bedclothes and floor splattered with blood.

The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound’s side, believing the hound had killed his beloved son. The Wolfhound’s dying call was answered by the child’s cry. Llewelyn searched and discovered his son, unharmed. But nearby the child, lay the bodies of several wolves, slain by Gelert. The Prince, his heart filled with remorse and shame, is said never to have smiled again.

Crap, Stephanie! I hope everything's okay!

Any new news, Stephanie? I'm vibing for your safety and Ellie's. Also a quick getaway. For you, not for the criminals.

Oh, Stephanie, how awful! Poor you and Ellie!

I hope they resolve it soon, Stephanie.

safety~ma Stephanie

I never realized Gelert was a wolfhound. My allergies act up at his name.

Our dog Pua was sick over thanksgiving and we have had her on a strict dog food (and occasional treat) diet for a week. Do you guys think a small boiled beef bone would be OK?

I'm making some stock from leftover Hawaiian short ribs. Those are beef, right?

{{{Stephanie}}} Praying for a safe, quick resolution.

Wolfhounds are, indeed, great. And unlike Newfies or Saintie, or Danes, they tend not to be slobber factories.

I can. not. deal. with the slobber. Yeeesh.

Rescued Greyhounds also tend to be very mellow, and non-slobbering. But there is a possibility of health issues with them. (Like Danes)

Our neighbor's Wolfie would be perfect if he weren't a clumsy klutz...and unaltered and therefore more aggressive than I'd like. Hard to push a 140 lb dog of Bartleby when he 'just wants to get to know him better', if you know what I mean...and I'm sure that you do.