Zander's Story- Part Tres

...the weeks and then months passed.....and strangely enough there were no applications for Zander....there were a few prospects but they either changed their minds or for some reason it just wasn't the best place for him...and not that I wasn't trying to keep him from being adopted....because I was so in love with this dog I wanted the very best place for him.

Because he'd had some issues with Ox, I was rather reluctant to have him placed in a home with another male dog....because he was a young, energetic dog he needed to be in a home which could accomodate his energy levels.....

Summer 2005 waxed and waned....and my buddy was still at my side......he'd pretty much gotten over his dislike of the crate and to my knowledge did not potty in the house ( but like most dog folks....I figure that is why God invented cleaners, rug shampooers and paper towels )...he was a young healthy male who just wasn't getting looked at.

By this time, personal issues made me cling even more to Zander and silly as it may sound to some of you....I emphatically believe that he somehow sensed that I needed HIM as much as he needed ME....and as Fall approached....my decision was made....this dog was going to STAY and let the chips fall where they may....

Zander had made it quite clear that he was happy with me....and the night he first slinked up onto my bed...OK so it was 0200 and I initially was NOT amused....I knew that this dog and I were just meant to be....others who knew me had pointed this out on several occasions and I was just too Irish stubborn to listen to them....but....

In November 2005 , I sent the check off to HANC to formally adopt Zander ( or HE adopted ME )....and he became MINE......

Now, Zander had come ( I was told ) from a Puppy Mill in Kansas.....so his feeding habits were pretty boring and routine....kibble and water was probably it.

My resident dogs always enjoyed fruits and vegetables as treats...sometimes raw....sometimes cooked.....if you want to see some happy Newfs....try eating an apple around them....refusal to share is a most definite NO GO.

However, the first attempts I'd made to introduce Zander to some healthy treats met with the famous Newf " You have got to be kidding....that stuff is POISON !!" glare....and he would promptly spit out the apple or sweet potato and stalk off....wherein the other dogs would happily scarf up his discards.

One day, I was munching on a raw sweet potato and was tossing some chunks to the other dogs and Zander happened to catch one and before I knew it he had gobbled it down and then in that moment he must have understood that Mom was NOT trying to poison him and this stuff was actually good and now he jockeys for his position when I toss the goodies around.....

Zander is a one of a kind Newf....and I would like to think that he really was Specially Chosen for me....he watches baseball with me....traveled to Florida with me this past summer when my father passed away....tell me who is going to mess with a little bitty woman with a big black dog and Zander took his duties as my security guard very seriously and if anything the experience bonded us even more firmly to each other.

He still snuggles on the bed from time to time....although spends most of the night on the floor....and is my "back-up alarm clock"....I am permitted to hit the Snooze button a maximum of 3 times ( bearing in mind that first alarm rings at 0300 )....and if I have not crawled out of bed by them.....a series of BOOFS and a flying leap and I am getting my Good Morning kiss from a huge, slobbery beast that at that hour of the morning clearly resembles a cross between Darth Vader and Chewbacca....and I wouldn't have it any other way.....

So, when I first started baking the treats....it just seemed natural to include the Newfs names as part of the official Company name....after all....I might NOT have done it had it not been for these incredibly loving and gentle beasts.......

Now...if I can just find the time to get him out more for Therapy Dog visits because....among his other accomplishments, Zander is registered with Therapy Dogs Inc....having passed all the evaluations and testing in the Fall of 2006......what a dog !!!!!