The Savannah Chronicles: First Year

Cute things about Savannah

ő At 4 MO, she exhibited the typical Dane habit of backing up and sitting on laps.
ő Around the same time she exhibited a dislike for rain. She did tolerate being taken out under an umbrella.
ő Whenever people enter our home, Savannah jumped like a jackrabbit, demanding attention. To resolve this, we taught her to go get a toy and bring her gift to the visitor. She is so very cute when she prances over to offer her prize!
ő At 6 MO, Savannah amazes people. We do obedience drills 3 times a day and whenever we go out. People often say, "I wish my adult dog was as well trained as your puppy"
ő At 6 MO, she spent her first night with free roam of the house. She chose to sleep in "the girls room" with me, Merlot and Kuna. Savannah sleeps flat on her back, sucks her paws in her sleep and snores!
ő At 7 MO, Savannah explores her world with her mouth. We call our home "Bitter Apple-ville" and we buy this stuff by the gallon. We're considering changing her name to "LEAVE IT!" She occasionally scrapes her face by sticking it in places where it doesn't fit. Silly puppy stuff!
ő Until 8 MO, Savannah was dog-focused, not human focused. She accepted petting and handling, but suddenly the switch flipped and she became affectionate! Now she loves to lay her head on my lap or cuddle on the couch with me. Who knew?
ő At 14 MO, Savannah finally sat on the lap of someone other than her own humans. See below -- she looks absolutely delighted!

Puppy Kindergarten Graduation 09/09/06

MAGDRL Junior Great Dane Ambassador 02-10-07

12 MO Savannah with Rick Butler

14 MO Savannah with Elizabeth Allison

Events in the life of a Great Dane puppy.

	April 23, 2006 ő I visited Hladik Great Danes in Columbia, NJ to observe a 6 week old futurity nominated litter and possibly select a puppy. I liked both Pale Yellow and Lime collar female Brindle puppies. Yellow was a sweetheart but Lime seemed more outgoing, so I put a deposit on her and arranged pickup in mid-May. All other puppies were scheduled for crop/dewclaw removal, but made a special request to leave the puppy natural. Photo.
	April 28, 2006 ő After much thought, we selected the name "Hladik's Sultry Savannah" for Lime puppy's beautiful color. Her burnt sienna and black coat looks like wild savannah grasslands.
	May 13, 2006 ő I made the 8 hour round trip drive again to Columbia, NJ to pick up Sultry Savannah with my Dane's Aunt Eileen. The puppy slept most of the way home. When we arrived home, Jupiter, Merlot sniffed her, then went about their business. Kuna hovered over Savannah, nudging her and gently mouthing her. We have a surrogate mom! Photo.
	May 17, 2006 ő She had her first vet visit at Rocky Gorge Animal Hospital in Laurel, MD. The staff was delighted and had photos taken of this pretty girl. She was microchipped, and we got flea/tick and heartworm medications. Photo.
	May, 2006 ő I immediately began teaching Savannah basic obedience at home -- sit, down, stay, wait, leave-it, take-it. For basic commands, she learned hand-signals, and we practiced before meals and every evening. She did exceedingly well with training and enjoyed being rewarded for good performance.
	June 4, 2006 ő Savannah visited 2 YO AKC CGC/Therapy Dog International Great Dane Rusty at my friend Lakschme Someswaran's home. She met adults and children, and was a bit hesitant around Rusty. Photo.
	June 11, 2006 ő Savannah visited Eileen's 6 YO Great Dane Jackson. I took her through obedience practice and she did well outside of home. For the next month, I introduced her to neighbors, coworkers, and visitors. I kept her away from public places and strange dogs until she was fully immunized at age 4 months old. Photo.
	July, 2006 ő Savannah and I began evening walks in Northeast Branch of the Anacostia Heritage Trails Park. This park is two doors from home, so it is a perfect place to work on her leash manners. At first, she was a little nervous and lunged toward bicycles, strollers, joggers and walkers. After positively reinforcing her for staying with me, she settled down and we began loose-leash walking for 2 miles every evening.
	July, 2006 ő Savannah began participating in weekly a PlayPals play group with our dog walker Judy Glaes and three other friendly, neighborhood dogs. She did well with other dogs.
	July 7, 2006 ő Savannah received her last Distemper/Parvovirus immunization. We will wait a week to make sure she has no reaction before taking her out in public.
	July 8, 2006 ő I attended Savannah's first Puppy Kindergarten class, but she attended from the second on. She will be in class with five other puppies at Four Positive Paws training with Sabine Hentrich. Sabine apprenticed with nationally-known and published behaviorist Pat Miller. Class is clicker-based and includes a socialization playgroup afterwards. Photo.
	July 15, 2006 ő At 4 months old, our little girl made her MAGDRL Meet & Greet debut at Annapolis, MD PetSmart. Savannah's Dane Dad packed her raw lunch, and she fell asleep after. She attended Kindergarten afterwards.
	July 17, 2006 ő Savannah's AKC registration and 3 generation pedigree arrived. I enrolled her in the AKC Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program and received her ID tag.
	July 22, 2006 ő Savannah attended her second MAGDRL Meet & Greet at Waldorf, MD PetSmart. She went to class afterwards.
	July 23, 2006 ő Savannah, Jupiter, and Merlot were invited to a party with Rusty at Lakschme's home. She managed to dig Lackschme's rose bed while no one was looking. Later that night, Merlot bloated and spent the next month recovering.
	August, 2006 ő I began taking Savannah to Greenbelt Dog Park several times a week. Except for one dog that we subsequently avoided, every dog played well with her. Photo.
	August 12, 2006 ő Savannah's Dane Dad Matthew took her to Kindergarten because of a schedule conflict with MAGDRL's annual meeting. I think he learned a lot. Photo.
	August 19, 2006 ő Early Saturday morning, Savannah was on WUSA-TV channel 9 in Washington, DC to represent MAGDRL. Later, she went to a Meet & Greet in Annapolis, MD, then went to Kindergarten Saturday afternoon. Photo.
	August 26, 2006 ő Savannah attended a MAGDRL Meet & Greet in Waldorf, MD, then attended class after. Photo.
	September 3, 2006 ő Saturday morning Savannah went to the dog park, then to City of Greenbelt Labor Day Festival. She was very well behaved and only got nervous when we walked past loud speakers while a band was playing. Photo.
	September 4, 2006 ő Savannah visited Rocky Gorge Vet -- the baby has a cold! She's on antibiotics and is out of commission for a couple of weeks. Three other dogs in her training class had the same illness.
	September 9, 2006 ő Savannah's photo is on the Four Positive Paws web site. Today she graduated from Puppy Kindergarten.
	September 18, 2006 ő Savannah received her rabies shot on her 6-month birthday at Rocky Gorge Vet. She weighed 84 lbs.
	September 23, 2006 ő Savannah attended a Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League Meet & Greet in Waldorf, MD
	October 21, 2006 ő At 7 months old, Savannah wore the Donation Dog jacket at MAGDRL's Annapolis PetSmart meet & greet.
	October 27, 2006 ő Savannah was at MAGDRL meet & greet at Waldorf, MD PetSmart.
	October 28, 2006 ő Savannah attended our Town of Riverdale Park, MD annual Howley-Ween Pet Party.
	November 7, 2006 ő To prevent bloat like Merlot had in July, Savannah and Jupiter had prophylactic laparoscopic gastropexy. We chose to do it at this time at our vet's recommendation. Their surgery was performed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VMRCVM) at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Click here to read all about it.
	November 17, 2006 ő Since she got her rabies shot, Savannah was finally registered in PG County and can now attend formal obedience classes. YIPPEE!!!
	November 29, 2006 ő Savannah began obedience classes at Canine Training Association. They offer Obedience, Agility and Rally-O, Confirmation, Freestyle, and other classes. We're hoping she'll do well.
	December 10, 2006 ő We visited Savannah's 2 YO Dane friend Rusty Moonshine and his human mom Lakschme at their Holiday party. Savannah wore poor Rusty out!.
	December 20, 2006 ő Our Savannah proved herself to be a typical 9 MO Dane puppy. While she had full access to the house today, Savannah ate a couch! She is now a bona fide "Destructo-Dane!"
	January 20, 2007ő Savannah was a junior MAGDRL Dane Ambassador at Annapolis PetSmart.
	February 10, 2007ő Our baby girl met other Dane friends at Catonsville PetSmart.
	February 21, 2007ő Savannah finally passed Basic Obedience class! Now, on to Novice!
	February 24, 2007ő Savannah was a hit at Waldorf PetSmart.
	March 10, 2007ő Great Dane Ambassador Dante celebrate his 2nd birthday, and Savannah went to his party.
	March 11, 2007ő Savannah attended a friend of MAGDRL Rusty Moonshine at his 3rd birthday party.
	March 17, 2007ő Savannah spent the day at Annapolis PetSmart at a rescue event
	March 24, 2007ő Savannah was at a rescue event at Waldorf PetSmart
	April 10, 2007ő At 13 months old, Savannah spent her first full day uncrated! And she did just fine! YIPPEE!!!!
	April 14, 2007ő Savannah and Jupiter were at Catonsville PetSmart for our bi-monthly rescue event.
	April 21, 2007ő At 14 months old, Uncle Jupiter & baby Savannah the day working for MAGDRL orphans at Bowie PetSmart.
	April 22, 2007ő Jupiter, Savannah, and Mom drove up to Avondale, PA to attend the 6th Annual DE Dog Fest.
	April 28, 2007ő We had our monthly Waldorf Meet and Greet.
	May 5, 2007ő The furkids joined our Northern Virginia MAGDRL teammates at the Reston Pet Fiesta.

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At 1 year old, the Savannah Chronicles have closed. Savannah began developing that calm, sweet Great Dane temperament that is characteristic of this breed. She is now 110 lbs and trustworthy inside our home. Thankfully, she is also more focused in obedience classes. See her at monthly MAGDRL events and on her puppy pages.

Page created on April 23, 2006 and was last updated on July 04, 2007
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