In April 2005, a coworker of Thea's (Dianna) told her about a litter of 12 German Shepherd puppies near Boise, Idaho. Neighbors of Dianna's parents were giving them away. The GSD parents are Jack (black and tan) and Maggie (mostly black). Once Thea saw photos of the puppies, she couldn't resist and decided to adopt one of the three females. Greg was also cool with the idea, since we put Rae down in 2004, and it would be good for Luke to have another companion.

17 days

After a couple weeks of coordination with Dianna's mom (code-named Operation Hanna), Thea found herself enroute to Hartford-Bradley airport to claim the eight-week-old pup at United Cargo on Friday, May 6. Thea named the puppy Hanna, after her mother, whose middle name was Hanna. And it also seemed logical, because in the past, we had a dog named Heinz, which was Thea's dad's middle name.

A United worker guessed Thea was there to pick up a puppy (when she finally found the right loading dock). And there was Hanna, in a crate next to another one with a beagle in it. After showing ID and signing papers, Hanna was in Thea's Audi, heading for a safe place to be let out (after all Hanna was in the crate for 12 hours)! Thea pulled into a quiet cemetery and removed Hanna from the carrier; she seemed A-OK, so Thea called Idaho to report "mission accomplished!"

For the first two days, Hanna lived in our basement, where she was free to romp or sleep in her crate. Thea slept in a bed next to her so she wouldn't feel abandoned from her large brood. On Saturday, Thea took Hanna to the local Agway to buy a collar, and all the employees were enamored by her cuteness.

Back home, things seemed to go fairly well -- until it was time to meet Luke...

Luke was in his normal bed area in the kitchen, but, he knew something was downstairs. Being disabled, he couldn't really go down and investigate. So instead he barked -- for five days straight! When Thea decided to bring Hanna upstairs, Luke declared this was definitely an intruder (similar to those intruder bunnies in the backyard).

When Hanna visited the vet the following Wednesday, he explained that they will eventually get along. Thea wasn't so sure about this.

Hanna also went to Thea's office for the day, so everyone there, including Dianna, had a chance to see her. Luckily, she was on her best behavior in the workplace -- she slept most of the time.

Back home that night, Greg had to study for a final exam, and Luke's constant barking at Hanna (who was not phased by it) was getting on Greg's nerves. Frustrated, he filled a spray bottle with water and squirted it directly in Luke's face. Almost instantaneously, Luke stopped barking. Hanna sat next to Luke, and through the kiddie-gate-barrier they sniffed each other. There was more barking, though not as often, and each bark was greeted with another squirt of water. This lasted most of that night.

The next day, Luke and Hanna, on leash, were outside together. Thea's brother Fritz reassured Luke everything would be ok, so we let Hanna go up to him. Since Luke worships Fritz, he probably figured this ain't so bad, and nobody else seems mad at this intruder. Hanna began playing with Luke and rolled on her back. Luke calmly and methodically licked her belly and all her feet. It appeared as if he was cleaning her. Thea and Greg were relieved. Later, Hanna tried to see if Luke would nurse her, but she came up empty.

Since then, Hanna always wants to play with Luke, but he really doesn't want to be bothered. While he has accepted her as a sibling/granddog, Luke still rules the roost. That may all change once Hanna is the same size as him. While there was a time when Luke was a playful dog, his disability puts him a little bit in a disadvantage. And after all, he is over 10 years old -- geriatric for a shepherd! What old grandpa is ready to tussle with a toddler?

Now at 10 weeks old, Hanna is a normal pup, though her mouthing/biting is annoying not only to Luke, but to Thea as well. Seems Thea's hands have replaced the littermates and have become something to constantly grab. Again, the vet says this is normal and doesn't last forever -- hope so! Her ears have come up, so now she is a mini-adult. Her fur is soft, but her little toenails and teeth are sharp!

11 weeks
24-1/4 pounds
First Bath 05/29/05. Didn't like that at all...

12 weeks
26-1/4 pounds

14 weeks
32 pounds

Early November 2005, 8 months, 58 pounds! Compare her to the crate she originally arrived in.

February 2007

All grown up, and hornery as ever!

Back to "The Kids"