November 2006
Hi Sandy,

Hope all is well and you and your family had an enjoyable Thanksgiving!

Ken and I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know that we are still interested in another puppy and hope we are still on the list.  Keep us posted when you think the next litter will arrive.

Dexter is doing great-just celebrated his 2 yr b-day!  Hard to believe, it has gone by so fast!  We just replaced our fence and now he has free reign of the yard.  He is a new man!!  He gets to go right out the door into the yard now.  Once, he actually kicked his hind legs in the air like a mule because he was so excited!  We joke that he is the "king of all he surveys"-he does the dutiful perimeter stroll then settles into a spot right smack in the middle of the yard.  We also have a new addition-Astro, McKenna's brown tabby cat.  Dex is still trying to figure out what this thing is that lays on his bed.  It's very funny to see the 15 lb cat on an XL dog bed and see the 180 lb Mastiff laying on the floor next to the bed!  Attached are a few pics.  Thank you for such a great boy!

Lou Ellen, Ken, and McKenna

April 2006
Jim and Sandy,

Just wanted to drop you a note and tell you how wonderful Dexter is!  He is getting to be such a big boy!  Now over 160 lbs of fun and fur he has really settled in nicely as part of our family.  He is protective of McKenna who just turned 8 and lets us know if anyone is outside of the house.  This is particularly nice because Ken works nights now.  He has such a great personality, everything is a party, even going to the vet.  The only exception is the groomer - though he is very cooperative.  He moans when he gets a bath - he loves the water.  He follows commands very well and listens to all of us now.  His favorite is going "by-bys in the car".  This is really funny when he is in my little Kia - he takes up the whole seat and looks at everyone as they go by!  It is funny to see him at Pet Smart too. He knows they give treats at the register and is like a little kid waiting for his turn.  He gets so excited he can't sit still.  We just wanted to say thank you again for such a wonderful boy!  Hope all is well with you all - take care!

Sincerely,
Lou Ellen, Ken and McKenna

Hi Sandy,

Dexter is doing great and tonight he completed intro to puppy classes at the local Petsmart.  We already signed him up for the next class which is intro to basic dog training 1.  Dexter is currently 92 lbs at 5.5 mos, he has been averaging 5 lbs a week since coming home.  Dexter is such a good puppy, he takes everything in stride.  He has made a trip to Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, he does very well in the car.

Ken, Lou Ellen and McKenna

Hi Sandy,

Things are going great.  Dexter is great with McKenna.  He walks her to the end of the driveway to catch the school bus in the morning and he cries after she leaves on the bus.

We can't believe how fast he is growing, he has gained 7.5 lbs. in 21 days.  He has done an excellent job in housetraining and he is walking on a leash very nicely.  Also he just loves the snow, he will bury his nose in the snow then flip it up and watch the snow fall to the ground like his own little blizzard!

Thanks again for such a wonderful gift,

Ken

PS: He has mastered the following commands sit, lay down, going to bed, come and we are currently working on the stay command.  We still haven't started puppy classes but when we do I'm sure he will be at the head of the class.

Hi Sandy,

Everything is going great.  Dexter seems to be a very laid back puppy and just kind of goes with the flow.  His favorite hobby seems to be napping.  He is doing well with house training, he already knows to go to the door if he needs to go outside.  Also he listens very well, if he is doing something that isn't desireable a simple but firm no is all that is required for him to stop the behavior.  He is an awesome puppy.

I don't know what else to say, I could go on and on about Dexter but everything has been so enjoyable with him.

Thanks again,
Ken