Hi Sandy,

Abby is weighing somewhere around 80 lbs.  She doesn't look a bit over weight.  She free feeds and usually eats between 8 and 12 cups a day.  One day last week she was extra hungry and ate 16 cups.

With some guidance from our behaviourist, and some pretty standard obedience training, Abby is coming along very nicely.  She has finished introductory obedience training and will next embark on intermediate.  The Haltee collar was a god send for my wife.  Now she has one hand control of Abby at all times.  Abby goes once a week to doggy day care to socialize with other dogs.  She has yet to meet a dog or person she doesn't like.  And she expects everyone to like her.  The standard comment from those who meet her is "She's just beautiful."

Abby is like any other 6 mo old mastiff pup, with a bit yet to learn.  But she is extremely affectionate, and usually sleeps on one of my feet.  There are few chew toys she can't destroy in short order.   Some Kong toys hold up well, as well as some elk antlers.  A five dollar bully stick's life can be measured in minutes.  Abby sleeps in a crate in our bedroom.   She has been murder on any kind of bedding; she can't be left alone with any bedding she can eat.  So even if she wishes to sleep in, we have to remove the soft bedding when we get up and leave the room.  We hope this is something she'll eventually grow out of.  And by the way, sleeping is something she's very good at.  Typically she's asleep by 8:00 p.m. and doesn't want to get up until about 7:30 a.m.  After getting up, she likes to lounge around a bit and eat and drink a little before asking to go out.  She has wonderful bladder control and was easily house trained.

From the time she came home with us, we could tell when she gets tired.  She becomes very energetic, sometimes almost manic, and is more than a hand full.   When she's burned her last bit of energy, she crashes and is ready either for bed or for a long nap.

Ray