The Adventures of Kaya and Luna

We got ourselves a brand new blog!

Apologies from Mum for the lack of posts lately. She's taken a month-long break from her camera (seriously, her camera bag is way dusty!) and has spent some time instead making us a brand new blog!

It has a cool design with lots of room for BIG pictures. Pretty good idea really - big dogs need big pictures!

Anyway without further ado, please go to...

www.greatdanesaustralia.net

You can subscribe via RSS (whatever that is) and there is a brand new blog post ready and waiting (plus all the old ones from this blog). See you there!

Horses and Dogs (by Luna)

When we left Grandma's house, we headed over to Dad's family's house. There are always lots and lots of people there, but us doggies aren't allowed inside cos of all the food. That's ok cos there are lots of things to explore and do outside!

I might have met them last year but I was only little so I can't remember, but this time we met horses!

I always thought a 'horse' just meant some type of dog, mainly because that's what people call us all the time.

It turns out, horses are a LOT different to us doggies. These ones are pretty small apparently (most horses are MUCH bigger) so they are about the same size as us, but they have some stuff we don't! Something we definitely don't have is pretty long hair on their necks, called a 'mane'. They have tails, but theirs are made out of long hair just like their manes. Really good for flicking away flies - what a good idea! I wish I had a tail like that!

Another big difference is they eat grass! Lots of it! In fact, they do it all day. That's pretty much all they do too. Bit boring I reckon.

We fed them some grass though the fence. I tried to ask the black one why he liked grass so much and did he like meat too? But he just rolled his eyes at me. Silly question, I guess.

The white one was much nicer, I think she was the mummy horse. She was so pretty, but I don't think she understood me either when I talked to her.

Since there was so much grass around, I thought I would have a go eating some. I closed my eyes and gave it a go.

Ugh! A mouth-full here and there is ok, but no way could I eat this stuff all day!

Just as we were about to leave, I thought I heard one of the horsies call out to me. I didn't think they could talk to us! I trotted over to investigate...

I listened closely...

Well I'm not repeating that!

I've come to the conclusion that horses are dogs are really quite different. I'm not exactly sure how people can mistake us for horsies - but I guess I'm going to take it as a compliment in future - they are very handsome animals!

Boxing Day - Visiting Grandma

Last year's Boxing Day wasn't really that fun, but this year was much better! This year we went up to the place called "Toowoomba" again.

First we stopped in to see Grandma. For once, Mum didn't take the pictures, Grandma did! I reckon she did a pretty good job! Then again, I love my Grandma to bits and think everything she does is wonderful. Grandma and her man have a new doggie who we got to meet. Her name is Topsee and she is the same sort of dog as Tashi, just a different colour.

Here's Mum holding Topsee!

As you can see, Topsee is very very hairy, just like Tashi. She was brought up as a show dog by her breeder and is a Champion!! Which is pretty good apparently.

There are a couple of things that Topsee needs some work on, like being off the lead, so Mum walked around with her on the lead for a while, while us other doggies did some exploring of Grandma's front yard.

Here's Mum looking weird jumping over a bush to keep up with Topsee!

We decided we better get some photos of Topsee and us girls. It took a bit of organising. I was perfectly behaved as usual.

Luna needed a bit of persuading from Mum to stay there cos she would much rather have been sniffing around the front yard with Tashi.

Eventually we managed to get a reasonable photo. Personally, I think Mum's facial expression lets the side down, but I guess she's not really much of a model, unlike me.

Luna was off as soon as we'd finished, and one of my kiddies stepped in for a quick shot. I'm not sure  what relation they are, they are Mum's brother's kids, I guess that makes them my cousins?? Too hard, I just call them my kiddies!

After that, I decided enough was enough.

And went off to see if Tashi wanted to play.

But he was only really interested in sniffing my bum, which he has trouble reaching.

He quickly moved onto Luna's bum. She's much shorter and easier to sniff.

Luna soon went back to looking under the caravan for the cat that she met earlier who nearly scratched her eyes out - talk about a sucker for punishment!

I decided to have a little rest.

Then sat quietly with one of my kiddies, the boy one, who is very nice and much quieter than the girl ones.

Grandma couldn't resist taking a nice photo of two of her favourite grandchildren!

Then we were off to Dad's family's place for the rest of the day!

Down the backyard

We were playing in the front yard today...

When Mum suggested we should go and explore down the back yard instead, just for something different! So off we went down the rocky overgrown path to the back yard.

It's a bit wild down there, the grass is really long, so long Mum reckons we could keep a small pony! I reckon a pony would eat it all pretty quickly though.

One of the reasons we don't go down the backyard much is because there are bugs - lots of them!

They land on us and bite us...

We try and bite them back but they fly away so quickly...

Mum said that the light down the back yard was really pretty, so she got me and Luna to play some games with our toys so she could play with her camera toy too! Tug-o-war is one of our favourites.

Sometimes we even like to share and run around together...

Most of the time we play-fight though...

Sometimes we lost the toy in the long grass!

Long grass is good to lie in too, so I settled down for a rest and Mum took some modelling shots.

The pretty light even made Luna look good!

Flying ears and all...

After a while we headed back up to the front yard to wait for Dad to get home from work.

I heard him coming up the street!

Yaaay Dad is home!

Park Mini-Story: Our Tap

When we've finished running around at the park, we always head over to our tap for a drink. It's perfect for us, Great Dane size!

I just wish we could turn it on ourselves, instead we have to wait for Mum or Dad to work it. We like to make a big mess but at least it washes all the slobber off our chops!

I especially like to make a point of drooling water all over Luna's head. She loves it, honest!

Park Mini-Story: The Playground (by Luna)

At the end of the park there is a fun park type place for kiddies. When there are kids there we aren't allowed to go there, but if there is no one around, we like to play there!

The sand reminds us of the beach.

We love to run around and chase each other! Or rather, Kaya likes to chase me and beat me up.

I think she thinks she's some kind of expert hunter creature. I think she watches TV too much.

If she gets too annoying, there is a special place I can always escape to where she can't get me!

I can jump up there easy from just standing next to the red bit. Kaya doesn't have a hope though!

Queen of the playground! (at least until I jump down again)

Park Mini-Story: Modelling Attempt III (by Luna)

Mum told me there is a saying 'third time lucky' - so we decided to have one last go at doing some modelling shots. We decided to try and get some more natural, non-posed ones, so the first one, Mum caught me in mid-play.

Mum: "Ok Luna, probably not the best look actually. Can you just relax a bit? And try not letting your tongue hang out quite so much."

Mum: "Not bad! Now, we really need to do something about your ears. I know inside-out is the latest fashion, but it doesn't look great in photos, can you try and flip them out the right way for me?"

Luna: "Ummm ok Mum, how about if I just do a side profile? Then its only half as bad cos you can only see one ear?"

Mum: "No Luna, that's not really what I want. And watch that tongue! It's starting to slip around to the side and hang out more!"

Luna: "Mum, I really kinda like my ears up like this. The other doggies think it's cool! How about if I just pin them back a bit so you can't see them so much? Like this?"

Mum: "Oh Luna I just want your ears to look pretty! I don't care about the latest doggy fashion. Can you please please fix them up for me? And watch your tongue too!"

Luna: "Fine then, what if I flip my tongue to the other side, and just look more alert? Does that help?"

Mum: "ARRRGHHH LUNA!!! I give up!!"

Park Mini-Story: Some action shots

Luna doing some doggy-dancin'

Flying ears and tongues

Flying everything!

Showing off my awesome movement (watch and weep, show dogs)

Time out to beat up Luna again

The stealth stalk

Park Mini-Story: Modelling Attempt II (by Luna)

We had a failed attempt earlier at improving my modelling, but Mum was keen to try again, so I thought I better give it another go.

Mum: "Looks good Luna! Your tongue is behaving.. now look over the other way, and try and look a bit more alert."

Mum: "Good! Doing well. Now, let's try and do something about your ears. Can you make them sit down a bit more? Not out sideways like that?"

Luna: "Ok Mum, like this you mean?"

Mum: "No no no! Make them sit down, not back! And what's happened to your tongue!?"

Luna: "Ummmm what Mum? You like my tongue? I can't hear you! I have no ears!!"

Mum: "Sigh."

Park Mini-Story: Stick Stealer

One of my favourite things about the park is the quality and variety of sticks available. There are crumbly soft ones, big heavy ones (that make me look strong and impressive - Mum says these are called 'branches') and one of my favourite types, thin springy ones.

Mum doesn't often throw these ones for us to catch cos she thinks we might hurt ourselves chasing them, but I still like to chew them.

The only problem with sticks, is that once you find a good one, everyone wants it. When I have a good stick like this one, I have to keep a constant watch to make sure no one is sneaking up to steal it!

Whoops, dropped it.

Oh no, bad timing! Dad is coming to steal my stick!!

Phew, I picked it up just in time. Not out of trouble yet though! Run!

I think I managed to escape!

Maybe next time, Dad!