For the Love of Smudge

Yes, here is another post about dogs with dog pictures. Hey, they're a part of the family. And, like family you talk about them, brag about them, grumble about them, laugh at them, yell at them... and love them.

If you haven't figured out, I'm a dog-lover... heck, I'm an animal lover, but dogs vie with horses for the number one spot... they actually top horses for that spot in a number of ways. But, I will not digress because this one is about Smudge Puppy.

Smudge is the daughter of our other Great Dane, Smidgen. Smudge is so named for the 'smudge' marks all over her body. As soon as this pup arrived, we knew we had something special- her coloring alone was distinct and no litter mates were like her. With the exception of a male Harlequin (black spots on white), all the other puppies were black. Smudge is a unique solid grey with black spots.

How ABSOLUTELY adorable! I see a puppy and I just want to snuggle it!

ANYway, Smudge arrived. She, like the other pups weighed 2 1/2 lbs at 2 days old (now at 165 lbs., she is still so very cute).

Smudge arrived ...and so did havoc **sigh** OMGosh, I don't want to think -collectively- about all the stuff she has destroyed. I won't even mention all of the Solar lights that we had around the house that were chewed apart. Two solar lights were $30 bucks... we had about 26 lights... you do the math -okay, I'll do it: $400.00(!)... yes, I know, I said I didn't want to 'mention it'.

Below attest to some of the fake flowers that we went through. You see, we have SO many trees, fruit trees, and a lot of other outdoor things to take care of, so I don't have many outdoor flowers. I tried to do some fake flowers, but nooo.

...and shoes, I cannot count the pairs of shoes. You may say, WHY are the shoes outside? Well, we have a shoe-rack by the backdoor because I don't want grimy shoes inside. If they are really nice shoes, they come inside. I will say, Smudge hasn't messed with the shoes lately. However, she is not entrusted to leather boots. They present just too much of a draw, especially Men's size 13.

So innocent looking, isn't she?

Note in the background of the below pic, a chewed something on the floor.

But, that face!

I'm not sure what this was below. But, I believe it was something that she was allowed to gut.


She always wants to play. While momma, Smidgen, tends to be more serious~ Smudge cannot help wanting to try to engage you in play.


Our front foyer rug had something exciting underneath it (a rug pad) ...and then other wonderful chew-ables were added.


Do you SEE this paint can below and how it has been PIERCED by dog teeth? Short story: the final straw... that is, when I resigned myself to the fact that Smudge is going to chew if it is outside and not fixed to the house... I bought a metal spray can of "No Chew". It's a NASTY smelling and tasting liquid to ward off chewing. Haa, like this can, Smudge got a hold of it. I found it pierced and empty. I had left it on the shoe-rack after spraying our boots.


In the Dane Show world, Smudge's coloring is not prized. But, like with many things in the dog (or horse) show world, oft good qualities are lost due to fads/rules of the business. For Smudge's conformation is superb. She has a gorgeous head and fantastic temperament.

Despite the pics of stuff being wrecked- which is with many an energetic puppy. She is a great guarder and spot-on Dane (no pun intended) when it comes to her little someone (our daughter)- I could not ask the dog to be more gentle.

These pics were taken when our daughter was 14 months old.

Smidgen guarding and Smudge just checking on.

What a sweet pup.

Our Little Someone had been walking Smudge with this little blue leash just prior to these pics.

Smudge can be summed up as one big sweet, goofy, lovable, pup.