Happy Birthday, Brutus!

The beast turned one!!! It's hard to imagine that he is only one because of his size, but it's true :-) Just like anyone else in the family we made sure his day was special and he was spoiled!
He started his day with a nice pedicure followed by a trip around his favorite pet store. We ended the day with a happy birthday tune, a pup-cake, some new goodies and a family walk. At one year old he weighed in at 135lbs.

Brutus is a great dog and has been a great addition to our family! We could not imagine not having him around. He has a lot of similarities to Cody, but is also very different at the same time. He loves to be close, but doesn't feel the need to constantly cuddle. He LOVES to lean on people and sit on your lap. Unlike Cody, Brutus LOVES to play fetch. That is one thing we could never get Cody to do. Brutus will play fetch all day long! He loves to be in the water, too!

Fun Brutus facts:
- He is allowed on one couch and follows that rule amazingly well!
- More independent than Cody was. He will eat and drink on his own without us having to be in the same room standing next to him.
- Sleeps on a pillow next to our bed
- He enjoys his nightly alone time with us in the basement. The kids commandeer the basement majority of the day, so when they go to bed at night Brutus will run up and down the steps until we get the hint that he wants us to follow him. We'll go to the basement with him and all he wants to do is lay on the floor and be pet - alone, in the quiet!
- Has his own pool in the backyard
- Knows how to get to Nana and Papa's house without us. Since we don't live far from Nana and Papa we tend not to use a leash when walking to their house. Brutus and the kids will race there, Brutus usually ahead, and he'll wait in their front lawn until the rest of us arrive.
- He loves his nightly walks
- Loves playing with other dogs
- Great at pushing Kynzley's buttons! Examples: if she's cuddled up on the couch under a blanket, he'll pull the blanket off of her
- Brutus and Benton have an 'understanding'. All Benton has to do is look at Brutus and Brutus knows Benton means business
- If you come to our door and ring the doorbell, don't worry you wont be run over by a huge dog. Knocks and doorbells faze Brutus none! When someone would come to the door when we had Cody we would have to answer a different door so that Cody wouldn't dart out of the house or run the poor people over. When someone comes to the door with Brutus around he doesn't move until they are literally in the house talking or walking around. Don't worry, though, if you are a fly or a bug stuck in a closed window at night he will be the toughest dog in town!!!
- Brutus goes with us places as often as allowed.
- He loves to eat rocks - we were hoping he would grow out of it, but sadly hasn't yet.

 The day we brought Brutus home

August 2016

 

May 2017

 



 Typical Morning

 

 Taco Movie night, everyone is involved :)

 

We have this discussion with him almost every time he comes in from outside. No, you cannot bring in the stick. Usually there is a standoff and eventually we win!

 

 Brutus and nana

 



 

 The neighbor pup! The two figured out a way to play

 

Birthday weigh in