Father: Gideon
Mother: Truffles |
Subject: Tatanka
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2015
From: Taenha
To: flyingw@bright.net
Hello
I wanted to give you a quick update on Tatanka. Hard to believe he will be 8 years old this August. Seems just yesterday I was lost trying to find your ranch to pick up my pup. He is doing great, though he is sad everyday that I have to leave for work. If he had it his way I would be home all day with him. I had to put down one of my cats last weekend and that was very hard. But the poor cat was old and would not eat or drink: it is so unfair, the ravages of time. Tatanka misses his cat friend, but he still has one cat (see the picture). The cat in the picture is always licking the dog. How weird that such a little cat tongue can make such a giant dog so happy!
I hope all is well with you.
Taenha
On 9/29/2014 9:26 AM, G, Taenha wrote:
Hello Everyone
Well, Tatanka turned 7 back in August. He is doing great. Still healthily, and for the most part has not changed. He has slowed a bit and is now very grey in the face. It is amazing that though all these years he has had no medical problems. I guess raising like a warm blooded horse did the trick. I had never had a giant dog before, but many years of riding and training horse gave me a clue. Unlike hot blooded horses that can be ridden before they are 2, a warm blooded horse cannot be ridden until they are at least 3 years old. The warm bloods grow so strangely as well, awkward and fast growing, yet gentle of spirit. So I raised Tatanka very carefully: very gentle exercise for the first two years of his life, no steps, no strain on his joints.
I love him so much, yet I know the years will not be forever, for both of us. But for now I am content to watch him dig holes looking for gophers, barking at nothing, chasing zombies in the overturned trash bin and enjoying the sun in the back yard.
Thank you
Taenha
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Tatanka and his new vet
Tatanka will be 6 years od August 18th. I took him for a check-up with his new vet (his old vet retired).
The new vet was very impressed with how good his health is! He noticed right away how his legs and feet point straight forward and all his weight was evenly distributed on all four legs.
He is at his summer weight of 180 lbs. His coat is perfect. Heart and lungs are good. He has a bit of stiffness in one shoulder. And yes, he has slowed down a bit. Still I am so happy he is so healthy. I am a lucky mom!
You have done such a wonderful job raising these great dogs. Thank you. |
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Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011
Subject: Tatanka Hello
I realize it has been far too long since I gave you an update on
Tatanka. Hard to belive he is 3 1/2 years old! Still no medical
problems at all. (OK, when he gets up in the morning he has to he
shake his head from side to side: this helps to get his brain back
into the center of his skull). Other than that he is so healthy and
happy.
He just loves to snuggle with his favorite cat and and give me
licky kisses when I am sleeping!
We had 8 inches of snow yesterday. I took this picture of him in
the snow. Tatanka loves the snow: I have to drag him inside even
though it is 20 degrees and I am freezing!
Take care and thank you for such a wonderful companion!
Taenha |
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Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Subject:
Tatanka turns 2!
Hello Fredericka
Hard to believe it has been 2 years since I have had Tatanka with
me. Yesterday was his birthday. I sent a silly picture of him, is
he not beautiful? OK, the furry toy looks silly, but it is his
favorite.
In the picture he is trying to take it outside, but that is an
INDOOR TOY!
Tatanka has not been sick a day in his life, and if you can believe
it, he is 189 lbs.
Thank you for this wonderful dog, he a good friend, if a bit messy!
I cannot keep him clean, he loves to roll in the dirt.
He has never chewed anything in my house, never destroyed even a
dropped shoe! The cats figured him out right away (they are in
charge) and now Tatanka grooms them, upon command.
Thank you!
Taenha and Tatanka
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Sent:
Friday, August 08, 2008
Subject: Tatanka
Hello All
Well Tatanka is almost a year old, here is a good picture of my boy |
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Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008
Subject: Tatanka
Hello Everone:
I had to tell you about how Tatanka is doing. I have been
concerned for a while that he seemed unwilling to defend himself
when it came to other dogs. Sometimes he just does not get that all
dogs do not want to play with him; Some little dogs even snap at
him, but he had never fought back. Yesterday we went for our usual
walk when out of nowhere a large American Bull terrier mix (about 80
pounds) went after Tatanka. It happened so fast that I dropped the
leash and was caught with Tatanka behind me and the dog running at
me. Tatanka moved around me and stood his ground: as the big
terrier charged (mouth open and snarling) Tatanka grabbed his lower
jaw and threw him to the ground. The Terrier landed like he had hit
a freight
train. Tatanka never even lost his footing. Then the big Terrier
backed off, but as Tatanka and I were moving on down the road, the
terrier turned on us again, Tatanka once more stood his ground: The
terrier backed off yelping in fear. Tatanka never drew blood or
bothered the one human who came out to help, but
he was not afraid. He will be a year old August 18th. He is
growing up. I could not be more proud of him.
Taenha
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Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Subject: Tatanka at 5 months
Hello!
An update on my big baby, He was 5 months in this pictures and 72
lbs! What a big boy. He is going though the terrible twos right
now, but it is so hard to be mad at him! He is doing well with his
training.
I am trying to get a good pictures of him with his best friend (the
mini-doxi) when the doxi is sitting between his legs, while he
stands guard over her, but sitting (carefully!) with his
front legs around her!
Tatanka spent some more time with my neighbors baby (who is is
exactly one month older than him, though does not weight nearly what
he does!. The baby just loves him and Tatanka loves to give a nice
"tongue bath"! I am so happy with him He snores like a dock
worker and is finally making friends with the cats. The
cats have decided that Tatanka is a big dope! They just laugh
at him!
Thank you all, I could not be happier,
Best
Taenha
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Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Subject: Tatanka
Hello Fredericka!
Just an update on Tatanka
Here is about 13 weeks old now and 36 lbs, here are two pictures of
him at 12 weeks and 30 lbs!
Last night I had the mini- dachshund for the night and they were a
riot! The little doxi just runs circles around
Tatanka and he so cool with her. She has no qualms about letting
him know it's her treat, not his. She likes to ambush him by
running under the bed, snaking up behind him and grabbing his tail!
Still he
never gets aggressive with her and every little cry brings him
running to protect her. I just love him, even if he still eats the
grass in my yard!
Taenha
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Tatanka 13 weeks old |
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Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Subject: Tatanka
Picts are Tatanka at 11 weeks and 23.5 lbs.
TATANKA IS PURE JOY. He is funny, clumsy and his favorite toy is an
empty plastic bottle! (The Gallon size). He loves to bark at the
cats, in the hope they will play with him, which thus far is not
working out.
His best bud is the neighbor’s mini-dachshund! He is already very
protective of the dachshund and they play all day. (She runs circles
around him).
Last week I drove a friend to the Doctor and Tatanka and I waited
outside while he was in the Doctors office.
A man came by, in a wheelchair, with his mother. The man had a very
severe case of Cerebral Palsy, but wanted to pet Tatanka.
I was a bit concerned that Tatanka would be rough) as he is still a
baby and chews on clothing.
But to my amazement Tatanka, realized at once that this man was
sick. Tatanka was so gentle! He licked his crippled hands and very
quite sat in the man’s lap!
I am so happy that my boy is the great dog he is.
Thank you Fredericka, and keep up the good work with this wonderful
breed. I trust Tatanka with everyone (and everyone just loves him)!
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