Hotel Leo

Everyone knows that there are some things in this world that just don't mix well. Like oil and water, or permanent marker and two year olds. If you own a Leonberger or ever dream of owning one, please add 'Leonbergers and hotels' to your list. To be honest I didn't think twice about taking Kilo to a hotel. Generally he's pretty well behaved (as long as I'm sitting on him 24/7) so no big deal right? Well it wasn't a big deal at first. Kilo didn't mind the lobby full of people, weird smells, lifting rooms, or small children. No, all of that was a little unnerving, but quite manageable to his doggy brain. Trouble didn't come until we went out for his potty break and saw "Cape Lady".

So, here I am, calmly leading Kilo out to go potty, past a bunch of small children and out the front doors. I'm thinking, 'Wow! He didn't even try to eat any of those tiny creatures, life is good!' Ten seconds later, as we come upon Cape Lady unloading her luggage in the pull around Kilo comes unhinged. As in: loud barking, hair up, yanking on leash unhinged. He was terrified, but he was expressing his terror in a very non friendly way (read 'scary' here). I had to literally drag him out into the field and walk him back and forth for forty minutes before he finally calmed down enough for me to get him back in the hotel. What was so terrifying about Cape Lady, you ask? I haven't the foggiest, except that she had a very billowy, linen wrap-around on and it was windy out. The rest of the night Kilo was the definition of alert. Until I drugged him with benadryl. I really need to buy some stock in that medicine. Is that even possible? If it is then go buy some because I can probably single-handedly keep them in business. Think it was unfair of me to drug the dog up again? Consider the fact that Leos are considered 'watch dogs' and then add in a bunch of strangers making noise in rooms that are inaccessible. Kilo's perfectly friendly (unless you're Cape Lady), but if he doesn't know you and on top of that can't see you, he'll bark. Not his puppy bark either. The loud, window vibrating, big boy bark. The 'going to get us kicked out of the hotel' bark. We held out till midnight. For two hours we tried the sober approach. Kilo sat next to me on the bed, and I held a bag of treats. Kilos ears went up, head turned towards the door, body completely motionless and I knew . . . Bomb Planted. Defuse now or disturb the neighbors. So for two hours I dutifully distracted him with a treat every time someone slammed a door. Realistically I just wasn't going to be able to do that all night. So, at midnight we gave in, dossed Kilo up to take the edge off his nerves and went to sleep. Ah, benedryl, how I love thee. The next day we pack up, head home, no problems. Kilo is a prefect little car traveler and he's resting quite comfortably in the knowledge that Cape Lady will never visit his house or even get within ten feet of him.

72lbs

Last week Kilo managed to destroy a record breaking number of items:
-2 laptop charger cords (His total so far is: 5)
-1 leather leash
-1 training leash (Do not ever tie your leonberger to a tree while you pack the car up. Just take my advice on this one)
-1 high heel shoe