Bonzai - It's a New Puppy!
I know I'm supposed to write about computers, the Internet and nifty gadgets, but life is more than all that electronic stuff. I'm so happy with my new puppy that I've just got to show him off... |
He's Gonna Be a Big Dog...
My wife and I went to the North Shore Animal League shelter on Long Island two weeks ago, just to look. We had lost Sassy, our 13-year-old Sheltie, to kidney failure in March, so we thought maybe it was time to think about another dog. Not a puppy, we thought, they're too much trouble. Maybe a nice housebroken dog a few years old that needed a good home, and definitely not a large dog.
Well, nobody told us that you can't visit a shelter with hundreds of adorable dogs and "just look" at them. And we didn't realize the power of the Cute and Fuzzy Factor until it was too late. We looked at all the dogs and saw a few that might make a nice family pet. And then we saw the puppies. And one 3 month old puppy in particular got our attention.
Each dog is given a temporary name at the shelter, and Fuzzy Wuzzy was his name. The vet tech said he was a shepherd mix, and would probably grow to about 70 pounds. That's little bigger dog than we wanted, but he was unbearably cute, and had such a sweet disposition that we just had to take him home. I named him Bonzai, because he was born on Chinese New Year's day. My daughter reminded me that "Bonzai!" was a Japanese word, but I'm sticking with it.
So after a few days, we took him to our local vet for a checkup. After looking at his paws and his overall dimensions at 11 weeks, he said "He's gonna be a big dog, probably 100 pounds at least." So much for our hopes for a largish medium-sized pet. Bonzai will be a big dog.
But we're going to love him to pieces anyway. This dog really loves to please, and is quickly learning the rules of the house. He is amazingly calm for a puppy, but still loves to play. Our older dog Yeller, however, is not amused. She growled and snapped at him like an angry mother bear for almost two weeks, but a detente of sorts is developing between them.
Bonzai loves to chew, like all puppies. So to keep our sneakers and furniture safe from harm, we gave him a Squeaky Squirrel, a huge bone and some other toys that keep him busy when he's relaxing in his crate. I hope he still fits under my desk when he's full grown. There's nothing like a snoozing dog at your feet while you work.
We're still not sure just what he's made of. He's part German Shepherd, and we think he's got some Retriever and maybe Chow in the mix. Post a comment and tell me what you think.
Bonzai Bulletin - January 22, 2009
I promised last May that I would post an update on Bonzai, so here we go... Bonzai is almost a year old, and has grown to about 85 pounds. He'll probably end up closer to 100 pounds when he's full grown. But he's plenty big already!
Bonzai loves to play in the snow, and still has a very sweet disposition, except when he's teasing 13-year-old Yeller, who seems to have grudgingly accepted that the "puppy" isn't going to go away. Staying in the yard is the biggest problem for now. We have an electric fence, and Bonzai wears two "zappers" on his collar. But if he wants to escape into the road or the neighbor's yard, he'll take the hit. Hopefully he'll grow out of that habit.
Some dog training may be the next step for Bonzai. I'd really like him to come when I call...
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Posted by Bob Rankin on 12 May 2008
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Most recent comments on "Bonzai - It's a New Puppy!"
(See all 58 comments for this article.)Posted by:
Shar
17 May 2008
Awwww, how sweet! I can tell you both will share a strong bond and you'll never be sorry you rescued Bonzai. Neither will he!
I love my beloved Munch, who was 12 the end of February when she passed on. I just can't get over her. We were so close. She 'visits' every so often, has left signs that would blow you away. People will probably think I'm nuts but I'm not kidding. I just can't make myself get another doggie. They're my furry children and this one had stolen my heart. I love to hear happy stories like this, have fun and love Bonzai to pieces for me Bob!
Shar***
Posted by:
Frank
18 May 2008
I can see why you saved him. What an adorable little (?) ball of fur!!
Posted by:
Lois
18 May 2008
Congrats on your new family member !! Sure looks like a bit of Golden Retriever in there. They are really dogs with wonderful loving personalities..( like Labs ) The shepherd part does make them easy to train and just waiting 2 please U.
Posted by:
Allie
18 May 2008
Bonzai is adorable! He sure is fuzzy. His paws are huge! The doctor's right, he's going to be a big dog. But he seems very sweet. Take care.
Posted by:
Billings-williams
18 May 2008
He's so adorable. With my economic stimulus check I am going to pay the deposit for my apartment building and I have already started looking for a dog. I don't think I want a puppy but maybe an adult dog but small. I just don't know but I am so excited, as you are with your new puppy. Just adorable.
Posted by:
Chuck Johnson
18 May 2008
A very cool puppy - surely Shephard & Golden or Yellow Lab mix. Thanks for adopting...the only way to go! Big Dogs rule! And, I'd rather read about puppies than computers any day!
Chuck Johnson
Great Pyrenees Rescue of Greater Chicago
Posted by:
Larry
19 May 2008
Glad that you were able to adopt a friend at the North Shore home...I have been a contributer there for many years. I can tell you folks that this group needs all of the help that they can get contributionwise.
Bob, the pup is a real beauty and as you say, it will be a very large pet!
Regards,
Larry...
Posted by:
rohan wickramasinghe
19 May 2008
That looks like a nice dog. Mine (called Tycho) was picked up me as a puppy after she was knocked by a car which did not stop. Her mother did not know what to do about her screaming so I took her to the vet for a painkiller and adopted her after. She is doing well now.
My previous dog (Pancha) was a cross-bred labrador who was with us for around ten year before succombing to a lung infection. We still miss him.
Posted by:
Caren Luckie
19 May 2008
He's adorable. We got a Great Pyrenees puppy in Feb., and my older dogs aren't amused either! We call him the "pony puppy", and he keeps thinking he's a lap dog. Have fun!
Posted by:
C. Brown
20 May 2008
Your new puppy is adorable. I have always been a dog lover or any animal lover for that matter. I have had 2 dogs that lived to be sixteen (16) years old. My first one was a terrier and then before she died I got a precious yorkie. Now I have a ShihTzu with wavy hair and a curly tail who is now 7 yrs. old. He was something else when he was under 1 yr. old. He chewed on my woodwork, bottom of my dining room chairs and tore wallpaper on my wall. I never had such a dog, but he's much quieter now and everyone loves him and is so much company. He loves to play and brings me his toys every time I sit down. Enjoy and take lots of pictures. I'm sure this will be my last dog.
Posted by:
Don Jeffrey
20 May 2008
Beautiful!! He'll keep your feet warm under your desk this winter. His paws are big but did you also notice just how sturdy his legs are? You made a very good choice. Looks like a nice animal!
Posted by:
Hazel
25 May 2008
What does it take to get me commenting at your blog? Pictures of your new puppy! Thanks for the technical stuff but that doesn't really need comment, does it?
Anyway, to answer your question, I think Bonzai is 100% cute.
Posted by:
shri
07 Jun 2008
Beautiful fellow! Please post his picture every year on his birthday..we would like to see him grow
Posted by:
Rosalie
12 Jun 2008
Hi Bob, I agree with Hazel above, Bonzai is 100% Cute, Adorable...No one could resist that sweet face. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by:
Beverly
17 Jul 2008
What a cute fellow! Congrats on adopting from a rescue organization. We have a sweet little stray puppy (now 4 years) that followed my daughter home that was fuzzy like that and he now obviously has a lot of golden retreiver in him - goldens have very sweet dispositions! So I would definitely think golden and shephard....maybe a little bit of traveling salesman! Gotta love those feet warmers!!
Posted by:
Jeanne Levrier
15 Jan 2010
Thank you for the pictures and the update on Bonzai. He is a handsome fellow that will warm your feet in the winter, and your heart year round. Hope you got him trained to come when you call him. These fellows do have ideas of their own, as my little Yorkshire "Terror" is very independent minded as well!
Posted by:
Debbie
15 Jan 2010
What a great dog! He might have some Leonberger in him. Here are a couple of links to photos and description of the breed:
http://www.goodlifeleos.com/news.asp
http://www.nordlichtkennel.com/page7.html
We rescued a senior Leonberger from our local animal shelter about 5 years ago. He spent the last three years of his life with us, and all of us still miss him. They are wonderful dogs with terrific personalities and temperaments.
Posted by:
Stu
29 May 2010
Hey Bob, I hope Bonzai doesn't mind but I used his photo on my site to explain the difference between a Bonzai and a Bonsai! Once I saw his photo I couldn't resist!
See the article here: www.bonsaitreesupport.com/bonzai-tree
Posted by:
Mike
26 Oct 2011
Funny, just caught the name on the article and read about it. Several years ago, we (wife & I) owned a karate studio called Bonsai Martial Arts. We chose the bonsai since our philosophy of martial arts is defensive, not predatory such as the tiger or cobra. The bonsai overcomes and grows in adverse conditions. To the story, we rescued a puppy in 2002 abandoned by its mother. The pup was mix of Alaskan Malamute and Lab. We named him after the dojo, but decided that a plant wasn't a good name for a dog. So, instead of Bonsai, it was Banzai, which is a Japanese expression meaning "CHARGE!" Yeah, he's about 110 lbs, but he does discourage those door to door solicitors.
EDITOR'S NOTE: So I guess our spelling of "Bonzai" means something like "Charge Plant!" :-)
Posted by:
Maria
29 Oct 2011
If you have time… could you please update with more on Bonzai. Thanks in advance!