Three Ring Circus

Last year at this time, it was just five-month-old Reacher and me. As I recall, he was so darn cute, but a holy terror. Oh, those were the days!

Now, there are three dogs in the house--Reacher, Vega and her four-month-old puppy Panzer. Three dogs; one three-ring circus.

As the the youngest and the smallest member of the troupe you might assume Panzer defers to the two big dogs. But you'd be wrong. Panzer is not only dreaming of becoming the alpha male in this household, he seems to be making it his mission.

He sometimes pounces on Reacher and takes hold of those jowls in his sharp puppy teeth and won't let go. He delights in jumping on Vega when she's lying quietly which starts a mother/son wrestling match. And he steals bones from whichever dog happens to be gnawing contentedly, then dives for the cover of the coffee table. The kitchen is still cardoned off with three gates, but Panzer just muscles right through whenever the spirit moves him.

Reacher is an action lover himself and appreciates a friendly fight. And Vega, while generally not an instigator, doesn't hesitate to join in the fray. There is often a three-way game of chase around the kitchen table. Or when the gates have been flattened, a German Shepherd, a Boxer and a 31-pound German Shepherd puppy race through the kitchen, living room, dining room, foyer. Then repeat! Naturally, there's growling, yipping, barking and snarling to go along with it.

I guess things could be worse. There could be Panzer and his seven other puppy brothers and sisters, plus Vega and Reacher. That wouldn't be a circus. That would be a zoo.