We have become accustomed to Great Danes as pets.  Great Danes are beautiful, graceful, and peaceable animals.  They are gentle giants who often become lazy with age.  They're also not always the brightest rocks in the box.

We have gotten used to couch potato dogs.  Not that we actually let them on the couch...

Well, imagine my surprise when about a month ago the hubby brought home a Bloodhound rescue.  Hounds by nature are “working dogs.”  They are very agile, high energy, hunting dogs.  If you watch Caesar Milan on the National Geographic channel, you know what I’m talking about when I say "working dog."

Our dog, Super Dog, is an overly intelligent dog with lots of energy and a lean, muscular body.  We keep SD in his kennel when we're not home during the day and at night because at two years of age, SD can get himself into heaps of trouble in a very short amount of time.  He also does not differentiate well between his toys and the kids’ expensive toys.  Nor does he listen when I tell him to GET OFF the couch!

The other day, hubby went to let SD out of his kennel and into our fenced-in backyard.  SD had other plans, though.  For some reason, SD decided that he wanted into the living room instead.  As time suddenly went into slow motion, we envisioned Lindsay Wagner as she prepared to do something "bionic" and we heard the tell-tale "bionic sound" in our minds.  Then, in a split second, SD LEAPED over his kennel, which is about 2 1/2 feet tall by at least 2 feet wide, and landed, without issue, on the living room carpet!

As I surveyed the scene, I realized that he too was amazed at his own prowess.  My daughter fell speechless, a rare event, and the hubby's face was a mixture of concern, amusement, and surprise.

Super Dog does not cease to amaze me.  He is very resourceful, very smart, and very stubborn.  He will not be bribed with food (as will most dogs I've known), nor is he deterred by rain.  SD is content to go outside in the pouring rain and just muck around in the backyard.  He buries his toys, bones, and anything else he can manage to drag outside.  He is mischievous and downright sneaky, but best of all, he is good with the kids.  SD enjoys long walks with my husband, teasing my daughter with his cold nose (yes, he actually teases her), and finding new ways to demonstrate his bionic abilities.

So, whether he's really bionic or not, Super Dog has won all our hearts and is here to stay!  Welcome home, Super Dog!