Farm dog #2. Parker. Our beloved old black Labrador died the week of Christmas, we were broken hearted. My husband was hit hard and he grieved. Our DD, her husband and their daughter came home for Christmas and told me they were going to get him another dog. The day after Christmas on 12-26-2011, they went to the shelter and adopted what they were told was a 6 month old black Lab. My husband was off that day, laid back in his PJ's and relaxing. DD called me, I left work and we surprised him. He was delighted.
We named him Parker. He was a perfect fit for us. Parker was very smart and wanted to please. He wound around our hearts in a short time. He adored our grand daughter and let her do whatever she wanted to him. This picture was taken 2-11-2012
Parker was house broken with the very first scolding. He hiked his leg, I fussed at him and hustled him outside. He never did that again. He was a big playful puppy, he got along with Polly, our inside Australian Shepherd and he got along with Paris, our back yard GP. Parker was such a joyful dog.
In March of 2012, my 88 year old Mom had a stroke. She had to learn to walk again, but she dug in and did her therapy so she could go home. She wasn't home long before she fell and fractured her pelvis. Back to rehab, then she came to stay with us awhile. Parker was so worried about her, he knew something was wrong and wanted to help. I had to get her up, into her wheelchair, take her to the bathroom, leave the wheelchair at the door and help her to the toilet. It just killed Parker that he couldn't be in the bathroom too! This picture taken 5-31-2012. Look at that worried face! What love in his eyes! Our bathroom doors were only 24" wide.

What a dumb way to build a house. Later, Parked figured out how to squeeze his big self under the wheelchair and proudly joined us, licking Mom's knees. THAT didn't make her very happy!
Parker was growing into a handsome dog. He grew and grew some more, passing Labrador size. We researched black Lab crosses on the internet, looked at pictures and finally settled on what he might be. When we looked up black Lab-Great Dane crosses, there he was! We looked at picture after picture that looked just like Parker.
It was evident that Mom wasn't going to be able to live by herself any more. At my husband's urging, she sold her house and moved in with us. We gutted the master bedroom, had the bathroom remodeled and had a BIGGER door installed. Mom was happy. She quickly learned not to sleep on the edge of her bed anymore. Parker pushed her door open and enthusiastically licked her face!
8-25-2012