First of all, I want to say thank you so much to all my friends for their kind wishes and suggestion to help my bum ouchie (although I am not so sure about Homer‘s suggestion of wearing ‘granny pants’ 
) – and especially to my blog friends in Belgium - El’bow & Hauwii - who sent me the most gorgeous “get well” cards! *Giggle!* 
Now, you know one of the nice things about having my blog is that it’s helped me make so many new friends since moving to Australia. I get lots of messages coming through the Contact Honey page every week and some of them have been from doggies right here in Brisbane, who have invited me to meet up for a playdate!
That’s how I met my good friend, Lupe the blue Dane…and the other day, I got a message from another blue Dane living in Brisbane.
His name is Earnest and he still only 6 months old. Actually, it was his human pup who helped him write to me. Her name is Zali and I think she is amazing because she is only 10yrs old but she already has her own blog!
She said that she loves reading my blog and would love to meet me – and Earnest would love to have a playdate!
So a couple of weeks ago, my human talked to Zali’s mummy and we arranged to meet up. Hsin-Yi suggested that we meet at the Kedron Brook dog off-leash area but not at the busy afternoon times because she hates it when it gets really crowded with lots of strange doggies and people – so we met just after lunch, when there was hardly anybody there. Luckily it is still winter here - otherwise it would be much too hot to meet at that time of the day!
Hello Earnest! Nice to meet you!
Photo courtesy of Zali's mummy, Hailey Bartholomew (www.youcantbeserious.com.au)
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Earnest had brought his whole family to meet me! There was Zali and her little sister, Poppy…
…and their mummy and daddy, who are both amazing Camera Humans and have their own company, You Can’t Be Serious! They take photos and movies for people and their pictures are not like traditional ones but are really different & fun!
Earnest was really bouncy and excited and kept doing zoomies around me. I think he wanted to play but to be honest, this was usually my ‘nap time’ so I wasn’t feeling very energetic…
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Oh- alright, then! You wanna play? Come and get it!
But when I really started galloping after him, Earnest started looking scared! I could hear Hsin-Yi yelling something at me like “BE GENTLE WITH THE PUPPY!” – but I was too excited by then to slow down…and then – oh no! I smacked into Earnest as I was jumping over a stream after him and rolled him over! He yelped and cried and everybody was very upset. Hsin-Yi was REALLY grumpy with me for being so rough…what does she mean? I always play like that! Anyway, Earnest wasn’t hurt – just a bit stunned – but after that, he was a bit too scared to come near me anymore! 
I tried to get him to play Tug with me but he didn’t seem to dare to grab the other end of the tug toy…
Hsin-Yi said it was all my fault ‘coz I was too rough with him – and this is why nobody ever wants to play with me… She was very grumpy because she has been trying to teach me to play more gently ever since I was a puppy – she says other Danes can play nice and gently – why do I have to thunder around like a drunk rhino? 
Anyway, Zali and her family were very nice about it and said it wasn’t my fault and that when Earnest gets bigger, he will be able to play more roughly with me. Hsin-Yi said it would serve me right if Earnest had doubled in size by the next time we met – so that he could really wallop me (Huh! As if!)
Well, we had a nice walk back to the car anyway and Earnest followed me everywhere like a shadow! 
Hsin-Yi helped Zali’s mummy & daddy with some training advice for Earnest – and I helped by showing the best way to shake your head and throw your drool as far as possible. Hmm…that pup’s got a lot to learn!
When we said goodbye, Zali said that they would love to meet up with us again and Hsin-Yi have me a dirty look and made me promise to play more gently next time!
Well, talking about messages from doggies – I got a really lovely message the other day from Drake the Great Dane. Drake is a regular reader of my blog – he lives with his human family and his doggie sister, Sasha, who is a rescue herding doggie. Drake’s human, Nikki, is really good about doing training with them and she had been trying to help Drake learn how to use a ramp, although they weren’t having much success. Well, do you remember I did a post about me learning to use the ramp a while back? After Nikki watched my video, she decided to start again with Drake – right from the beginning – and take it really slowly in baby steps, ‘coz you know how us Danes just cannot be rushed! She emailed Hsin-Yi for some help and Hsin-Yi gave her lots of tips…and then a few weeks later, I got this message from Drake!
Hi Honey,
Look at me!! I’m Drake and I finally did it. Although, I was a bit scared coming down the first time and still a bit tentative. But look at me!! My human drove the truck half way down the drive so the angle was almost the same as for getting in the back seat! Now we just need to put my crate into the back and on a coolish day, we can all go walking on the trails near Lake Hefner. Anyway, thanks again for all your help with my human!! We are both so incredibly thankful… now I won’t always get left at home when the whole family goes on an outing!! I really don’t like that at all!!
Lots of slobbers and thanks,Drake.Hi Hsin-Yi,I am pretty proud of him! It feels more rewarding because he’s not a “super smart breed”. And next year, I hope to be able to take the dogs with us on vacation and trips instead of boarding. You and Honey have helped us so much! Not just with the emailed advice, it really is nice to talk with someone who has trained a Dane before!! I watch the training videos (just yesterday I was watching the taking a bow training), the dancing videos (you are very brave), and (when I need a good laugh) the first agility and swimming videos. Not to mention getting to see some great pictures of New Zealand and Australia. So thank you very much, and please don’t let those rude people bother you. For everyone of them, there are 10 of the people like me.So thank you very much!!Best Wishes,Nicki
We wished we lived closer so we could have a play date! Lucy loves romping hard…probably too hard. Any good tips on curbing the drunken rhino play? Oh and on treating every golden retriever liked a giant stuffie? Send all of that training advice you had for 6 month old great danes this way, we would love it!
Oh no, Lauriel -- I think you read it wrong!
It wasn’t Earnest who was playing too roughly -- it was HONEY!! And if I knew how to curb that ‘drunken rhino play’, I would have used it on Honey by now! 
(sigh) So sorry -- can’t help you with tips to curb rough play! If anyone could help ME with some tips for Honey, I would be grateful! 
It’s not that I can’t control her -- but if I tell her anything, she stops playing altogether. It either seems to be 150% or nothing at all -- wish I could figure out how to teach her to just turn it down to 60% or something! 
But I’ve heard that different dogs just have different play styles adn there’s not much you can do other than to try and find them playmates with similar play styles.
Hsin-Yi
That is so cool that you get to meet your internet friends! Sometimes we meet the beans who help us blog, but we don’t meet our actual fur friends.
And it is even cooler that your training is helping other woofies!!!!!
Honey! You are so smart and talented! You give the best advice. We love you!
Licks,
Brodie The Yellow Lab
Oooh! That Ernest is a cutie! It just sounds like he is suffering from Puppy Brain (sort of like a certain little sister of mine). But it also sounds like you are already his HERO!!!
*kissey face*
-Fiona and Abby the Mutant Puppy
Honey, don’t feel bad about Earnest. I love to play rough too. Fortunately for me, my neighbour Bruiser is the same and we have a great time tearing around the dog park, horrifing all the white fluffies and their scaredy-cat humans. Earnest will probably play that way when he grows up and realises he is a Great Dane, and how great that is!
Kisses, Sparta XX
Earnest is super cute, you’re lucky that you’ve been able to make so many new friends. We would like to thank you for helping us as well -- I watched your clicker training videos before getting Pepper (having not used clickers with previous dogs) and you and Hsi-Yi were my motivation (and mentors!) for getting a clicker and learning to use it! So I have you two to thank (in part) for my lovely well trained dog! Thanks Honey and Hsin-yi!
hahaha! it’s so nice to see even “the master” dog trainer (ya, that milan guy has nothing on Hsin-Yi) has a little trouble… drunken rhino! hahahaha! that’s a good one. I’ve got a cracked out cujo! we made friends with our neighbors today. their children love dogs (don’t have any) so i will invite them to play with L&J. L&J would love that. they’re a good age too: pre-teen and teen.
i need tips on how to chill a cracked out cujo. so if anyone out there can help…
LOL.
my online time is spotty these days. still setting up electronic equipment. (wireless modems… ) miss my dane pal!
wags, wiggles and woos,
wild dingo
Hi Honey & Hsin-Yi,
We got to go with the family and stay in the big silver thing last weekend. As a matter of fact, we’ve been able to go on two trips with the family instead of going to the boarding place! All thanks to your ramp help!
Our human hopes to get you some pictures of us hiking on the trail…. but it’s summer here and she won’t let us go out on long hikes in the 100 plus temps (fareinheit)!. However, we got to spend time in the silver trailer thingy and sit directly under the cold air machine!
Thank you both again.. it really looks like we’ll get to go with the family on vacation next year!
Lots of Slobbers,
Drake & Sasha
Oh Honey -- you are just such as great Ambassador for our Breed! Don’t worry about the playing rough -- everyone knows puppies are made of rubber.
woof -- Tucker
“why do I have to thunder around like a drunk rhino?”
I almost snorted my coffee all over my laptop when I got to this line, that’s definitely going in my favorite quotes list
I discovered your blog from Happy Pit Bull and look forward to every post. I grew up with Great Danes and they have a special place in my heart.
New blue dane friend! He’s a cutie!
Darwin’s a rough player too. I feel bad for her because when we go to the park sometimes it takes a while for her to find someone to play with. A lot of dogs (and their owners) get nervous that a big dog wants to play with them. Im sure Honey and Darwin would have a great time being drunk rhinos together!
I love those get well cards! And what a sweet message from Drake and his human!
Hi Honey,
we know just how wonderful it is to meet friends through blogging and even get to meet them in person. we love that!
I play rough too (and I make scary growling sound that sometimes upsets other dog owners who dont quite understand) but I am also scared of big dogs trying to play with me (rough or gentle). When I get scared by the big dogs, I pretend to be mean. Sometimes, it works and scares away the big dogs. Other times, it backfires and get myself in a bigger trouble.
The other day in the park, i met a mini chihuahua puppy(as regular sized chihuahua isn’t small enough). Mom said it was the smallest dog she has ever seen and it was unreal (he is <20cm long). Mom was so worried I would get too rough on him. She was wrong! I was afraid of that "little thing that looks like my stuffies but moves!". haha!
wags,
preston
Earnest sounds like alot fun, Honey! My human mom’s aunt has a Cavalier, I always love playing with a doggy that is teh saem breed as me! I’m glad you mad a new friend, hopefully next you meet up with Earnest he will be able to play roughly wiht you!
Lots of Licks,
Sammy
Ohh Honey that is so nice you got to play with a puppy, it is hard to be gentle when you are so big. Next time it will be better! You are such a helpful doggie to others along with your mommy!
I’m so glad you have nice new friends. It’s really nice that Ernest has children for you to play with, too. I love a good romp outdoors with children, and when we all get tired, we can plop down in the soft, green grass and look up at the clouds. OK, so they look at the clouds and I snooze. Same thing.
Drools,
Thor
Aww… Earnest is super cute! Glad you got to make a new friend and hope you didn’t get too worn out with all of his zooming!
I suppose it was actually a lesson that Ernest, sadly, had to learn, that playing with other dogs needs care. It might stand him in good stead in the future, with a dog who is not as easy to get on with as Honey is.
I had a look at your older post about the ramp. I’m thinking of getting one, but now I see it would be a problem if I parallel park. I’ll have to investigate.
What a fund play date & those little girls were adorable. I know you didn’t mean to frighten Earnest, he will grow into himself & be a great playmate!
I’m not surprised so many people love Hsin-Yi’s advice, she has been a great inspiration to us for training!
Hugs & love,
Oskar
Hi Honey,
Ernest is just like Jasper the blue Dane! When we first met, he was so bouncy and pestered so much that I had to tell him off many times. But, when I met him second time, he had slowed down a little.
According to my Mum, my playing is also rough. If another dog comes from behind or tries to jump on me, I just can’t help lunging at them to tell them off. I think it is not entirely my fault, but Mum always blame me. That’s unfair, isn’t it?
Yay, well done Drake! Yes, we dogs can learn anything if taught in baby steps!
Love,
Cinnamon
Miss Honey! I am so happy to see you with your big friends. I am having trouble with my ramp too. It was fine when it was on the stairs, but going up to the car is SCARY because it just drops into nothingness on either side. Momma says we need to work on it some more.
Slobbers,
mango
Hallo Honey!
I am back! Sorry but my humans left me at Maura’s again for a few days
They went sailing …
Anyway, don’t know what to say… I am pretty bad too when I play with my friends…
I do not think there is much you can do actually… it is us being like that…
When we are caught in the game… we want to play…. but the weird thing is that even if we can really look preatty scary, we do not hurt each other, I mean the doggie got scared but he was not hurt! Same with me… I can hit preatty hard but I never hurt anybody while playing…
May be it is the humans that do not really understand our body language?
As far as ramp goes, I am very good at them provided they are outside the water…
My human bought a skamper ramp to be used in the water and guess what… she will never get me on that thing! So well done Drake!
Ciao Lucille