The Alpha Male!

So Duke turned 8 this month....in human years that would be 56....which means he is now the oldest in the house and therefore the alpha male passing up Karl. :)

We had a fun time celebrating with him this year.  The girls and I decided to take him to Petsmart to pick out a treat and maybe a new collar.  This was his first time going and he was not sure what to think of it all.

When we first walked in, we saw a couple of big dogs and he just looked at them and kept going.  Normally he would head straight for them and might even bark at them.  But I think he was quite nervous...he started shaking.  Poor thing.

He was smelling everything and by the time we left, he was loving in.  Guess we shouldn't be surprised since we have never taken him there before.

But he  picked out a bone with peanut butter in the middle and we got him a new brush....we couldn't find a collar that we liked.

That night we decided to sit him up to the table for a bowl of ice cream.  I used to do that every year with my little dog growing up, but haven't ever done it with Duke.  I guess this was a year for "Firsts".

We had him wear the hat and he just gobbled it all down so fast.

Afterwards we gave him his bone and he was a happy boy.

Happy Birthday Duke....you old coot!