It was nerve-wracking, but only the end result counts - or not?

I will put together some of the 137 photographs taken yesterday. They first wanted to place the house the wrong way! They had to unload the house in the driveway, turn the truck and loader around and start again. Two times bogged in the pad! The house was swinging from one side to the other on the back of the loader! And so on. The whole time the team seemed relaxed - I was freaking out.

I'm so happy and excited I can't describe it. Besides those nightmares that the truck will get bogged in the driveway. The earthmover promised to be on call with heavy machinery. 3 days to go.

"Hindquarters: Seen from behind, legs straight and not too close together. When standing free, obtuse angles are formed between the dog`s upper thigh and the hip bone, the upper thigh and the lower thigh and the metatarsal."

So far the theory (FCI Standard http://www.adrk.de/5_standard_e.htm ). But due to her extreme height Clare developed bow-legs. Seen from behind she looks like an old cowboy who spent his whole life sitting on a horse. Together with her temperament those crooked legs are a disaster. Since a couple of weeks she needs medication. She started to lame on the right hind leg but improved with 'Metacam'. Last Sunday we went for a walk and in no time she escaped chasing an animal (Oh wonder! No pain at all!). When she finally returned she was exhausted but okay. After a short rest she wanted to get up but couldn't put weight on her left leg (and struggled with her right leg as well). If she hasn't already - someday she will suffer from ruptures of the cruciate ligaments. Now I have a 22-month-old dog who moves like a 15-year-old one. No bicycle rides, no playing with Miss Piggy. I bought some fish oil/ glucosamine capsules and also administer (enteric coated) aspirin tablets to fight the inflammation in the knees. Too much pain relief ('Metacam') is counterproductive - she is too energetic when she is without pain and the weakened joints are strained again ("complacency makes you reckless" or so). Unfortunately the warranty has expired and I'm not able to exchange her for a new one .