Excalibur the American Alsatian

22/10/2023

A quick swim today

08/10/2023

A few days ago, we celebrated Excalibur’s 8th birthday. It seems like just yesterday you were a young pup, bouncing along and getting into everything. Now, as a young man, you’re still bouncing along and getting into everything - it’s just that now, you’re a 120+ pound American Alsatian.

Excalibur (Cal) still stops traffic wherever we go. He is, in our mind, the best dog ever. It’s not just his looks or breeding - it’s his unique, goofy personality that endears him to us and all who know him.

He is the unofficial ambassador of goodwill among the neighborhood children. He still prefers to stay at arms-length from young children but the kids always call out his name, and encourage him to watch them while they are outside at play.

Among Cal’s favorite activities are ‘tummy rubs’, riding with us on the car, going to the dog park, and visiting the tennis courts in Lockwood Park, where he prowls the nearby heavy brush, searching for tennis balls hit over the fence. If we see folks at play, we try to reunite the ball with its owner - but most times, no one is there, so Cal has amassed a bucket-load of tennis balls which he uses for indoor play at home.

We’re looking forward to many more years to come, where we’ll have more adventures - and tummy rubs…

08/06/2023

I have reached 3K followers! Thank you for your continued support. I could not have done it without each of you. 🙏🤗🎉
Here I am getting groomed at Grooming. Alisha is the best and always takes great care of me …

14/03/2023

Here’s the latest member of our American Alsatian family - Maggie (Stagecoach Mary - Kodiak/Radar), along with a few pictures of Cal (Excalibur - Huck/Sprinkle).

I’ve been a bit under the weather for a while, so my apologies for not posting for too long. Hopefully, that’s all history now.

Maggie and Cal are learning to adjust to one another. Cal has ruled the roost for so long that he’s not quite used to someone else playing with his toys, and getting close to “his people”. We’re showering both of them with lots of love and attention and the two of them are beginning to find their own place in the sun.

19/08/2021

The “Dog Days” of August are upon us in Texas. What better way to spend the afternoon than to soak in a nice, cool mud bath. Of course, no mud bath is complete without a refreshing swim in White Rock Lake Park.
Cal loves the Texas summers and each year he becomes more acclimated to the warm weather and stays outside in his favorite shady spot - which is usually a freshly dug hole in the garden next to a large tree, for shade.
I fill in the hole each week, and he digs it out again a day or two later. I guess it’s a game to him.

17/02/2021

Here’s Excalibur (Cal) showing off his new hat (he hates it!)...

15/02/2021

7 degrees in Dallas, TX (windchill -11) and Cal could care less... I love the quiet that rests over us right after fresh snow...

15/02/2021

Finally - - - S N O W !!!

15/02/2021

It’s the first real snow in quite a while and Excalibur is taking full advantage of the situation. We had a light dusting but we’re supposed to get another 5+ inches overnight and into tomorrow morning. Right now, he has buried himself under a snow pile he created, and I’ll get him inside before too long but he surely loves the cold - of course.

12/02/2021

We’re experiencing a cold snap in Dallas TX. We may end up with 4• days below zero (can you say busted pipes?). Cal spends all day outside and last night I brought him in - I could believe that anything could be comfortable at 19 degrees. As quickly as I brought him in, he ran back outside.

12/02/2021

This has become a nightly routine. I’m not sure what prompts him to “sing” to me but I love it.

26/01/2021

26/01/2021

... and a few videos - I have a lot of catching up to do.

26/01/2021

To all of Excalibur’s friends and followers:

I apologize for not keeping up with this site. I had the C-19 virus and that, along with some crazy things that can sometimes occur around here, have kept me otherwise occupied.

Things have calmed down and I’ll be back to posting again. Thank you for your support and thank you for your interest in Excalibur.

Status Update:

Excalibur is currently weighing in at 127 pounds. His Vet told me that she hardly sees a dog in as well conditioned as Excalibur. He still prefers to stay away from children - or women who he perceives are younger (to be ignored, is to flattered around here). His daily diet now includes a small amount of low-sodium, fresh turkey that I buy at the deli counter. His appetite is good, and he still loves to chase all the squirrels in the yard or in the park.

He and I have become closer than I ever thought was possible between a man and a dog. He is literally Velcro now and has begun to get, shall I say, very protective of me. If anyone pierced this imaginary boundary he has set up, he immediately becomes extremely aware of everything, his ears perked straight up and he raises his a bit more. If I pat him on the head or back and say, “it’s OK”, he settled back down to what he was doing - usually chewing on a large branch he found in the yard, or dreaming of chafing more squirrels.

01/12/2020

Fall weather, water temp is about 60 degrees - perfect for a brief dunk in the lake.

23/04/2020

Excalibur (Cal) would like to send his love out to all. As we suffer through the direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19, a little more love is welcomed.

06/04/2020

06/04/2020

04/04/2020

Before the last batch of rains set in; and, before the City of Dallas closed White Rock Lake Park, as well as the dog park ) we had a brief opportunity to take a quick romp in the park...

It was a fun but exhausting day...

24/02/2020

One of the things that Cal seems to enjoy most, is taking car rides with dad...

19/02/2020

It’s the usual balmy and schizophrenic Texas winter. 30 degrees one day, 78 degrees the next. Here’s Cal (1) sunning on his favorite lounge, (2) hopeful that he will partake of steak off the grill, and (3) taking a nighttime drive with daddy - his new favorite activity (the windows are always locked when he peers outside)...

18/02/2020

18/02/2020

I want to thank Rebecca Potter for handling this page so professionally. Rebecca has asked me to take over the page, and I will try to do her justice in my handling of it. I plan to post once weekly - more often if something is newsworthy - and thanks to everyone for following Excalibur's (Cal's) activities.

For now, here are a few pictures from Jan and February and earlier last Fall...

25/12/2016

Three days ago we said goodbye to our beautiful pup. It was sad, and difficult, and the house feels a little emptier without him. It's impossible not to think of him a hundred times a day. Our two year old goes around saying "Where puppy go?" and calling for him.

But although we are missing him terribly, we know that this was the best decision for him and for our family, and I am so very thankful that Cal is in wonderful hands. He is going to be loved and spoiled beyond belief. Thank you to Cal's new family for making him a part of your lives and your hearts!

28/11/2016

We are still looking for the perfect home for Cal. If you are interested, please email [email protected]. We are now asking for $600 plus travel expenses. If you are in the eastern United States or Canada (including Ontario), we would love to drive Cal to his new home. Please share and read more about our situation at

https://www.facebook.com/vallecitoAlsatians/photos/a.188270334539246.44073.126437607389186/1347221688644099/?type=3&theater

27/11/2016

Sadly, we are in the process of placing Excalibur in a new home. Please see the post below for more info.

This is Excalibur (Huck/Sprinkle). He is just over one year old and has been recently neutered. He lives with a lovely family and their four small children under the age of 9. He knows his basic commands, has been housed trained and crate trained. He is a lover and has bonded strongly with the adults in his family. A truly great example of an American Alsatian and he is deeply loved.

However, Cal, as he is called, has developed a strong dislike for the children in the family and also shows his displeasure when any of the neighbor children come over to visit and want to pet him. He has never snapped at the children or become outwardly aggressive, but he turns his head away to avoid them and growls audibly when any children directly approach him. He does not mind adults and doesn't have any problem with the children playing in and around him as long as they do not approach him directly. He is otherwise very compliant.

The family has done everything that they know to do in order to teach Cal how to act correctly as well as how the way he has chosen to act is inappropriate. But, his warning when the children approach continues. It has gotten to the point now where the children are afraid of Cal and do not go near him.

This sweet family wanted a dog that would love children and play with them in the yard, but Cal has not proven to be able to do this. So, now, after much emotional turmoil, the family is seeking to rehome this beautiful boy. Cal is such a smart, intelligent, loving dog and the family who are rehoming him have understandably had a very difficult time with this decision. They ultimately felt that they needed to do what is right for Cal so that he has the happiest quality of life.

Cal is exceptionally healthy, has had all of his shots and would love to be with a quiet family where he can snuggle and receive lots of affection, but he cannot go to a family with young children under the age of 16. His family is asking $1200 for him in order to help defray some of the costs. If you are interested in this beautiful boy, you will need to first email your answers to the following questions to Cal's family at: [email protected]

Name:
Age:
Household Members (names and ages):
Other Pets:
City:
State:
Experience with Dogs:

They will follow up with further questions once they know of your interest.

Also, Cal has his own page, which you can view here: https://www.facebook.com/Excalibur-the-American-Alsatian-108210419547764/

There are LOTS of great pictures and information about his growing up over the last year.

04/10/2016

Happy Birthday to Excalibur! One year old today, and 88lbs!

04/10/2016

Excalibur the American Alsatian's cover photo

04/10/2016

Excalibur the American Alsatian

16/06/2016

June 2016