There was a definite challenge to this piece. The wood is Catalpa, and instead of the grain being perpendicular, it is horizontal. Ordinarily a carving of an animal has the grain running vertically to give strength to the legs, base of the tail, and ears. I had carved this pattern on a smaller scale from Red Cedar (which I am fond of, because of the small surprises in the figure. Little hidden splashes of white and deep red are exposed as the carving progresses, giving it unusual, natural, coloring) and was confident that I could manage the Catalpa. Right! Catalpa is a combination of hard and soft in its' grain, and is not "A Piece of Cake" to carve. This figure has been SOLD. It is approx. 4 x 10 x 10, and stands on a Cherry base.