2 Apr 2009

The first thing I heard this morning was dad getting up.  Dad always gets up early.  He got dressed, then woke mom up.  Mom got ready quick, then they took Daisy and I outside to go pee.  It was COLD, and the wind was still blowing. Dad started the van so it could warm up, and then we all walked a little while. I had no problems doing what I needed to do, but Daisy seemed really picky.  She wasn't going potty like mom wanted her to do.  She said she wanted to wait until we go home.   I told her it might be a while.  

We walked back to the van, and mom and dad put Daisy and I in the van.   It was warm in the van, dad is always so thoughtful about us dogs.   So dad turned off the motor, and locked the doors.   Then they left us in the van for about a half
hour.  When they came back, they let us out of the van and back in our beds. Then mom fed us both a bagel with cream cheese.  While we ate it, mom and dad got ready a little more.  Then we loaded up into the van and drove away.  We drove only a few minutes, then stopped.  We were at the dog show building again. Mom got her show stuff out, then they got me and Daisy out so we could go inside. 

Mom started doing stuff to make Daisy pretty while dad and I went exploring again.  As I looked around I saw lots more humans and dogs coming in.  This was going to be a much bigger dog show than I saw at Karen's place.  I never saw so many different kinds of dogs.  I tried to make friends with some of them, but dad kept telling me to leave them alone, they needed to pay attention to their humans and get ready for the show.  After a while some human voice started coming from the boxes over our heads.  It was the same voice in every box.  Then dad told me to stand and stay.  Some music started playing and dad stood real straight and tall, and held his right hand up to the tip of his hat.  So I just stood there and waited.  The music played for a short time.  When it was over dad let his hand drop and told me to sit.  This seemed real important to dad, so I didn't mind.  Dad thanked me for standing at "attention" whatever that means.

Right after the music stopped, things got busy.  Dogs started going in and out of all 6 rings at the same time.  It was like Karen's place times six.  Four of the rings had dogs doing the same stuff Daisy did in her first show.  The two rings on the other side had dogs doing special stuff - like dad was training me for.  So I guess I now know what my training is all about.  But we couldn't stay, dad wanted to go to where mom and Daisy were waiting.  We got there, and mom and Daisy were standing outside the ring.  Pretty soon a dog kinda like Uncle Justin showed up.  But he was darker and much thinner.  And he was not very friendly.  Then mom and Daisy got called into the ring.  There was a lady there just like last time, and she checked Daisy all over.  When she was satisfied, she made mom and Daisy run around a few times.  Then she gave mom some ribbons and stuff.  Daisy looked unhappy.  I found out later she expected some cookies from the lady.  Oh-well.....  Mom was happy.  And when mom is happy, everyone is happy. 

While mom was talking to the lady-judge and some other dog-show humans, dad and I went socializing again.  I like meeting new humans.  They are mostly kind and they give me a pat on the head or a treat.  And they have friendly dogs that I get to meet too.  But pretty soon mom was finished and we went back to our room for a fast breakfast.  After breakfast, we loaded up in the van again.  Where are we going now?  Dad was working the GPS thing - looking for HOGAN PARK.  We are going to a park.  Oh-boy!  A PARK - my FAVORITE!!!  So dad "navigated" mom around the city.  When we got to the park, guess what?  It was a DOG-PARK.  It was really big.  So big that they had separate sections for little dogs and BIG dogs.  Daisy and I went to the BIG dog section.  It was so windy that there were no other dogs there.  The park had rubber water dishes and mom got us some fresh water.  I like drinking the water right as it comes out - just like a fountain.
We had a lot of fun for a long time.  There were little green balls that dad tossed for us.  There were some bigger balls that dad would kick for us.  Pretty soon Daisy and I were pretty tired out.  After a while we loaded up in the van again.  Dad "navigated" and mom drove.  We went somewhere else and parked.  Dad was talking to some B. Jan human on the telephone thing and some B. John person on the radio box thing.  When mom stopped the van we were in the shade under a tree, and everything smelled so good.  The B. John human drove up and we got to meet him.  Then mom and dad opened the windows, locked the doors, and LEFT US! I wanted to go with dad.  But I was pretty tired from the dog park.  So was Daisy, so we slept while mom and dad were gone. 

After a while mom came out with that B.  Jan human, just to meet us.  B. Jan was nice - and I could tell she has dogs too.  But she had to go, so mom locked us up and went inside again.  When they all came out, dad wanted to go look for a friend.  Some human named Sam.  Dad "navigated" some more, and we found him at another great smelling place.  Dad went inside, then came out so Sam could meet me and Daisy.  The all talked a while, then we drove off.  We went back to the Dog Park!  What a great time we had.  This time the wind wasn't so bad, and there were lots of other dogs there.  We played chase the dog and chase the ball and chase the dog with the ball.  I ran and ran till my tongue was draggin, but my tail was still waggin!  About sunset mom loaded us up, and we went back to our room.  Mom made us a good dinner, then we watched TV a while.  Dad let me on the human-bed with him.  Just before bed time we went for another walk.  It was a very good day.  I like Great Adventures, and Dog Shows. 

3 Apr 2009

Another morning.  I heard dad stirring, so I got up and stretched with a big yawn.  Dad said good morning to me while he was getting dressed.  Soon mom was moving too, and after they got dressed we went for a nice early-morning walk.
It was still dark outside.  After the walk mom and dad put us in the van again and went off - breakfast I guess.  Hey - we are hungry too.....  They came back and mom gave us each half a bagel with cream cheese on it.  MMMM - yummy!  Soon we were on the way - yep - back to the dog show.  It was just the same as yesterday.  When the music played again, dad told me to stand at attention and stay.  Then dad stood real straight and stiff again, with his right hand up to the tip of his hat again.  I guess this is something really important to dad, so I just stood there and waited.  The music played, and when it was over dad let his hand drop and told me to sit.  OK dad, whatever you say.  Soon mom and Daisy were in the ring again, except this time mom got pushed in front.  Mom was happy and got lots of ribbons.  Daisy got distracted with treats
all over the floor.  That Daisy, she is something else sometimes.   After a short wait, mom went back to the ring and some guy made a picture of Daisy and mom and the judge lady that gave them all the ribbons.  After that, we went back to the little room, and Daisy and I got our breakfast.  It was good - mom makes great breakfasts. 

After our breakfast mom did a few things while dad checked E-mail.  Then we were loading up in the van to leave again.  I was expecting we were going to the dog park like yesterday.  I was pretty excited.  But - No...  - back to the dog show?  Why?  This is something new.  Mom had to do something called GROUPS.  And there were lots of other dogs there outside the ring with mom and Daisy, one of each kind in the working group.  Mom had to get Daisy ready again, then they went in the ring.  Daisy kept trying to snatch everything off the floor. Looking for those treats I bet.  Mom got upset and scolded Daisy a little, and she quit looking.  Dad always gives me lots of treats when we train, I don't have to look for them, just do what dad asks me to do.  The groups judge-lady didn't even give Daisy a look.  I guess Daisy needs to grow up a little more.
Sorry mom.  Maybe next time. 

After all this dog-show stuff, it was getting late.  So we all loaded up in the van and went to the dog park again.  Daisy and I ran and ran till our tongues were draggin again, and all the dogs were there to play with us too.  We had a great time.  But long before sunset mom called us back.  We loaded up in the van and drove back to the dog show.  When we got inside it was almost empty.  Only the Obedience Humans were there.  Dad took me in, and he carried my training bag.  I was all excited too.  When my training bag comes along, it means I get to work with dad.  Dad handed one of the Obedience Humans some green paper, then dad and I went inside the ring.  It was just about the same as my dog training class, except I was inside the dog-show ring.  I was so excited.  Is this what my dog shows will be like?  The lady shouted commands and dad and I did them.  I didn't understand the lady, but dad kept me straight.  I just did what he asked me to do, just like training.  I was pretty happy about it.  And the obedience humans watching all said I did really good for a young puppy.  Uncle Parker, you were right.  This dog-show stuff is a lot of fun, and dad and I will do it together.  I will make you proud of us. 

So we loaded up in the van to leave.  I was so happy I hardly paid attention to that was going on.  Dad navigated us to that Sam human's place again.  Mom and dad were talking about dinner.  I didn't care, I was too happy about my first time in a dog-show ring.  But when dad parked the van, all the lights were out at Sam's place.  Dad went to check....  Yep - the door was locked.  So we all ended up going back to our little room for dinner and some TV.  Dad let me on his bed again, and he stroked me and told me what a FINE PUPPY I was.  I'm a lucky dog, a lucky lucky dog....  And a happy one too!  Then it was time for bed.