3 Oct 2009.  

Today's dog show was another surprise - but in a different way.  The early morning went just like yesterday, except everything started later.  I guess we didn't need to pack much because the big things were still at the show grounds.  Dad got up, I got up, mom got up, us dogs got breakfast, dogs went out to pee and back in their beds.  Mom made drinks and food to take along, and we loaded up in the dog-show van just like yesterday.  Although we were leaving later, it was still dark outside.  And cloudy too.  I could smell rain in the air.  No matter.... we were going to the dog show again.  I'm a happy dog, a happy happy dog.... we are going to the dog show.  Maybe I'll get to go in the ring with dad again today.  When we were all loaded up in the dog-show van, mom started driving us down the road.

As we got to the dog show it started raining.  It rained most of the day.  It was wet and cold outside.  Dad did his very best to see that Daisy and I were sheltered and had warmie beds.  Dad put some walls on the tent-thing to keep the wind and rain off of us dogs.  I heard mom call our tent-thing a CANOPY.  OK... whatever - it sure kept the wind and rain off of us.  It worked pretty well too, only a little rain got in.  Dad seemed a little cold, but I was fine.  Dad put on some jackets to get warm.  It was nasty out in the rain, but everyone was getting settled in under cover, so it wasn't so bad.  I was laughing at Daisy, I told her she was going to get wet in the ring.  Then Daisy said I had to go in the wet ring too.  Oh - yeah... I forgot.

At about 0830 dad took me out and we went to the ring to get my number and a course map.  Dad had a really big umbrella, and he used it more to keep me dry than he did to keep himself dry.  When we got to the ring I learned I was dog #30 again.  Maybe that is my lucky number.  First off, dad said that all the competitors showed up.  So there were 6 of us dogs today.  Dad read the course map and he had some questions.  So dad went to the Alpha-human Karen to ask those questions.  Karen looked at the course map, then answered dad's questions.  Then Karen asked dad if I ever did a down in the wet grass.  Dad said NO - I had not.  Karen said dad better practice it now with me.  So we did.  Sheesh dad - it is only rain.... I can do it.  So we practiced it a few times, but dad didn't want me getting wet and cold, so he put me back in my bed.

At 1015 all 6 dogs stood under the ring-tent, ready to enter the ring.  Mom showed up just in time to take me so dad could walk the course.  Dad went around a few times, then came out and told me and mom that it was an easy course, nothing new for me to learn.  That was good, because I wanted to do an extra-special good job today for my dad.  When the last human was finished walking the course, the ring-steward lady called for the first team.  All the dogs were doing good.  No DQs today, so I expected I was going to have to work hard so dad could get another blue ribbon.  Dad whispered to me that competition was tough today, and he would be very happy if I just qualified.  The other dogs made little mistakes.  Just little things.  They all looked so good.  Then it was our turn.  The ring-steward lady called DOG #30.  Dad said HERE, and we went in the ring.  Well - the pressure to place in the ribbons was off of dad, the others did such a fine job and dad said he would be happy anyway.  But I wanted to show dad. I did a perfect sit.

Now, when I work with dad - dad never watches me.  He tells me what to do and he expects that I will do it.  Dad reads the signs and calls out the commands and walks the course.  My job is to do what dad says I should do.  I try really hard.  Sometimes I get confused, and sometimes I get distracted, and sometimes I just do not hear what dad said.  But today I had to try extra-special hard.  The judge-lady looked small hunched in her rain coat.  She asked if we were ready.  I'm ready dad, let's go!  Dad said - YES MA'AM - WE'RE READY.  She said "FORWARD" and off we went with my tail wagging.  On the second stage I was supposed to come front and sit, then swing to my dad's left back into heel position when told to do so.  When dad called "SWING", I leapt in the air and almost spun in flight to land next to dad.  I could tell right away dad liked that.  It made my tail wag even more.  We kept moving, dad and I.  I didn't mind the rain, it was so much fun working with dad in the show ring.  It seemed like just seconds later we were finished.  It went by so quickly, and I don't think I made any major errors.  I did have one crooked sit, my foot slipped.  I could feel dad was pretty happy about it too.  As we left the ring everyone was applauding us.  Dad took me over to mom and she told dad that I was having a blast in the ring, and the judge was smiling the whole time.  That made dad really happy too.  Dad kept rubbing my head and neck, and telling me I did really good.  I liked that.

While we were waiting for the judge-lady to call us into the ring for ribbons, another dog and handler came to dad and said dad needed to check the score board.  Uh-oh... was something wrong?  Dad walked over to the score board with me.  WOW - 99 points!  I did it - first place again.  We entered the ring for the awards.  And yes - dad and I earned a second blue ribbon.  I am happy dog, a happy happy dog... I like dog shows with dad.

When dad got the ribbons and everyone was done congratulating us - we returned to the canopy.  On the way we ran into Karen the Alpha-human.  She was so happy that we won again, and she called me a good dog.  That means a lot - Karen calling me a good dog.  Almost everything I know I learned from Karen's classroom lessons.  Dad was going to put me in my bed for a rest, but I didn't want to go in my bed.  So dad gave me some cookies, and we went exploring in the rain.  We just walked around and watched the other dogs.  Some dogs didn't like the rain, but I like rain.  After a while dad took me back to the canopy and I took a nap in my bed.  Dad started checking the canopy for leaks.  When he was sure everything was OK, dad sat down with me in my bed.  I liked that too, and I put my head on dad's leg and closed my eyes.  After a while dad got up.  He told mom his butt was wet.  Hmmm... my belly was wet too, and cold.  Dad said the rain wasn't falling on us, but it was running under us and soaking in the dog beds from the ground below.

Mom was doing some special testing called CGC.  You might remember that because I got my CGC at the Albuquerque Dog Show on 8 May 2009.  That was only 5 months ago.  Mom isn't allowed to test me or Daisy, so I was tested by someone else.  Today mom wanted me to be the "neutral dog" for the tests.  I don't know what that means.  But I know Uncle Parker was a neutral dog, so it must be some kind of honor.  For the next two hours we kinda sat around, but every once in a while someone would come by to test their dog.  Mom would do the testing, and I got to come out and meet the dog.  It was a lot of fun.  I wanted to play with each dog, but dad would not let me.  I guess neutral dogs don't play much.  After 2 hours and about 10 dogs tested, mom said we were done.  Mom said it was almost time to go anyway, so Daisy and I got put in the van.  Mom and dad went back to the canopy to clean up and secure stuff.  When they came back to the van they had the wet dog beds and some other stuff.  But they didn't pack up the canopy.  That means we are coming back tomorrow!  I'm a happy dog, a happy happy dog.... we get to go to the dog show again tomorrow.  Maybe I can go in the ring with dad again.  Mom and dad got in the van, and we hit the road.  My dog-bed in the van is very nice, and soon I was sleeping all the way home.  Dog shows are exciting, but also very exhausting.  I can't wait for tomorrow.  I will be dreaming of dog shows and ribbons all night.  I really am a happy happy dog....