10 May 2009

WOW - dad had to wake me up this morning.  Yesterday's hike really tired me out. I slept like a BIG-DOG, and it had nothing to do with my size!  Oh-dad.. Hurry and get dressed - I gotta PEEEE!  Hurry hurry hurry..   Pu-leeeeese..  Dad hurried, got me out the door and I peed right on the rocks outside the door.  I really had to go.  Sorry dad.  We walked around to the grass and I went twice more.  Wow - I really slept.  When we got back to the room dad took a bucket of water and washed the rocks where I went first.  Thanks dad.

Otherwise, just another morning just like the others.  Into the van, mom and dad go to breakfast.  Load up and to the dog show.  It was almost exactly like the day before.  Except - we were there really early and dad took me shopping.  He bought me a big smoked bone.  Oh-boy. BONES - my favorite!  I'm a happy dog, a happy happy dog... I get a new bone.  When dad put me in the dog-show van he gave me the bone to chew on.  It was nice outside, so I didn't mind a bit that dad left me to take photos of Daisy in the ring.  I had my new bone.

Dad was back pretty quickly, so I guess Daisy didn't do so good.  Dad took me out, and we went socializing again.  We got to say good-bye to Mary-Lynn and all the nice people and dogs we met on this trip.  And then we went shopping.  Mom always walks through the vendor area - looking for things she needs for dog shows.  Mom didn't find anything for herself.  And lots of people want us to try their treats.  Sometimes mom even buys some.  But this time she bought me a new collar.  I was all excited - mom is buying me a new collar.  It is a pretty one, black with tan trim.  It is designed after the Martindale collar.  I have a nice one already, green with gold trim.  It was Parker's, but dad says it belongs to me now.  So I tried the new collar on.  Uh-oh.  It has teeth.  It is a mom-collar with a nice cover.  Very tricky dad!  But you know what - when I am wearing the mom collar I behave.  So I see why dad wants this one.  I walked really nice and didn't pull the rest of the time shopping. (see the "Secret Powers" Training Collar)

Then we loaded up and went back to the motel.  Mom made us a yummy breakfast. Dad loaded up our stuff, and after breakfast mom put Daisy and I in the van. Dad loaded up the last of the stuff, and we were on the road.  I was expecting another long long trip, so Daisy and I chewed on the new bones.  But after about 2 hours we got off the highway.  We drove slowly to some place called Elephant Butte State Park.  Dad gave the nice lady at the gate some of that green paper stuff, and the nice lady handed mom some dog treats.  I guess it was a doggie drive-through or something.  Anyway. so mom drove down the road a bit, then almost got the van stuck in the sand.  Dad took over driving, and we stopped and parked.  Mom and dad got in the back of the van and changed clothes.  When they got out, they took me and Daisy out.  We were walking on hot sand, and dad was telling me to hurry.  We ran down the hill to some blue glass.  It looked like blue glass anyway.  But when I stepped on it I fell through.  It was water. There was lots of water everywhere.  First I got a drink.  It was nice and cold. Then I walked in it.  It felt good on my hot feet.  Dad was leading me in deeper and deeper.  I was starting to get scared.  But dad told me not to worry; he wouldn't let anything happen to me.  I was still scared.  So we got out of the water, then back in, and then out, then in, each time a little deeper.  Dad was cheating - he was using treats.  I love yummy treats, and dad got me all the way out until my feet didn't touch the bottom any more.  I panicked.  But dad held me and said not to worry. 

Dad fed me another treat.  I took a deep breath and trusted dad.  I was floating.  I AM FLOATING!  How cool is that?  Dad led me out of the water to go help mom.  Daisy was being a butt-head and she pulled mom over in the water, got loose, and ran back to the van.  Mom got her camera wet and it quit working. Sorry mom.  After dad helped mom, he started back to the water with me.  Me first dad!  I ran to the water and jumped right in.  I ran and played, and dad led me deeper again.  I was floating again.  Dad was holding my collar - so I wasn't scared.  Well - maybe a little.  I started moving my feet a little.  I AM SWIMMING!  WOW!  This is so much fun.  I think dad was thinking of Uncle Parker a little, he was smiling at me, but there was water coming out of his eyes too. Or maybe I just splashed him in the face.  Anyway - I was having such a good time.  Then I saw poor Daisy.  Daisy was terrified!  She didn't like the water at all.  She was acting like if mom was going to drown her.  Mom loves Daisy and she wouldn't hurt her.  Daisy, trust mom - this is FUN!  But Daisy didn't like it.  I ran around mom and Daisy.  I tried to show Daisy I was having fun.  But Daisy wasn't having anything to do with it.  Mom took Daisy back to the van. Daisy was so mad at mom she wouldn't even look at her .  After about 10 more minutes swimming with dad, we went back to the van too.  Daisy was very upset with mom.  Dad dried me off with a towel.  I was a little cold, but the warm sun felt good.  Dad put me back in my bed, and then he got in the van and got changed into his normal clothes again.

Dad drove us out of the sand, and down the road.  Where were we going now? After about 15 minutes dad stopped the van under a big tree.  Mom and dad got Daisy and I, and they grabbed the water and bucket, and a blanket.  We went to a patio where there were some trees and tables.  This place was called the Dam Site Restaurant.  Mom picked a table, and a nice man brought out an umbrella. Dad put the blanket down, and then poured us a bucket of water.  The nice man got some drinks for mom and dad.  A little later he brought mom and dad some food.  It was yummy, French fries with green chili and cheese, and something called nachos.  I was pretty hungry.  Then - SURPRISE - dad pulled out some really cold apples.  Dad cut the apples in half and Daisy and I munched cold apples while mom and dad had a snack.  It was a really nice place.  Mom and dad talked about Uncle Parker and my dog-mom Sammy coming right here on this patio. So this was another of Uncle Parker's BIG adventures.  And now dad took me on the same adventure.  Oh thank you Uncle Parker for picking me to be dad's new special dog.  I am doing what you told me to do - just love dad and train hard. And it is working.  I know dad loves me and we are making our own Great Adventures.  I wish you could be with us.  Sometimes I feel like you are.

Too soon we packed up.  Mom gave the nice man some of that green paper, and we picked up our blanket and water bucket, and loaded up in the dog-show van again. Back on the road, headed for home, mom was driving. 

We got home near sunset.  Dad put us in our beds, and then mom and dad took everything out of the van.  Mom made our yummy doggie dinner, and we went to sleep.  It was another fine doggie-day.  Uncle Parker - you were right about everything.  Having Great Adventures with dad is fun.  Dog training is fun. Hiking is fun.  I know you didn't like swimming; you only did it for dad.  But I liked swimming too.  And I will do my best to be a good puppy and love my dad as hard as I can. 

I can't wait for our next great adventure.  But until then, I have lots more training to do, and some more growing too.  It won't be much longer and I will be a GREAT DANE.  Dad says CGC is only my first title.  I have a lot more ahead of me.  Yawn..  I am sleepy.  Great Adventures are very tiring.  Until next time, good night.