pet connection

Our last day in Oregon. Tomorrow we head to Crescent City and the next day to Arcata for the readings and signings. Some book covers are authentically splashed with a little Oregon mud, but that will wipe off with a damp cloth. And besides, that’s mud flung off the author’s dog; you’ll never get a book like that from Amazon.com, will you?

So where’d that mud come from? The two younger girls were done early, so I decided to take them somewhere really fun. Found a nice muddy park and got the tennis balls and Kool Kongs out. Within minutes Otter and McKenzie had also found a place to wallow in mud, and something nasty to roll in as well. (Note to Honda: I’m having the Element detailed Monday before its return!)

Dripping with fresh brown mud, panting and happy, the two of them went into a single wire crate covered with towels to minimize the mess and then went back to the show site, where outside bathing tubs were set up. It took me quite a while to turn two brown dogs back to black. Then they happily settled down with chewies in their crates inside the show area and eventually napped while I went to watch my old girl Heather at her last show ever. Second place, and a happy dog and breeder (don’t they look happy?), and then now she’ll go home to a late spring shave-down and no more fussy stuff for the rest of her life.

Ribbons don’t really matter, but it’s still great that my friend Mary, who is the very definition of a responsible breeder dedicated to working ability, temperament, type and health, can have one more happy moment with a dog she watched draw first breath so many years ago.

I hope Heather and I have many years left together, but she’s closing in on 12, so we’ll take what the fates bring us, and be happy for it.

The trip has been a good one, with the best yet to come.

Five days on the road now, and it’s truly surprising how quickly dogs adapt to their new routines. This morning I completely aired four dogs in less than 10 minutes — a far cry from the first day, when they wandered and sniffed without really realizing what the point was of all the walkings. This morning, 5 a.m., they were quick and efficient, doing everything at the designated spot and practically bagging it for me.

And then, they led me back to “our” room for another hour or so of sleep. Smart dogs!

Hope to see some of you in Crescent City Saturday and Arcata on Sunday. Bookmarks are free, and signed books are only $10. If you have a Honda Element, ask me for your free Best In Show DogCars.com DogCar of the Year sticker. Don’t make me carry stuff home again.