We interrupt the seriousness of this blog …
By Gina Spadafori
May 8, 2008
… to announce that my dog McKenzie (a/k/a McKutie), last seen on this blog feigning innocence over a missing yogurt container, is now:
Ch. Windfall’s McKenzie.
Her show career is now over, and she can now get as stinking, muddy and wet as she wants whenever she wants, and the baths that follow will no longer be with the fancy soap followed by a blow dry and brushing. (Now, it’ll be more of a spray-off with the hose.)
Regular programming may now resume. That is all.
Oh, P.S. … McKenzie is named after Christie’s mom (whose last name is McKenzie) and her brother (whose first name is McKenzie). I had to come up with an “M” name and thought McKenzie was really interesting and distinctive. Later, my brother the high school teacher informed me he had no fewer than five girls in his classes named either MacKenzie or McKenzie. So much for distinctive, but I still love the name! (Even though I usually call her McKutie.)
Congratulations McChampion McKenzie!
Enjoy your retirement (as I KNOW you will!)
Comment by The OTHER Pat — May 8, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
Congratulations!
Comment by Jess — May 8, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
Wonderful. I just read an article today in hose washing for dogs in my local Fort Collins Coloradoan.
It seems like the owner recommends spending as much time rinsing as washing, but I am sure everybody reading this column knows that.
McKensie, enjoy all that muddy mud! Must cool you on the hot days.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — May 8, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
Yes, rinsing is EVERYTHING, or you get flakes and dull coat. A little soap goes a long, long way.
For the hose-end sprayer I bought a clean, new version of those things you use with spray fertilizer for a couple bucks at the hardware store, and marked it clearly for “DOG USE ONLY.” Cheaper than the hose-end things sold for dog washing through infomercials.
Now don’t laugh, but I use that Dr. Bronner Pure Castille Peppermint Soap in the hose-end sprayer. They may not like the smell, but *I* sure do, and it’s MUCH better than the smell of the rotting fish they can’t resist rolling in at the river.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 8, 2008 @ 6:54 pm
Congratulations McKenzie!
My retired special still likes to go to shows, but hides when the shampoo comes out for the young upstarts. That’s OK, he has earned his Five O’Clock shadow.
Here’s to dirt, mud and not worrying if your dogs coat gets a bit sunburned
Comment by JenniferJ — May 8, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
Yay! Congratulations to McKutie. Now you can as cute as you want and don’t have to worry about those shows.
Our flatcoats told me to offer their condolences for your encounters with the blow-dryer. They enjoy lying around with amused expressions on their face when the poor little golden is subjected to the treatment.
Comment by ramin — May 8, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
Woo! Congrats McKenzie!
Comment by Cait — May 9, 2008 @ 12:59 am
Way to go McKenzie! And congrats! Now on to the good stuff, especially rolling in dead fish! Mean while, my boy is STILL chasing his last single. Of course, it would probably help if I didn’t keep passing up breed shows to go to agility trials instead (neither one of us has to look pretty to go to agility)!
Comment by Cardimom — May 9, 2008 @ 6:35 am
Congratulations, Miss McKenzie!
I’ve been using Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap to wash my dogs for years. It rinses much more easily than other shampoos, and it smells nice but not perfume-y (and doesn’t trigger my asthma!). It also works nicely as as people soap. I put it in one of those foaming dispensers, cut 50/50 with water—one in the shower and one by the sink.
Comment by Shelly — May 9, 2008 @ 7:16 am
Congratulations on the end to cleanliness McK!
I’ve never heard of that peppermint soap. I haven’t washed my dogs since they ate the last two hoses I bought. Which is ok by me as I am a lazy groomer. But I like the sound of that peppermint soap!
Comment by slt — May 9, 2008 @ 7:42 am
Way to go McKutie!! Congratulations! Storm is jealous and hopes he finishes soon. He was subjected to the awful trimming, bathing and blowing dry for this weekends show.
Comment by CLynch — May 9, 2008 @ 10:40 am
Way to to, McKutie! I also know that you are not just beautiful, but you are most adorable, as well! Have fun in the mud!
Comment by Nadine L. — May 9, 2008 @ 10:46 am
Congrats to McKenzie on her McCH! Well done! Bring on the mud and stinky fish! She’s earned a good roll in eau d’iferous!
Comment by Deb — May 9, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
Congratulations McKutie!!!!
Comment by Sarah K. Andrew — May 14, 2008 @ 11:18 am