Li'l Maggie was a contestant in another dog show this weekend. There was a big difference in her adventure was that I wasn't part of the activities.

Seems the duties of employment, the responsibilities of paying creditors, the lure of having cash on hand to purchase more "things" prompted me to forgo the call of the ring to traveling to my job instead. After all, who wouldn't appreciate  the commute to the place of employment as oposed to spending a relaxing day at a dog show?

Back to the dog. Maggie went up against her friend Keira and came in 2nd place...as usual. That Keira is such a pretty dog! Perhpas someday Maggie's coat will come in to the fullness it's supposed to be. Perhaps the judges will start to look at Maggie in a new light...I dunno. But we know our dog will someday come into her own & rack up the points she needs for that championship ranking.

Reflecting on the situation though... we really do enjoy the fun & whole dog show lifestyle. It's a relaxing, rewarding and at times exciting way to spend a morning or afternoon. We've learned a lot & made new friends who take the time to show us the ropes (i.e., how to properly groom the dog, where to pick up our entry numbers, the proper gait for the ring, etc.) of the show dog world. We heeded that sage advise that was mentioned in some product's advertising a few years ago-try it, you'll like it. Never were words spoken more true when it came to our experiences in the ring.

Come back soon!

As a part of their meals every morning, our dogs are each given a dog biscuit when they're finished eating. Sometimes it's the breath-improver variety, sometimes it's merely one of those bone-shaped goodies they love from Milkbone. But they always look forward to their "dessert" when their meal is through. But a somewhat strange phenomena has recently developed between two of our furry freinds...

For the year & some-odd months we've had Maggie in our den, she has slowly but surely exerted her presence on the other dogs. She sometimes "goes at it" with our alpha dog, Declan, letting him know she doesn't like it when he tries to herd her or in any way impose his influence on her. Then there's the relationship she's been developing with her grandmother, Lyric. This latter dog is our nine year old Sheltie & is sometimes referred to as the Chief of Police because of the way she sometimes bosses around the other dogs. For the past week or so it's been when these two finish their monring biscuits that the fun starts.

Since several of our faster-eating dogs have been known to pilfer the meals of their fellow pack members that don't eat quite as quickly, we feed each of them in separate areas. It was some what of a logistical nightmare finding a room for each of them, and remains so when we have company forcing an alteration to the respective assigned eating areas. But, we manange. So, with that thought in mind, remember that Lyric eats in the kitchen while li'l Maggie dines in the "throne room" down the hall, more aptly named the bathroom. And, that Lyric is the primary food stealer of our whole pack. Maggie's eating area is of course separated from Lyric's by a door but there's a space of an inch or two between the bottom of the door.

When Maggie's done withn her biscuit after her morning meal, she's been deliberately leaving a piece of her treat right near the door, thereby enticing Lyric to try and get to it under the door.  Maggie raises quite a ruckus at this, barking merrily that her dining area's being invaded by her Grandma attempting to steal food...that she's left for the specific reason mentioned.

See, Maggie loves her biscuits. So for her to leave a piece around, there must be a very good reason. And that reason is so that she can continue asserting herself to the other dogs, letting 'em know she's not to be pushed around.

Sort of like someof us us humans, eh?