Some not so great photos of some really great dogs - at the dog show

I have many other great photos from our Cardigan Corgi "social" this past weekend, but those are saved for another day this week. These photos were taken inside the dog show venue (which, by the way, was painted an off white color and had poor lighting; therefore, my camera was struck dumb and only managed these poor excuses for pictures) and I'd really like to share them with you. :)

Jon Farleigh has just asked me to "pinch him because this can't be real."  :)

Jon Farleigh's sister, Georgia, in the show ring. Such a pretty girl!

Dewi still under the influence of Oscar Mayer wiener (after the CGC test)
(If you click the photo to enlarge, you'll see that Dewi's got a Belgian Sheepdog wanting some of that "good stuff" too.)

The pretty Pembroke Welsh Corgi who was Best of Breed on Sunday

This lovely rear end belongs to an Irish Wolfhound. Oh, by the way, that was no small Doberman Pinscher either.

Three little pigs French Bulldogs - so cute!  (Not as cute as Benny and Lily though.)

German Shorthaired Pointers

I JUST ADORE...

Wirehaired Dachshunds!!!!!

This is the devastatingly handsome Rush (the Cardigan Welsh Corgi) and his owner/handler, Heidi.

Rush was Best of Breed on Sunday, which earned him a place to compete in the Herding Group. He placed fourth! Here he is lined up with the other Herding Group winners: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (3rd), Old English Sheepdog (2nd) and Border Collie (1st) - all gorgeous dogs! We had so much fun!

*****

I hope you get to do something fun today!

It's Almost Wednesday Wordless Wednesday???

It is late here and I am unable to string coherent thoughts. So here is a photo of Dewi:

This was taken right after we left the CGC test venue on Sunday.

Just so you know, he would've had the same expression even if he had failed. :)

Angel-faced, poop-eating squid-dog is also a Good Citizen (with the help of Oscar Mayer's miraculous powers)

If you read last Friday's post to the end, you might recall that I mentioned the dogs and I would be attending AKC all-breed conformation shows this weekend (as spectators to cheer on Jon Farleigh's sister Georgia). (I also promised photos from the event, which, incidentally, will have to wait until another day because I'm still sorting them out and mulling over them.) Anyway, what I did not mention - because I was chicken - was that Dewi and I would be taking the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test - being offered to the general public - on Sunday afternoon at the show venue.

Some of you - who've been following the blog for a while (at least since February) - might remember that I had a bit of a struggle with Dewi in his Basic Obedience class. But in case this is news to you, let me summarize: Dewi is a brilliant, and also HIGH-ENERGY. He also (sometimes) loves other dogs more than they might love him in return. On the last day of obedience school, however, under the influence of an Oscar Mayer wiener, he transformed into the obedient dog I paid $90 for him to be, and graduated like a champ.

But enough background.

So at 2:12 p.m. (not that I was cognisant of the exact time) yesterday, Dewi did it again. That is, despite huge odds against him in Vegas (okay, not really, but I wouldn't have bet on him) and in spite of himself (and my huge nerves), he passed. He is a Canine Good Citizen. :) (Yay!)

Now, let me tell you what happened before the test

(remember the test was administered within a dog show venue crammed with hundreds of dogs and people):

1. Dewi dragged me halfway through the parking lot toward the first dog he laid eyes on.
2. Once inside the venue, Dewi continued to pull toward the faces (and butts) of most every dog in our path.
3. I had serious doubts about going through with the test.
4. Dewi spotted a familiar dog (Jon Farleigh's sister) and lost all his marbles.
5. I decided that humor would be the best response to Dewi miserably failing the test. (I might as well give the evaluator a good laugh, no?)
6. Dewi's fairy godmother (aka: Oscar Mayer wiener) popped out of my bag.
7. Dewi temporarily forgot where he was and performed a brilliant sit-stay.
8. I slipped Dewi some fairy dust (courtesy of Oscar Mayer "pharmaceuticals").
9. I repeated #s 7 and 8 several times.

   
   

   30 minutes and 1.5 wieners later...
   
   

   

   This is Dewi's brain on crack Oscar Mayer wiener.

   
   
10. I plunged my left hand into the wiener baggie and coated it with "Eau de Smoked Hot Dog."
11. I gave Dewi one last hit of crack fairy dust wiener the second before entering the test ring.
12. The test evaluator reminded me of the "no treat" rule and then (somewhat playfully) motioned for me to show him my open palms (which I did). He also (visually) examined my person for pockets/treat dispensing devices.  

So let me just recap (for those who might have a dog with similar temperament to Dewi and aspire to get your dog CGC-certified):

• Attend obedience training with your dog.
• While in obedience training, experiment with drugs treats.
• When you find one that makes your dog look at you with the expression in the above photo, stockpile it (if needed) and use it ONLY when you need a miracle from said dog.

Happy training! ☺