Getting Jon Farleigh to Lie Down Blooper - Captions, please!

For those with taller dogs (or short dogs who are not yet trained to lie down): Do you know how difficult it can be to get a dog to lie down for a treat lure when the dog can touch its snout to the floor without bending its knees?

I give you Exhibit A:

That is me (one year ago) trying to lure nine-month-old Jon Farleigh into a "down." Besides the fact that he had been trained to "down" already (and he knew the voice command, but just simply chose to forget it for this public event), this is generally what one sees when attempting to train a Corgi "down" for the first time. Can you really blame them, though. Helloooo? :)

OK, so I can see lots of fun captions in this photo (from the mouth of just about any living being in it).
Hint: see the other dogs' faces? :)

It would MAKE MY DAY if you would give it your best shot in the comments!

Pictures of a Fall Festival Gone to the Dogs

As promised, a ChesterFest "doggie" photo dump. :)

First up: Some of the "Cutest Dog" competition

I think the girl should have won for "cutest person." :)

These two were also entered in the "Best Dressed" category. :)

There were FIVE Chihuahuas entered!

And a lovely Standard Poodle.

And finally, here we are "hamming" it up. (It was Dewi's idea.) :)

You think Dewi went too far "staring down" the panel of judges? While squatting? :)

This is right after the winners' announcement. Big Dog-Dad tried to remain calm (while Poodle dad celebrated for him). :) (Beats me why we all look so surprised.)

A few contest "spectators":

Sweet Golden Retriever service dog

Polite hound mix

A camera-shy Boxer pup (who won for "Best Trick" - he rolled over). (Don't you love those wrinkles?!)

We met this huge Newfoundland at the Petco tent.

This is what a Newfie looks like with two Corgis attached to its rear. :)

"Hi, Mom."

See you next time!

Hope you're having a fun Tuesday! :)

Cute Festival Dogs and, oh yeah, 'Who are you calling a giddy dog mom?'

So on Friday, I left you all hanging (indulge me) about whether or not Jon Farleigh and Dewi would be repeat contestants in the battle for "Cutest Dog" at ChesterFest. But before I reveal the answer, allow me to direct your attention back to some verbiage from my last post:

"...I think I might like to see some other giddy first-time-contest-entering-puppy-mom get to pose with her dog's blue ribbon this time around." 

Okay, well aside from that being an obscenely stereotypical (however probable) statement, I confess that it was also a fib. See, what I REALLY meant to say was:

 "...I think I might like to see some beefy, Chihuahua-toting real man dog-DUDE get to pose with HIS dog's blue ribbon this time around."

Because that's what happened.

Behold Cornelius, ChesterFest's newly reigning "Cutest Dog":

Look! My dad can hold me with only two fingers, and tweet about me at the same time!

...And you over there, my dad says good things come in small, fluffy packages.

We DID enter the contest, by the way. And, I'm glad we didn't win. :)

*****

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the ChesterFest "doggie" photo dump!

Dog-Friendly Festivals and the Profile Photo, Explained

One year (and 5-7 lbs. in the wrong direction - but who's counting) ago, Jon Farleigh, Dewi and I posed for that photo over there (both to the right and left - it's my profile picture). We had just returned from ChesterFest (a dog-friendly community festival) where the dogs claimed first place in the "Cutest Dog" contest. (The judges couldn't pick the cuter of the two, so they deemed it a tie between "brothers.") I was ecstatic. The boys, however - oblivious to their "official" ambassadors of "cute" status, were just happy for the public "mingling" opportunity. :)

Tomorrow morning - as long as the sky is dry - we'll be at it again - the mingling, that is. I haven't decided whether we're entering the "cute" contest this year. (What if they don't win? And besides, I think I might like to see some other giddy first-time-contest-entering-puppy-mom get to pose with her dog's blue ribbon this time around. :)

I'z like to meengul.

Of course, there's always the "Dog and Owner Look-alike" contest.  Or not. :)

How about you? Does your community sponsor seasonal dog-friendly festivals? With "dog contests"? Do you or would you participate with your dog(s)?

Have a great weekend! Hopefully, I'll have some new festival photos to share next week!