The Dog Down the Street Is EATING POOP Again!!, and 5 Other Outrageous Internet Tales

A morning network news program ran a (slightly) cheeky story today about how easily people - in today's gone-viral, gossip-fueled world - can fall for Internet hoaxes, and how to avoid being the next victim. You'll find many of the provided tips (for spotting email and web hoaxes) here.

So today - for (somewhat) practical reasons - I thought it would be fun to see whether you can spot any malarkey in this list of outrageous Chronicles of Cardigan-inspired headlines (that I just made up):

1. Dogs Show Signs of  Stress When Owners Accidentally Eat Black Jellybeans, Survey Shows

2. Welsh Corgi Mistakes Human Kid for Sheep, Herds It Across Residential Backyard, Eyewitness Reports

3. 'Chronicles of Cardigan' Author Sustains Injuries During Theme Park Brawl

4. Fall Food Find: Use Pureed Pumpkin to Turn Hershey Syrup into Spicy M&Ms 

5. LOOK: Dog Teaches Self to Imitate Squid in Attempt to Escape Nail Trim

So, what do you think; which ones (if any) are fact*?

Hint: The links are there for a reason.

Oh, and as for the title of this post? It's true. For every person on my street, besides those who live in my house. And to that, I say: If that's the worst thing my neighbors can spread about me, then I'm hiding stuff better than I thought! 

* Fact: The opposite of a bold-faced (brazen) lie; not full of malarkey.
Note: Neither half-truths nor euphemisms count as bold-faced lies.

I'll include the answers with Thursday's Tacky Cardigan!

Of course, that doesn't mean you should wait until then to spread this post around, if you feel so inclined!

Why Agreeing to Pay Google to Store My (Excessive) Blog Images Was a Wise Decision

Disclosure: I had some trouble deciding what to title this post, and because I find writing blog post titles so enjoyable (really, I do; can't you tell?), I've decided to go ahead and list a few of today's "honorable" almost-a-title mentions. (Of course, by that last sentence I mean that I have spent the last several days wasting time thinking up one brilliant title after another and, therefore, have had precious little time to think of anything else. ahem.)

So in case you've forgotten, the title of this post is:
Why Agreeing to Pay Google to Store My (Excessive) Blog Images Was a Wise Decision 

And here are a few "honorable" mentions: 

Dearly Beloved, We Are Gathered Here Today to Remember My (un-backed-up and deceased) Hard Drive

An Entire Photo Directory (and your not-printed holiday card address list...blah blah) Is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

Been Told Your Dead Hard Drive Took All Your Files to the Grave? Don't Buy It! For the Bargain Price of an Arm and HALF a Leg, Our Skilled Clairvoyants Engineers Can (probably) Get It to Give Up Its Ghost! 

126 Compelling Reasons Why Using a Steno Pad-Sized Mini Laptop (as your back-up blogging tool) Is Inefficient (and will make you cranky)

For $100 and a Free Spin: What are R S T L N and E? The Letters That Stick on My Mini Laptop's Keyboard!

Said My Hard Drive..."I've Shut Down and I Can't Boot Up!"

Said My Hard Drive to Me..."This Might Hurt (you) a Little (bwahahaha!)"

WOE, THEREFORE, UNTO ME!
(P.S. I dare you to say that out loud and not crack a smile.)

and finally,

Dear God, The Dogs Might Have Mistaken the Canada Goose Poop for Manna from Heaven. Please Advise.

[*#%&8#...oops. is my mic still on?]

*****

And now, a message from one of our sponsors:

Be sure to tune in next time when she might actually remember to include a post with her title.

Note: The image of Jon Farleigh (plus editing) is brought to you today by the $5/year Google+ image storage plan. (Now, if only I had proactively organized those 1,500+ images.)

;-p

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! ☺

Jon Farleigh's mom, Lucy, has cleaned up in Houston!

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi National Specialty (like Westminster just for Cardigans) is taking place this week in Houston, Texas. Jon Farleigh's mother Lucy (kennel name Ch Aberdovey's Infatuation) has cleaned up some prestigious awards as a fine example of this oldest and most wonderful herding breed. Our friend Red Dog Mom (Dina), and also owner of Jon Farleigh's handsome dad Sam, had this to say about Lucy's wins on her blog (Life with The Horde) this morning:

"I'm thrilled to report that last night Georgia's [editor's note: and Jon Farleigh's] mom, Lucy (Ch Aberdovey's Infatuation), was awarded Best Red Bitch, Best of Opposite Sex to Best Cardigan, and Runner Up to Best Cardigan in the Megan Competition at the national Specialty.

The Megan is a champions-only match held each year in honor of the first breed champion Cardigan.  It's the only time Cardigans are separated and judged by color with the best dog and bitch of each of 4 colors going back in to compete for Best Cardigan (the final class is an 8 dog lineup).  It's incredibly prestigious to win any of the color classes not to mention the big prizes.  It's especially exciting for a red to do so well."

Video of The Megan winners
(Lucy is the second red Cardigan to enter the ring.)

*****

Jon Farleigh's littermate (sister), Georgia (Cadnoclun's Fairway Cinderella Story), is competing today in the puppy classes. We wish her and her handler, Liz, all the best!

(We also congratulate and send best wishes for all of our other Cardigan Welsh Corgi friends competing this week -- in performance and/or conformation -- at the National Specialty!)

Let me be the first to present: Cadnoclun's Jon Farleigh CGC

Cadnoclun's Jon Farleigh CGC

[jumping up and down]   He passed the test!!!! 

SQUEEE!!  SQUEEE!!!  SQUEEEE!!!! 

 SQUEEEE!!!  [deep breath]  SQUEEEE!!  SQUEEEE!!! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

He's a canine and a citizen, but is he a Canine Good Citizen?

This, my friends, is the 60-thousand-dollar question, which if all goes as planned, will be answered for Jon Farleigh on Saturday afternoon.  That is, by a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator.  (I already know my fluffy boy is a good citizen.)

I'm fairly comfortable that Jon Farleigh can pass the test.  In fact, if he's not afraid of the evaluator, all the other dogs there are boring, the bacon scent rubbed on my fingers doesn't wear off, the test room floor is scrubbed free of dog pee and dropped treat odors, the test begins on time and we get to go early, AND the planets are perfectly aligned in the Milky Way, I'm like 99.9% sure Jon Farleigh will skate through.  :) 

That's the truth.  If I've learned anything in my many weeks of training, it's that I have to check my ego at the door.  No dog is perfect - not even mine.  :)

Okay, so all things on test day not ideal, I'm like 89.9% sure he'll pass.  I'd feel better if he had stayed in place during class trial runs consistently.  We've practiced, though, and I think we can do it.  I reeeeeeeally hope we can do it.

Jon Farleigh?