Bears have the right idea

You know it's going to be a long, long winter when you're tired of it before it starts. December has been a brutal month, weatherwise. Not improved by the furnace dying in our shop - two days with temperatures in the forties, inside! It was practically impossible to think - totally impossible to type. (Apologies for all those typos on the packing slips to our customers!)
And I have a question - Why is it that of all species of apes, only the furless one doesn't live in the tropics?

The friendliest girl in the world

Yesterday was Dax and my first Obedience Trial as a team. We've been working at it since she was a baby and I probably should have started trialing (how's that for dog-specific jargon!) long ago, but I didn't.
And, just like her first Agility Trial, Dax proved she's the most social butterfly around. She had to go see the little girl sitting ringside. It didn't seem to occur to her, momentarily, that she was supposed to be heeling with me! And that speck on the mat had to be investigated. And what's going on in the ring next door? That looked very, very interesting!
The upshot was we didn't qualify. It's not that she totally blew any of the exercises - it's just that our total performance was, shall we say, not exactly noteworthy.
I really didn't expect to qualify her first time out. Trials can be nerve-wracking experiences for competitors (both human and canine) with years of experience.
So - we got some experience. Which is what you get when you don't get what you want.

Why don't I ever have a camera?

It's always the same story. I never have a camera handy when the dogs are doing something incredibly cute. Yesterday evening we were watching the news when Ceilidh and Dax started play-bowing, then wrestling, then chasing each other around. Then Golly started bouncing at us - her playful sign. Then she started playing with a big stuffed bear we've had for years for the dogs to play with. But naturally, the camera was in the other room and we knew everyone would abandon play to follow us if we got up to get it! That's how it always is ...

The Reindog Parade at the Chicago Botanic Garden

It was snowy
and cold

But even Cubs fans had a good time!

Cute dogs!

Santa was there!

The winner was this Yule Dog Log!

Over 300 dogs were entered - it was crowded and fun!

Dogs are only allowed in the Chicago Botanic Garden 1 day per year - naturally, the nastiest weather-one around! Everybody had fun, though!

We never thought it would happen

We tried to get a picture of Dax and Ceilidh together, but didn't want to leave the room to get a good camera - we knew one or both would be up in a flash if we did! These pictures were taken on my cell phone. The two girls were actually sharing the bed! Dax lied down first and Ceilidh really wanted that same bed. We did put her in the bed and told her it was OK to share. It took her a few minutes, but as you can see Ceilidh did settle down to enjoy a nap, using her sister's butt as a nice pillow!

Lost day...

Yesterday was a day for putting out fires. Not related to the store or customers - worse - computer problems! This time it was a new modem causing fires. We had been having intermittent problems with the internet and were told by techs that the modem was getting old and we should replace it. You would think that this would be an easy proposition. Think again. The box came with the new modem, all the requisite cables and cords, and an installation CD. Now with every other piece of new equipment, the first thing you do is stick in that installation CD. Not so here. It turns out that the CD installed Norton security programs on the PC that not only duplicated existing security but created a new firewall that prevented our two PCs from sharing files. Sounds simple, doesn't it. The problem was that we didn't know about this software installation until late in the day, after Hope talked to tech support at our DSL provider (who actually should have known about the new security programs, having provided that installation CD) and Dell (who shed light on the problem). So, we helped customers, mailed out orders, and came home totally frazzled.

Quirky? Eccentric? That's my girl!

Dax is a thirsty dog. Whenever she's done with anything she goes and has a drink of water. And if I happen to forget to bring water when we go to class, she sulks until she's home. Then she runs right to the water bowl.
There's nothing wrong with her - she just really, really likes water. Not usually a problem, since she's also very well-trained!
She does have this one really bizarre quirk. She won't touch her "travelling" water bowl if any other dog touches it. The only exceptions are the dogs she lives with; Golly, Ceilidh and Roc.
At trials, fun matches or at training class I can never leave her bowl on the ground. Invariably another perfectly nice dog would slurp a drink. Then, in Dax's universe, the bowl had cooties and couldn't possibly be used again until it was thoroughly sterilized by a run through the dishwasher.
I found this really great water container. Upright, it's a spill-proof bottle. Horizontal and the bowl fills up. No muss, no fuss! I can just pick it up when Dax is done and not worry about other dogs' cooties.
Not so much. Being a little dog person, it never occurred to me that an Irish Water Spaniel would have no trouble checking out Dax's water bowl on top of a table. Ooops. You should have seen the "mother, how could you!" look I got from Dax.
Yup, it's another trip through the dishwasher.