Doesn't quite fit

Dax really, really wanted to model when I was taking pictures of some of the new products recently arrived at GollyGear. I knew she wouldn't fit - but she really, really wanted to help. So we let her. And the picture came out much too cute to discard, so we're posting it here where Dax can show all her little doggie friends how adorable she looks in the Bicycle Basket Carrier. Not recommended for French Bulldogs.

I'd forgotten...

how much work it is to train a puppy. And how exhausted you get after constantly being on the watch when he gets into something he shouldn't. Tango has his leash on today out of his crate. He'd been an angel all week in his crate so it was time to let him explore a little. But of course any time he's out of sight I have to make sure he's not getting in trouble. He's been pretty good about not barking at every noise today. And it's so much fun filling orders and putting new stock away with Tango "helping." But the thing that Tango most wants to do, aside from climb into my lap (not gonna happen at my desk, little guy!) is play in the ring with his Froggie (Bow Wow Beanies Legs). One day soon there'll be pictures, but for now I'm just having too much fun watching little Tango run around squeaking his Froggie. - Fran

Tango's here!

Tango

Ramblings

So I'm on my own since Wednesday - Fran's in Louisville at the best dog show (conformation, obedience, rally, agility, vendors, etc. in other words - heaven on earth for dog people and the ice cream is unbelievably fantastic) picking up her puppy dog Tango. The pup's in for a rude shock - he's going from house dog and occasional conformation dog to our crazy-insane world of performance and working dog. I'd feel sorry for the little dude if I didn't know that he's going to love it, once he gets used to it.
Last weekend was Dax's and my weekend out - three days of agility at the Forest City DTC (Dog Training Club) Trial in Love's Park, Illinois. We are now officially pursuing the Guiness Book of World Records title - competitors who get whistled off the course the most times, ever. For all the non-agility people who may check in with us occasionally - that's not a good thing. It means you've been "excused." Which is a polite way of saying "thrown out."
I may have an explanation for Dax's tendency to tune me out halfway through a course. I'm a member of a French Bulldog Obedience Group on Yahoo (no, Frenchie Performance is NOT an oxymoron). This week we had an extensive discussion on Frenchies being aliens from another planet. Witness the radar ears and green-glowing eyes (ok, you may need a flash camera to get the right effect). We concluded that Dax wanders off because the Big Giant Head is issuing instructions at extremely inopportune times - for me.

Spring forward

A friend just reminded me not to forget to change our clocks this weekend for Daylight Savings Time. "Spring ahead, fall back," as they say. Not fair, I say. An hour of sleep is stolen from us. I feel especially badly for friends who are showing dogs this weekend. Hope is one! So, instead of waking up at 5:00 in the morning, she'll be waking up at 4! And then driving two hours in the deep dark of pre-dawn to the show site. At least Dax can sleep in her crate in the car. I suppose the good thing is that there will just be other crazy dog people on the road early on Sunday. - Fran

But the grass is wet!

I know that all dogs have quirks - Fran's talked about her "special" Boston Terrier Ceilidh, who has more than her share. Dax has come up with a few of her own, and the spring thaw we're having this week has brought them to the fore. She doesn't like to walk on wet. Especially not wet grass. She's been searching our backyard, from the "safety" of the concrete walk, looking for bitty patches of snow to do her business.

And she'll deliberately walk through mud, avoiding the grass like poison, to get to them. Silly girl.

Roc Relaxing at Work

Today is vacuuming day at home! Roc, like many pups, gets much too excited when the vacuum comes out of the closet. Ordinarily it would just be cute (Roc is all of 10 pounds) and loud, but since his "cardiac incident," it could also be dangerous for him. So he's at work with me today, relaxing. We'll have a good time - we'll play a little with the toys he shoplifted the last time he was here, we'll have lunch, we'll take a couple of walks, and Roc will rest. A good day. - Fran

Pretty baby

Dax was modeling some new collars today. This picture doesn't show the collar that well -

but Daxie is so pretty, I couldn't just let the picture go!

Almost grown

Yesterday we went to the International Kennel Club show. We weren't entered - we just love going to dog shows. We've been going for decades - our mom would take us when we were kids and it's where we first learned about all the different breeds of dogs and to appreciate them. We were thrilled it was the first conformation show for Luke - the little French Bulldog we helped transport when he was just a little baby. Luke is almost grown up now (8 months) and just as sweet and handsome as he can be!