When it gets hot, continued

The girls aren't the only ones who know how to handle the heat....this big boy has it all figured out.  Just take your nap on the cool kitchen floor, spread out flat!

When it gets hot

The girls know what to do when it gets hot....take a nap in the sun!

Recap from the Reliant show

I told myself that before I can do another post I have to do the recap from the Houston show that I meant to do a month ago!  There is so much to see at a big dog show and I have to share the fun.  I do have to give a disclaimer that these pictures are not terribly great; not sure why the point and shoot camera did not focus.

One of the things I enjoy most is getting there early and walking through the grooming area.  There is a lot of activity and it is fun to see the many different breeds getting started on their grooming routine. 



This kennel had a great set-up!  Table, chairs, tent and Old Glory!

 I enjoy the early morning stillness of the empty rings, too.

I have enjoyed learning about the different breeds, and have found that if I ask the judges (on our breaks) questions about the breeds they are judging that they are more than eager to answer me.  After all, they are doing this because they love dogs!  I did spend $5 at the AKC booth for a pocket sized laminated spiral booklet with pictures of each recognized breed; this has already come in handy!

One of the breeds I met this time was the bulldog.  Honestly, my only experience with them was seeing the Georgia Bulldog mascot during football games!   I tried to get a shot of one on the table being judged, but had to settle for this picture of a rescue dog that posed for me.  I had never been around bulldogs in real life and did not know what sweet little dogs they are.  Every one that came up with an owner/handler to get an arm band nuzzled me wanting attention (and you bet they got it, too).  Friendly and sweet, I can see why people want to own one.

These are French Bulldogs, see the difference?  They were just as sweet!

Here they are lined up for the judge!

I also saw this little Papillion, doesn't she look like Blossom? (Hmmm)

 

 

Don't these American Eskimo's look happy?



 

 

There were 80-90 Golden Retrievers in the show, what fun to see so many together!

 

 



Shelties getting their last minute combing.



 

There were many rescue groups at this show, all with dogs needing homes. 

 

 

This was one of several dachshund rescue groups.  They had all gone home when I made this picture.


 

 



 



I've already posted about the vendors, but there was an excellent art show done by local schools.  I spent a few minutes walking through the exhibit and was amazed at the quality of the work.  One of the beagles, done by a high school student, was so life like that I thought the dog was actually looking at me.

Doggie Treadmill

When I work at the dog show at Reliant Center I have to be at my ring at 7:00 a.m., ready to start setting up for ring opening at 8:00 a.m.  Yes, it is an early start, but both years that I've done this I stayed at the hotel next door to the facility and saved myself commute time with just taking a short walk across the rather large parking lot.  As a bonus to getting there early I get to walk through the grooming area and witness the pre-show getting the dogs ready routines.  I learned not to make eye contact with the dogs, since I can't pet them!  But it is fun to see the different breeds getting bathed, dried, trimmed and fluffed up. 

The first morning this year I could see up ahead of me a dog that appeared to be walking in the air.  What is going on, I wondered.  As I got closer I realized that the dog was on a treadmill, a doggie treadmill.  I slowed down to take a look.  The dog was just trotting along, wagging his tail as if he was on a morning walk outside with his owner.  The next two mornings I would pass this same grooming area and there would be a dog on the treadmill, just trotting along. Now, I had seen the dog whisperer guy (Cesar Millan) use a treadmill on one of his shows, but it was a regular human treadmill.  This treadmill was smaller and clearly designed for a dog.

After the first day's work I ventured into the vendors' area, and found two different vendors demonstrating and selling dog treadmills.

This dog walked right up on the ramp and started walking, so I suspect she had done this before.

This big girl was a little timid, but the salesman knew how to reassure her and how to coax her along until she was comfortable walking on the treadmill.  She was a little slippery on her feet in the beginning, but by the time I made this picture she was walking just fine.  Her owner had even taken off her lead, that's how relaxed she was.  Yes, the sign was correct this model was selling for $399. I didn't ask, but I'm pretty sure that each model collapses for easy transportation. 

The background of this picture gives a glimpse into the vendor area of the show.  I managed to resist the Laurel Burch bags hanging just behind the dog.  The next booth was for the Old English Sheepdog rescue group and that is an OES laying in front of the booth!  There is dog stuff and people stuff at a good show, enough to keep you busy looking around for quite a while!

I don't have room in my house for one of these, but since it has been 105 degrees outside everyday this week I wish I did so the dogs could get some exercise!