Once A Year Dog Fun

Even though I do not have a pet and I have been accused of not liking animals, I do enjoy seeing the well-trained and beautiful dogs groomed to perform at dog shows.  In the past, I used to attend the  dog show at the Coliseum but for about ten years I have not gone to see the different dogs trying to win ribbons.

Today I entered the manure smelling arena to see tall, short, hairy, straight, curly haired, barkers, quiet, prancing, walkers, jumpers and well brushed dogs. I know there must be many more adjectives to describe the many dogs I saw today.

I was mostly interested in dogs that looked like my California family's pets; black and white border collie mix. One year there were herding dogs moving sheep around but I was told that they no longer have herding competitions. This year it was the agility area where dogs had to compete. Dogs

jump hurdles, run through tunnels, climb a slopping ramp, run across a high beam, run up and down a teeter-totter and zig-zag through about ten stakes. Smaller dogs look energetic and full of pep as they leap through their exercises while the bigger dogs seem to move in graceful slow motion.

The one thing I noticed is that the dogs have one thing in mind. Please their masters and get their treat! The colors of the dogs are amazing from all black or all white, to grayish mixtures, brown swirls, and every color between dark to light. I do not know the breeds but did recognize collies, pugs, English Wolf Hound, cocker spaniels and border collies. As owners run beside the dogs I had to chuckle because I recalled Jimmy Kimmel erasing the dog and just showing the person running. It was a funny skit!

Ages of the owners seemed to range from about ten years old to around seventy. In this day and age it is very difficult to judge ages because those people running beside their dogs could have been older than seventy! Booths with t-shirts showing off a breed, fancy dog food, blankets for dogs, outfits for dogs to wear, and dog toys, line the arena. One booth had a lady who massaged dogs. I couldn't help but think that these show dogs have it made!

The Samoyed is a beautiful dog but noisy when it barks. The Afghan Hound has a little head and a large body. The Puli has long dreadlocks hanging to the floor. A friend of mine had two Puli dogs named Thunder and Lightning. The one I saw today was a Komondor, same as a Puli but larger. Collies reminded me of Lassie of movie fame. German Shepherds reminded me of war dogs. The tallest dog reached almost to my waist and the smallest dog barely came to my ankle.

It almost seems impossible that the handlers can give a command and as if by osmosis, the dog know what to do. A snap of a finger or a wave of a hand and the dogs know exactly what to do.

Dogs range from beautiful to ugly though some people would disagree with me! They think all dogs are beautiful!

I'm sorry I didn't win a ribbon.

"No matter how little money

and how few possessions you own,

having a dog makes you rich."
Louis Sabin