First Day of Puppy Class

Today was Winnie's first puppy class. Ten dogs in the class, most were bigger than Winnie. Only two were smaller, a 10 week old American Pit Bull and a Pomeranian fluff ball smaller than most of the squeaky toys in our house.

I didn't quite know what to expect from Winnie when it came time to play freely with the others. I know I was more nervous than she was though. She was her usual self - sitting, watching most of the time. She wandered into the mix, though, and wasn't fearful at all. She didn't play like she does with Gromit, but actually none of the dogs really went nuts, it seemed more of a sniffing out period for everyone. Maybe next week hell will break loose, but it didn't tonight.

We went over Sit and Down, and she did GREAT! I was using pieces of a hot dog as her food reward and she responded well to it. We had never tried Down before this class, and she picked it up with no problem. A little practice and I think she'll have it down.

Oktoberfest!

Today was our small town's Oktoberfest. I thought it was a great opportunity to do some puppy socializing! So we headed into town and right away ran into a friend with her awesome gentle giant, Gus. Winnie reacted not at all to the St. Bernard, and it was all I could do to keep from sending "oh my God" vibes down the leash! But Gus wouldn't hurt a fly and Winnie liked him and was totally comfortable.

Speaking of comfortable, we encountered crowds, kids on bikes, scooters and strollers. We encountered balloons popping very nearby. We encountered live music. And Winnie, as is her way, took absolutely everything in stride. She wasn't skiddish or fearful or anything. She stood still through so many tellings of the 'It's a Wirehaired Vizsla' thing that by the end of the day she could have said it herself. Hell, she even sat through polka. That should count as points toward some sort of title, shouldn't it?


But it was an active day so she got tired and found a comfortable spot on a chair while Mommy and Daddy had an adult beverage or three.

Well [Scene Missing] next thing you know, and it seems to happen at every Oktoberfest, Daddy's playing air guitar on Gromit.

He doesn't enjoy air guitar as much as I do, but he accepted my apology for using him as a prop to get a laugh.

Meanwhile, Winnie had one too many and had turned into a puddle.

Then she remembered she was from Illinois and threw a few more back.

It was just a great day. She was hugely popular and got dozens and dozens of compliments. I was one proud Daddy!

Almost ten weeks

I can't resist pictures of dogs with their tongues sticking out. I like this one because it doesn't make her look dorky at all. I mean, not even a little bit.

I'm still spending about $30 a week on dog toys (wait till you see Pheasant Toy!), one day it will sink in that her favorite toy is a stick.

I think I got thtung on the lipth by a wathp or thomething.

Poor Gromit learned a sharp lesson about eating bees tonight. Far be it from me to laugh at someone else's misfortune. But, I don't care who you are, that's funny.

Retrieving!