“Pavlov’s Dog” is a catchphrase so deeply embedded in popular culture that it long ago surpassed any direct reference to dogs. And guess what…that’s exactly what good old Ivan Pavlov had in mind when he commenced his oddball experiments back in the 1880s in Russia.
Stay at home, stay at home…um, we’re dog show folk, we don’t do stay at home. Not well, at least. So maybe you’ve taken the opportunity to breed that litter. Or two. Maybe you’ve done the virtual Trick Dog thing–every last level. With every last dog. And maybe you’ve got your dogs’ virtual Rally titles. And while I suppose you could take up dock diving or tracking or some other canine sport, maybe you’re not so thrilled about running around in the heat. If only there were more dog things you could do online…
There has always been a connection between dog show folks and food! Why do I say that you ask? Well, for the last sixty years that I and my family have been involved in our special interest of dogs and dog shows, there has consistently been a discussion of food and eating well amongst the participants. Early on, during the novice days of match shows, there was always a picnic lunch to enjoy during the day, usually in the company of the other exhibitors and their young dogs and families.
When it comes to Christmas, I am the Grinch personified. But one thing that always helps me through the tedium of the holidays is the inevitable re-runs of classic movies. My favorites are those from the British film-making heyday of the ‘50s, ‘60’s and early ‘70s. And one of those festive stalwarts is, of course, the 1968 musical adaptation of Charles Dickens classic tale, Oliver!
When a couple of good friends recently asked if I would like to take a drive up to see a litter of beagle pups, I couldn’t resist. Beagle pups are the cutest things in the world and I was quite interested in this particular breeding. Most important, it seemed like eons ago that I had actually seen other people’s dogs and talked dogs with a group of breeders.
As more shows are scheduled to happen in the months ahead, judges are preparing to return to the ring, too. Obviously, there will be many changes and new procedures to follow. How will judges adapt to the “new normal?” What are their thoughts, concerns, and expectations? This month’s panel of judges shares how they are preparing for their upcoming assignments. Understand what they are feeling and why. You may have had the same opinions, too.
There is no better way to raise our collective hackles than to use the word “doodle” in a sentence. With fair warning, I’ll be doing exactly that. Sorry. Someone has to do it. Labradoodles and goldendoodles are everywhere with no end in sight. We can either curse them or learn something from them. Personally, I chose to do both.
As the hazy summer days fold into the promise of a cooler fall, I cannot be the only person wondering, “What happens next?” Although many amusement parks remain closed or have limited capacity, we continually get to ride the roller coaster in our daily lives. Are numbers for COVID-19 going up in my state? Will the dog show I entered be canceled once again? Can I go into the vet’s office to help with my newborn puppies? Are our lives ever going to be the same?
They are frozen in time and sometimes deceptively real. Perpetuated in stone or bronze, looking over water, streets, parks or squares, dog statues can be found all over the world.
“Take a deep breath. Inhale through your nose. Feel the air as it flows over the back of your throat, into your lungs. As it fills your belly, slowly, very slowly, exhale through the nose. Now, do it four more times, making sure to slow down the breath. Inhale through the nose to one, two, three, four. Hold for a count of two. Exhale to a count of four. Be aware. Notice how that feels.” The intoxicating voice of the Yin Yoga teacher, with his very proper British accent, pours like cream from my computer on Zoom. I want to do nothing more than listen and comply.
