My buddy Cooper came to stay with us while his family went to Honolulu for the weekend. I’ve known Cooper since I was a pup. Cooper is 5 years old but he still lets me play with him.
I like playing tug of war with Cooper because he doesn’t say “drop” like Alpha does. We can keep tugging as long as we want.
We did a pack walk on Walua Road. I wanted to run ahead but Alpha insisted that we heel.
The next day, we did a pack hike in Kaloko. Cesar would have been proud.
It was raining and muddy on the trail so Alpha gave us baths. I’m a wash, shake and go kind of dog but I had to wait for Cooper to get brushed since he’s sporting a longer do.
Time to rest.
Time to play again. Oh come on, Cooper, get up, you’ve slept long enough. Game on.
I’ll just have to go back to trying to get Banyan to play with me.
It’s hard to believe a year has gone by since my first conformation match. I was just a wee one then and don’t remember much except a nice lady named Melisa was my Handler. This year, Alpha decided to give it a go and be my Handler. Usually Alpha and I run, bike, swim, do agility runs, but lately, I’ve been having to practice standing still which is really hard for me.
This morning I jumped into the backseat of the car for another adventure. I didn’t know where we were going but I knew it would be somewhere fun. We went to the vet a few days ago and that was fun too. Even before I got out of the car, I smelled all the other dogs at the match. I got very excited to meet everyone. That’s my favorite thing to do – greet people.
The match started and my first time in the ring wasn’t that fun. It was just me because I was the only Vizsla in the match. The judge tried to look at my teeth and feel my balls. I was fidgety and couldn’t stand still as we practiced at home. I got Best in Breed anyway since I was the only V. Now we had to wait until all the other dogs had their turn in the ring. I had to sit in my crate. I don’t mind sitting in my crate because Alpha brought my duck to keep me company.
OK, it’s time for us to get back in the ring. This time, I am with all the best of breeds in the Sporting Dog Category. Alpha and I are ready and we have our game faces on.
I like it better when other dogs are in the ring with me, that way I can watch what they are doing and follow along. It’s more fun running around the ring with other dogs.
Here is a clip of my performance in the ring:
Alpha was so shocked that I got third place that he started to leave the ring and the stewart had to call him back. We got our picture taken with the winners. Here I am with my third place ribbon.
I don’t know how far I will pursue my show career. But I do know that I enjoy the victory lap and the applause.
We had a visitor over the New Year weekend. His name was Jim. He is Mary’s brother who lives in NY City. They refer to this location as the “big apple.” I like apples!
See how closely I can watch alpha eat the apple, I even get the core if I’m good.
It is a long drive to Volcano National Park but I like driving in the car because I always get to meet new people and new smells.
I usually get to have the whole back seat to myself, but this time I had to share with Jim.
He is a nice human, he gave me lots of loves and feed me when alpha was not looking. The volcano was stinky. Lots of fumes coming out of the ground.
I did get to clear my nose with the smells of some rain forest plants like these:
While we walked down an old road that was closed after a large earthquake. Some of the road fell into the caldera.
I had a great time with Jim at the Volcano, I hope he comes back so we can share the backseat again and those treats while alpha wasn’t looking!
This morning I did my traditional weigh-in and alpha plotted out the results:
I’m finally starting to slow down in my growth rate as an almost 9 month old “V”. I still have lots of energy to burn each day and not an ounce of fat on my body. Alpha seems to do this weight thing to predict how heavy I’ll be when I become an adult.
Today we went on a road trip to Hilo.
The Alpha’s wanted to see the dog show, but I couldn’t go because I was not 6 months old yet. I stayed at a nice persons house. It was fun anyway, because I got to hike Pu’u Hulu Hulu at the top of the saddle road.
I also got to stretch my legs on the way home by Volcano National Park.
We took Bodhi to Puppy Playtime at Petco where he is learning socialization skills. He is still a fabric toy hog and tires out most of the other dogs by the end of the hour. I wanted to take Keith out to dinner at a sit down restaurant instead of ordering take out and eating at an outside table where Bodhi can hang out with us. We put Bodhi in the backseat of the car with his car halter clicked in. He spread out, luxuriating in comfort. I told Keith that I accept full responsibility for any damage he may cause to my car seat. Whatever he does, I accept the consequences. We opened the car windows and the cool evening air breezed through. We had a celebratory dinner. When we returned to the car, Bodhi half opened his eyes to see that we were back and then went back to sleep. I trusted him and he came through. If Bodhi would have eaten my car seat, I was ready to accept the consequences of my decision. Thankfully, we did not have to find out.
Alpha holds this talking toy to his ear, and talks for hours…
I think he is talking to Grandma, but I can’t see her. Anyway, I wish he would stop so he can play with me.
But he doesn’t, so I’m going to chew on the basket, that will make alpha stop!
For the past 8 weeks, we have been attending AKC’s Canine Good Citizen class. The 10 item test consists of:
1. Accepting a friendly stranger
2. Sitting politely for petting
3. Appearance and grooming
4. Out for a walk on a loose lead
5. Walking through a crowd
6. Sit and down and stay in place
7. Coming when called
8. Reaction to another dog
9. Reaction to distraction
10. Supervised separation
The first time around he failed sitting politely for petting and supervised separation. After all the other dogs got a chance at the test, the evaluators allowed dogs who failed two items a “do-over.” After waiting about 2 hours, Bodhi was tired, hot, and thirsty. In a state of low energy, he was able to pass the two items without a problem. Bodhi at 4 months and 3 weeks old passed.
I wondered if a human baby at 2 years old could pass the test. It probably depends on the baby.
I just finished listening to Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything. He points out that in the realm of the universe, the earth is cosmic lint which makes us even less than cosmic lint. That perspective helped me realize that Bodhi and I are only here together for a blink of time. Whatever he does, I don’t have to take it so seriously. Time passes quickly. Take a breath and enjoy.
Thank you grandma and grandpa for my new personalized “Bodhi” collar, matching leash, and aloha flower name tag! I just grew out of my puppy collar and this one fits so well! See how handsome I am!
Every Friday I walk Kailua-Kona town. Sometimes we go by the beach. Sometimes we just walk by the shops. All these strangers come and tell me how beautiful I am. One time a police car stopped by the curb and pack leader became nervous (I can tell). I think pack leader was afraid he was doing something wrong… The nice police officer just wanted to tell me how good looking I was and if I had friends like me on the islands? I said I’m Australian. I like Fridays because we get to walk in town with all the nice people and I also get to watch tai chi class (it is slow and boring, but there are so many people who love to pet me). I also have met a lot of Hungarian people. They always know what breed I am.
Today I practiced pointing. Jack, my favorite neighbor with the delicious treats, teases me with a feather on a fishing pole. He thinks I don’t see the fishing pole, but I do. Don’t tell him, because he gives me yummy treats. Anyway, I follow the feather and focus on pointing. It’s a silly game, and I’d rather play fetch with the ball…
This evening, I met pack leader on Walua Road. He was wearing a strange outfit, riding on two wheels. At first I didn’t recognize him… He got off the two wheels and walked with me and alpha female for a mile. It was fun. Pack leader said he rides 32 miles to and from work as his exercise routine. I like exercise and can’t wait until my bones are strong enough to run next to the two wheels!
