I should know better

The day came.   First show for the puppies, just 6 months old on the day.

We set off in the car, puppies on my knee, and all went well till we hit a diversion, off up hills and round winding twisty roads.  Belle, OK till then, gave me a look of hopelessness and threw up all over her indignant brother.    Cue towels.

Well, we had a long wait before Cupcake had his chance - a very slow judge beside whom glaciers looked speedy.   (Lots of time to dry him out).    But when I got him in, he behaved excellently, and was 3rd to two adult dogs...obviously a puppy would not be put first.

More waiting.   I had joked about how long the hall had been booked for, but it wasn`t so funny when we were actually evicted from it to another cold one - because they had to get the first one  ready for -  a wedding reception.   Really?   Would the wedding guests realise by many not so subtle signs that the hall had previously been occupied all day by dogs doing.....well, what dogs do?  How much cleaning would it get?

Belle, very serious

Not my problem.   We moved,  and I still waited for Belle`s turn.   She competed with twenty-odd other puppies, and I was very doubtful, but when we got in there she rose to the occasion and showed herself off beautifully.  I was surprised and pleased.   Belle is a very self-composed little lady, and quite different from Cupcake, and probably has a sense of duty.

Mind you, ham helps!

We seem to be settling in for a quiet wet winter.  Lots of wet dogs, and the little stove kept hot and humming.

The puppies grow on, and have been admired at another Puppy Parade at a Championship show last weekend.   Their behaviour at the show was exemplary.  They made lots of friends, and showed off, and clearly enjoyed themselves.  Their half sister, Angel, showed off even more, and won again.

Angel at a recent show (photo by Raper)

Their behaviour on the way, was something else.

Knowing their...little weakness, I had visited the vet for travel sickness pills.    Alas, he had only 2 left.   So little Gracie was left with her mother.   The other 2 were packed, and off we set.

Not far down the road the barking began.   The puppies were in separate boxes, to minimise mess, and one of them didn`t like it.   Probably Cupcake.   On and on it went.   A horrible squeaky puppy bark.  Just what you want to hear in the wee small hours on the motorway.   When we stopped, it stopped, so I wasn`t quite sure if it was Cupcake or Belle.   We just had to wait till exhaustion set in....and appreciate the silence.

And how did they arrive?

Well, the pills worked.   They were not sick.   Just rather damp.   But to make up for the lack of their usual performance, they had both indulged in a Brad Pitt in their travel boxes.   And then sat in it.

Alas, there is no pill for that.