Mom might be loosing it...

This morning mom went to work without showering. I thought she was a little stinky, but I didn't want to say anything and hurt her feelings. When she gave me my treats, she told me "I'll see you in an hour, Evie." An hour? So not only is mom boycotting bathing, she doesn't even know how long she works? I was starting to get worried about mom's mental health, but why worry when there is rawhide to chew...

Well imagine my surprise, when 40 minutes later a giant zebra appears in front of my house and mom spills out its side! I was thrilled to see my mom and relieved that she survived being eaten by a zebra. I gave mom lots of helicopter tail, bows, and even a big kiss.

So any advice about what to do about a mentally unstable mom who gets eaten by herbivores?

Thanks,
Evie Petunia

[Disclaimer from Rachel: I didn't shower because I was just dropping my car off at the dealership for some work. I always shower before work. And yes, I work 10 hour days, not 1 hour days. And I took the dealership shuttle, which is painted with zebra stripes, home so I didn't have to wait around while they work on my car.]

Blessing of the Pets

Yesterday mom took me to synagogue for the 3rd Annual Blessing of the Pets. She told me that the rabbi had invited all the pets in the congregation to come for a celebration of our non-human family members. I’d never met a rabbi before, but I REALLY like rabbits, and there is only one letter difference between rabbi and rabbit, so I figured rabbis must be pretty cool. Well let me be the first to tell you that rabbis are NOTHING like rabbits! I mean, the rabbi was really nice and gave good pets, but he is not the least bit fuzzy. And I bet he doesn’t even squeak if you bite him. I was thinking about testing this theory when two girls arrived with 3 chickens and a duck! Boy did they look tasty! Mom told me that I am only allowed to eat chickens when they are properly cooked, and made me stand as far away from them as possible for the group picture. Party pooper!

It was still fun, even if I didn't get to eat a chicken. I met other Chewish dogs, got complimented on my coat, got lots of pets, got blessed, and mom told me three reasons why she loves me. It must have been hard to choose only three! The rabbi even told everyone about my racing carreer.

Gifts from Above

Dear Fairy Dogmother,

Thank you very much for the partially chewed rawhide chip you left for me to find on my walk. I was only 20 feet from my front yard when I discovered this special gift on the sidewalk. I snatched it up and pranced to the park across the street with it in my mouth. I lay down in the grass and fallen leaves to chew.

Unfortunately my mama had other ideas. Something about getting exercise on my walk and not sitting around chewing in 35 degree weather. Mothers!

Mom took away my rawhide and we kept walking, but miraculously it reappeared on the side walk right before we got back to the house. Not once, but twice you made my dreams come true, Fairy Dogmother!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise to continue to be a good Petunia, so you can keep the treats coming!

Love and squirrels,
Evie Petunia

My First Dog Show

My first dog show
By Evie Petunia

On Sunday, my mom and Aunt Susie took me to Denver to go to the Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Show. When we got to Denver, we knew we were in the right place because Kay, Jasper, and Yoda were in one car, and Matt, Naomi, Apollo, and Artemis were in another car ahead of us.

After dropping my bed at the CGA booth, we went to watch the greyhounds show. The hounds were very nice, and we sniffed each other a bit. Their humans all had cookies in their pockets, and one nice guy gave me some. I know show greyhounds are a little different from us racing greyhounds, but all I could tell is that none of them have beautiful Mohawks like me, and they had to run around the mini-oval really, really, really slowly so their humans could keep up.

After watching the greyhounds show, we did some shopping. I stood patiently while mom and Aunt Susie put different martingales around my neck. Then Angie and Matt showed up… and tried even more martingales on me. Mom went and gave the nice woman money and put the martingale in her purse! Doesn’t she know pretty martingales belong around my neck?

We went with Angie and Matt to agility. I thought we were just watching, but I had to leap over the scary metal parts of the sidewalk and trot down a HUGE flight of stairs just to get there. Between the stairs and watching other dogs run and jump, I was pretty tired and lay down and took a nap. While I was snoozing, a family came by to admire me and talk greyhounds, since they adopted their boy, Griffon, from CGA. The woman said, “This is Evie Petunia! Wait until I tell Griffon I got to meet THE Evie Petunia!” I opened my eye a slit and gave her a tail wag.

After my nap we headed over to the CGA booth for my volunteer shift. For the first hour, I showed off all my tricks (down, look, touch, bow, and the heavily praised sit) and got some cookies for my trouble. I met a nice couple who just bought a house and want to adopt a greyhound of their own after they repair the fence in their yard. I got lots of pets and wagged my tail some more. They said they’d heard greyhounds are “couch potatoes,” but do greyhounds have to get on the couch? Mom said no, that she doesn’t let me on the couch or bed, and look at me. I gave them my saddest greyhound look, but they just laughed at me. They’ll make good greyhound parents, even if their hound won’t be allowed on the couch. I went with mom to get more water for our bowls, and we met a little girl who gave me nice pets. She wanted to do tricks with me, so I did touch with her. It is easier to jump for a short person’s hand. For the rest of my volunteer shift, I lay around with Rueben, and let the humans come to me.

Afterwards, we met up with Aunt Susie and grabbed some dinner. Mom had brisket and Aunt Susie had a cheeseburger, but I just got some doggy treats. Bummer. We did some more shopping, and I got to pick out my own elk antler chew! I picked out the best one in the basket and lay down and started chewing right away.

Next, we went to the big arena to watch best of group and best of show. While mom hand-fed me kibble, I rooted for the greyhound (breed loyalty) and the pharaoh hound (‘cuz he gave me a kiss before he went into the ring). The rhodesian won best of the hound group, but that was cool since he has a mohawk like me. After the hound group, I was getting a bit tired, restless, and cranky. I’d been gone from home for a long time, and having my bed in the stands isn’t the same as having it at home. Mom got up and walked away, leaving me with Aunt Susie. I cried and cried! How dare she go home and leave me at the dog show! Everyone in the stands and in the ring turned and looked at me; some of them laughed. When mom got back I wagged my tail and gave her snuggles. She said, “Silly Petunia, I just went to the potty.”

Finally the little brussels griffon who had barked at me earlier in the evening won best in show. Mom packed us up, I potty’d on the way to the car, drank some more water, and settled in. I had already curled up in my bed by the time mom got the car in gear. I slept the whole ride home. At home, I ate some dinner, went out to potty, changed into my bathrobe, and got in bed. Mom tucked me in and I slept until 11 am the next morning. Going to my first dog show was very tiring!

I didn’t win any ribbons, but going to the dog show was fun. I got lots of pets, treats, and was told how beautiful I am. Even when I wasn’t at the CGA Booth, people were stopping to pet me and talk to mom about greyhounds. I hope I can volunteer at the dog show again next year! Thanks for organizing, Kay.