Long walk

I went for a long walk with Rosie, Ruth Ann and that guy this mornig. It was cold and gray, little patches of snow still clinging to the trailside grass. I mostly walked off the trail through the grass. I was pretending it was field work, list last Saturday. I heard the Guy say he and Rosie, who tends to walk in a a very straight line, went just under five miles. That means I walked about eight miles, since I tend to wander back and forth and around and around and around.

And when I got home? I slept most of the day. Whew.

Field Day

Woof! Woof woof and wow wow and wow! What a great day! Reade, Kristen & I went in the car today, and when we stopped THERE WERE RICO AND VINNIE! Outside! On open prarie land. By a lake. No fancy leads or having to be on best no-playing behavior. I couldn’t believe it. Little Winston was there too, he’s just four months old, so it was a four Spinone party!

The big guys had been there before, and we all spent hours -- really, two whole hours -- running and running and running and smelling great smells and getting in the smelly water. Vinnie & Rico went way far out in the lake to get a “bumper” for their Kimber, but Winston & I thought it was more fun staying closer to the shore. I LOVE RICO! He is SO cool. He knows EVERYTHING, and let me follow him everywhere.

Then, things got really exciting when the Jeff, who belongs to Rico and Vinnie, took us to meet BIRDS. These were louder than the ones I’ve caught in my yard, and they were on a leash. Our people were really proud of me and Winston for noticing the birds and wanting to find them. Of course we did - it’s what we do! I heard our people talking about ‘working a field’ and pointing and whistles … all I know is this was FUN!

Then it was time to go back to the cars, and the people noticed that Vinnie had something called a “Tick.” It must be a good thing, because it made the people give Vinnie lots of petting and neck rubs. I hope I get one next time. Woof. I was so tired when we got home that I fell asleep while I was getting my hair dried after my bath. I love Rico.

I must go back to sleep now. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Terry-All Day Two

Different day, different judge, different ring, but same result. I was named "Reserve Winner" and got another couple of ribbons. (Best puppy dog, too.) We were in a back building on a lumpy dirt floor. Not so much fun. But Patches' Jim came to watch me, so that was nice. Later we watched some dogs do the rally.

Terry-All Day One

After a big bath last night, I got up really early (2:48 a.m. to go outside) and then got up early (6 a.m. or so) and took my people and Connor's friend Annette down to the Adams County Fairgrounds south of Brighton, Colo., and got back into the show ring. I did pretty OK -- won a first place ribbon for best puppy 9-12 months (ahem -- only puppy dog, but still the best....) and then against the two other boys, Vinnie and Argyle. Vinnie took first place but I was named "Reserve Winner" and got another ribbon. (Vinnie went on to beat all five of the Spinoni there, and later in the day got to go to the sporting group ring.) Woof woof for Vinnie!

I stood pretty still for the judge this time, although I will admit I leaned a little bit. But shoot, I'm still a puppy more or less. After Vinnie was named winner, we went out and met another little Spinone puppy, Winston I think his name was, and we also got to meet Rico, the older Spinone in Vinnie's house in Castle Rock. We also walked around a bit and I watched some other dogs doing obedience and rally events. I'm going to try to get my friend Patches to do rally some day.

We're going back again to compete tomorrow, same place, Ring 12 in the back building, at 11:30 a.m. Maybe you'll come visit us and watch, like my new human friends Greg and Mariel did today.

Back to the ring

I'll be back in action in the show ring this weekend at the Adams County, Colo., fairgrounds. You can see me try to stand still Saturday morning around 8:30 and again Sunday morning around 11.

Yesterday I caught a bird. I'm not saying how, or even why, but you should have seen Eric chase me around the yard trying to get it out out my mouth. It didn't taste that good, but I was very proud and pranced like a, well, like a show dog, I guess. It was a starling of some sort.

I AM a hunting dog, afterall...