A good New Year’s resolution is to spend more time with our furry friends.  It’s often easy to get caught up with things to be done while our pets sit and wait patiently for us to play with them, go for a walk, etc.   They don’t understand why we need to go to work, run errands and clean.  They just know that they want to be with us.  I am so sad when I read about pets that are brought to shelters because their owners have no time for them.   They need to know that they are loved and wanted.  Give your pet a hug this first day of the new year and go spend some time playing with him/her!  The football games and parties can wait…..

Dog handlers can usually expect the unexpected where weather is concerned at an outdoor dog show.  There can be cold weather, high winds that threaten to blow down the tents, muddy show rings, and torrential downpours.  A pair of brightly colored rain boots is not an unusual sight.  On this day it was sunny and warm and then all of a sudden, whamo …. the sky darkened and the rain came.  Afterward, the field was muddy and despite the return of sunshine, boots became the footwear of choice!  I’ve yet to see any dogs wearing boots at a show, but I guess it could happen!  Can you name the breed of dog in this photo?  I’ll post the answer tomorrow!

Slobbery doggy kisses are the best!  No mistletoe required!

This 2 year old Komondor was beautiful in the ring!  What do you think his/her handler is saying in this image?  I think she’s telling the dog how proud she is and how much she loves him/her.  The Komondor is a member of the Working Group and was bred to guard herds of sheep and cattle.  Their corded coat serves to cover vulnerable body parts in case of attack, helps them blend in with their flock and protects them from weather extremes.