A Day In The Life Of A Show Dog

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

My name is Ty and I'm a show dog, my Grandma sometimes calls me Ch. Ti-Son's Crimson Tide when we're at the shows. This weekend Grandma took me and five of my other bulldog family members to a show; I've been on what Grandma calls a vacation since getting my champion title although, I'm not sure why she called it that since she still made me work every day here at home, SHE says it's because she doesn't want me to lose my muscle and I say it's cause Granny needs another hobby! ::humph::

Anyway, Thursday night Grandma tells me I'm getting a bath ( can you tell I'm overjoyed? ) and say's I'm going back in the ring, now THIS I was happy about! I really like the ring, I love to hear the people talk about me and hear them clap for me when I'm going around the ring! Oh yeah, back to the bath......Granny scrubs me clean, the whole time just a cussing cause I like to roll in the dirt, like I'M the only bully in the whole world that does this?!? She digs in my ears for what seems like hours, not that I mind actually.....it kind of feels good. Then she starts cutting off all my whiskers, oh how I hate this part, you see I have to hold perfectly still and listen not only to the buzzing of the clippers but the buzzing of Grandma cause she's not done cussing about the dirt yet.

By the time Granny gets me all clean, clipped, shined and polished all I want is to go to bed but no, Grandma wants to take me down and back a few times to see what if anything she's missed! FINALLY I get to go to bed; of course by now it's midnight and man, I am pooped!

I awake to the sound of the coffee pot starting and look around, it's still dark, I know Granny must have set the maker to go off at the wrong time cause she's NOT a morning person! I roll over, wipe the drool from my chin with my paw and go back to snoring. The next thing I hear is Grandma saying in her sweetest voice, "come on big man, it's time to go potty and head for the show." I open one eye, it's still dark, is this woman insane? She's finally gone off the deep end, how am I going to explain this to Grandpa? She tells me she's serious, tells me again to get up but this time with much more authority. I roll over and try to tell her it's still dark, she opens my crate door and pushes me out into the cold night, I think to myself I might as well play along and potty then maybe, just maybe she'll come to her senses and let me go back to bed.

I hear the sound of the big blue van starting up out front; I only hear that when we're going to a show and instantly I know we must be in for a LONG trip. I'm going to the show! After all this time away from the ring, I am GOING to the show! Granny opens the door and I run as fast as I can from the back of the house to the front door, I can hear the van running and Grandpa is busy dragging MY tack box out the door! I follow Grandpa out and jump into the big blue van! I can see the other bullies already in their crates, there sits my cousin Diesel, my younger brother Mickey AND my younger sisters Gracie and Tillie, what a great day! We're ALL going to the show!

It was a long ride; I heard Grandma and Grandpa say they made good time to West Virginia. Is that where I am? It smells funny, well, not funny but different! I can hear people talking outside the van, they sound different too! Wherever I am it doesn't smell or sound like Indiana. Grandma opens the van doors and lets us all out to potty again, I look around and yep! This IS the show, I can see other dogs of all shapes and sizes! Hey, there went a fluffy tail, oh how I love fluffy tails! One of these days when Granny isn't looking I'm going to get the chance to play with one of those! Hey, there went a walking wiener, Grandma gives me those at home, she calls them hotdogs but the ones at the show actually walk and I always cock my head and watch as they go by. This dog show stuff can be REALLY confusing!

Out of the corner of my eye I see someone I know, it's Charm, she's the younger sister of my true love Flirt. I've got to go talk to her and see how my girlfriend Flirt is doing, my Grandma say's we make such a cute couple and that soon there will be little Ty and Flirts running around. I only get to visit with Charm for a minute then Granny tells me it's time to show! She asks if I'm ready, when is she going to learn that I'm ALWAYS ready?

We walk through the people and then suddenly, through all the people legs I can see the ring! Grandpa grabs my lead and we're headed into the ring, oh how I love this part just wait! Grandpa and I take our spot towards the head of the line, I see another champion next to me, Grandpa tells me it's Leo, I thought I knew that butt from someplace. Anyway, I can see a few others including what Grandma and Grandpa call Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. Ah, there’s the judge. He looks like an ok guy, here he comes, he's going open my mouth just know it. Yep, he did it, why do these people called judges have to open my mouth? Granny already brushed my teeth and I didn't put anything in my mouth, I'm a big boy now and I don't do that anymore!

There he goes putting his hands all over my head, now he's pushing on my shoulders and running his hands down my sides, I kind of like that part. Now he's pushing on my hips and feeling my back legs, he's going up higher.....HEY now! We don't know each other that well! WHY does Grandpa let him do that? Good grief!

Ok, I'm walking now, going to shake off that little moment and move on. I can hear Grandpa telling me how handsome I am and to watch, we're walking back towards the judge. Sure hope he doesn't plan on touching me again, at least not like that, I'm NOT that kind of boy! He's making funny noises, I stop and look at him and he smiles and then Grandpa takes me back in line. I watch as the others, Leo and even Winners Dog and Winners Bitch go through the same thing. Then we're all lined up again, the judge walks around us one by one, I know he's thinking about who he's going to pick and Grandpa is holding his breath. The judge tells us to walk and we all start going around the ring, I watch the judge out of the corner of my eye and then I see him point to my Grandpa and say Best Of Breed! My Grandpa reaches down and hugs me as everyone outside the ring starts clapping! I did it! I made my Grandpa happy! Grandpa gets my ribbon and I can see Granny standing by the entrance to the ring, she's smiling at me and I run over to her, she gives me a great big hug and kisses me right on the top of my head!

I'm headed back to the big blue van again, Grandma and Grandpa are talking to lots of people now and everyone is saying what a nice boy I am. I love this part cause I get to meet all sorts of people and they all give me lots of pats and scratches behind my ears. Grandma tells me I get to nap for a little while and gives me my favorite toy piggy to play with and I fall asleep with my piggy still in my mouth. Later on Grandpa wakes me up, takes me to potty and asks me if I'm ready to go show again, of course I'm ready Grandpa, I was BORN ready! We're off to the ring again and this time there’s lots of other dogs but they don't look like me, Grandma and Grandpa call it group but I'm not sure what that means.

The other dogs and I all take turns getting looked at by the judge, this time it's a different man and he seems to be thinking a lot. I can see he's pretty serious about this thing they call group and before I know it he's looking in my mouth and telling Grandpa hello. AGAIN with the mouth thing, what is with these humans? We're going around in a big circle now and everyone outside the ring is clapping and yelling, I love when they do that! I puff my chest out even further, hold my head up and watch the judge. Grandpa is holding his breath again, here we go and then, the judge points to us and Grandpa hugs me again! Grandpa says we placed a Group 4, I don't know what that means but we got another ribbon. ::shrug::

Before I know it we're in the blue van and headed home, Grandpa and Grandma seem very happy and I see lots of ribbons on my cousin Diesel's crate and my younger brother and sister's crates. I guess we're done now and I'm thinking about my house, my yard and ::yawn:: taking a nap. See you next show!

Ty aka Ch. Ti-Son's Crimson Tide - a member of the Crossfire bully crew

[DarknessDivine]

LMAO! Awwwwwwwww I could picture the whole thing... You're such a wonderful writer!

[Rip's Girl]

Awwww, I could also picture the whole thing.

(BTW Ty writes better than I do. )

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Ty and I thank you both!

[sthrnbelle]

That is such a sweet story.

You write very well, have you ever thought about trying to get published?

[Carrie]

That's great! What a picture of a dog's life.

[RedHotDobe]

Awww! Tell Ty he is a very talented writer.
Sounds like he is quite the pampered pooch (with down right good looks).

[oc_spirit]

Loved the story Sonja! It felt like I was right there following Ty around!

Cheers!

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by sthrnbelle

That is such a sweet story.

You write very well, have you ever thought about trying to get published?

Thank you all....couldn't do it without my Ty! Redhot ~ I have to admit he is pretty spoiled. Hehehe Thanks for the compliment on my big guy.

Never have actually thought about trying to get anything published, I've always thought I'd leave that to the more experienced and just enjoy reading their stuff. Thank you though, I take that as a HUGE compliment and now I'm blushing up a storm.

[sthrnbelle]

Well, I'm no professional...but I know what I like.

Thanks for sharing.

[tommyjake]

Sonja - that story is fab. I too really felt as if I was there with Ty. Great writing! : )

[Lil'Paws]

I enjoyed the story. thanks for sharing..

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Thanks all I couldn't do it without my big guy Ty.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Thought I'd bring this one back out of the closet, I really enjoyed writing it and thought you might like it. I'll never forget my handsome boy....rest in peace Ty.

[TribalRats]

Aww sonja I had missed this.What a great story.