Entertaining With Dogs

Today is the local Independence Day celebration here in our tiny village.  As long as we've lived here, it's always occurred on the day before the Fourth.  The general consensus seems to be that most people in our little village go to one of the big cities nearby to enjoy the big Sky Concerts that happen there.  It's quite alright with me, really.  It means that we get to enjoy fireworks twice. 

Our small town puts on a really impressive show for the number of people who live in the village.  Coming to see the fireworks here is like an old-fashioned experience.  There's a Cruise In, with antique cars and trucks lined up on the street in front of our house.  Last year it took up more of the street than they'd planned for.  If it gets any bigger, I'm not sure what they'll do.  After all the festivities that go along with that, after it gets dark the fireworks start and last for about thirty or forty minutes.  Old Jumbo, the local town "mountain" left over from long ago mining days, serves as the backdrop for the show.  Two blocks down the street is a small park where we go to sit and watch.

Since we have all this great entertainment, this usually means that we have a rather large cook out here that day.  Actually, it's gotten to the point where people are just inviting themselves over and we are entertaining them whether we like it or not.  Every year, we struggle about what to do with the dogs.  Mr. Taleteller has a rather large family.  He's the oldest of nine and his youngest sister is still in middle school.  We also have a younger neice and two nephews. That's a lot of kids in and out of the house.  The girls love company and always enjoy the attention, but I always worry about them leaving the door open. 

Sometimes, I just bring the girls out and keep them outside with us.  This works until they get tired, but when they do, it becomes less fun.  We're usually able to work out a happy medium, though.  Lilac doesn't want a part of being outside in the heat and she'll snooze away in the house.  Bunny wants to be out where the action is, as long as she doesn't have to just stand in one place for a while.  Blueberry usually enjoys seeing everyone, too.

This year, we've also added Morgan to the mix.  She's a good girl, but not completely comfortable with strangers.  I know that everyone wants to see her and meet her, and yet I also know that she's going to need some space from them, too.  I've considered putting her in the turn out pen for a while so she can observe the festivities without being mobbed.  I'd like to find a better solution for her, though. 

Then, there's the fact that I have to keep biting my tongue as person after person asks me which Greyhound is which.  They certainly don't look alike!  I don't have to keep asking them which kid is which.  I don't really think I'm expecting that much.  I also admit that the enthusiasm over my husband's new dog is something that hasn't quite been equalled for the girls.  Everyone adores them, fusses over them, and comments on how well-behaved they are, but they don't seem to be able to tell them apart.  I have promised myself that by the time we have the party next year, the girls will all have patriotic collars with their names on them, like the other name collars that they sport.  I know it's a small thing and for the most part, I ignore it. 

The girls generally love that we have company over and are thrilled to see them.  They are well-behaved and mind their manners.  As the party winds down, we plan to get them all settled into the basement.  The fireworks can still be heard down there, but it's not nearly as bad and it's very insulated.  Lilac always goes down there on her own if we haven't taken them down there in the beginning anyway.  We turn on the television for them and provide their creature comforts.  This year, we'll definitely be setting things up down there, since we don't know how Morgan will react to things.  It will make things easier for the herd of people coming in and out to use the bathroom when the fireworks are over, too.

What are some of your favorite tips for entertaining with pets in your house?  Do you let your dogs mingle with company?  Do they dress up if they do attend?

Speaking of parties, be sure to join the blog hop!  It's a great way to find some new blogs that are a lot of fun.  We're glad that it's hosted every weekend!