Gone To The Dog Show

Bunny here at the keyboard writing about our lazy Sunday.

We didn't really get out much this weekend since we were making sure Mom was getting over her bronchitis and it was bitter cold.  We went out to the lake for a quick walk and I was shivering in no time.  As far as I'm concerned, Spring can get here anytime.

Sunday afternoon, we found a way to amuse ourselves that everyone could be involved in.  Best of all, it was inside and we could enjoy our beds and couch.  We all gathered round to watch the Eukanuba National Championship. 

Of course, our main interests were the Hound group and the Working Dog group.  We were cheering for Chanel, the Whippet, to win. We also thought Sara the Greyhound was pretty.  Morgan sniffed in disdain at the German Shepherd, but we were also watching the Australian Shepherd, Reckon, closely. 

We were impressed to see dogs win awards for Search and Rescue, Police and Therapy work, too.  I was quite impressed by the fancy collars those dogs were wearing when they got those awards.  It was good to see that they thought those kinds of jobs were important.

In the end, Reckon won.  He reminds us a bit of our cousins, Ruby and Nipper.  Mom said those show dogs are lucky they don't have to compete with me.  I don't know if I'd like the life of a show dog.  It seems like an awful lot of just standing around, and then the judge doesn't even want to pet you.  I'll just look good from the couch!

Greyhounds Pas De Deux

In case you've been getting tired of stories of us going on walks, I decided to tell a story from long ago that has to do with Treat and Hawk back when Lilac was still a foster dog. 

In December of 2003 a request went out to the greyhound adoption groups in our area from the Peoria Ballet.  They were looking for male greyhounds to audition to be in the hunt scene of their production of Giselle.  Specifically, they were looking for large males who looked like they'd just come off the racetrack.  That would mean that their muscles were still pretty well-defined.  In other words, they wanted hounds that were ripped.  However, there weren't a whole lot of hounds in our area at the time who were fresh off the track.  They looked at Hawk and decided that they definitely wanted him in the production. 

After some other hounds had to back out for various reasons, they also decided to let Treat be in the production, which made me pretty happy.  She was Hawk's rock and pretty much anywhere she would go, he would follow.  Twelve greyhounds were decided on to be in the production and she was the only female.  It's true, there was no one the little diva couldn't win over.  I should also mention that Mr. Taleteller was chosen as one of the two handlers to walk out on stage with the hounds during the production.

In return for allowing our hounds to be in the ballet, our adoption group was given the opportunity to hold a meet and greet in the theatre lobby.  The only catch was that we had to dress in period costume, so I also had to get a costume to wear.  I found one, thanks to ebay, and we began to start attending rehearsals with the hounds.

Mr. Taleteller and another person each had to lead six greyhounds out on the stage.  This was no easy feat.  Some of the hounds weren't used to walking with others, only two, Treat and Hawk, knew the person they were walking with, and there were all sorts of things going on both onstage and off.  The hounds had to have collars that looked like they were from that period which was a bit difficult, too.  Finally, though, we had everything we needed.   Our dressing room was originally on the third floor, but after two nights of dragging panting dogs out on stage, they gave us the delivery dock as a dressing room, which was just outside the backstage door. 

Rehearsals went pretty well and soon the night of the performance arrived. As we waited, Roberta Flack came by.  As it turned out, she was in town to perform at another event and someone was driving her around town to entertain her before it was time for her to be there.  She had owned Italian Greyhounds and when she saw the hounds, she had the driver stop and got out to see the dogs.  Who knew greyhounds were such celebrities?  She even posed for pictures with the hounds.

Finally, it was time for the show.  I stood with Mr. Taleteller keeping the dogs all lined up until it was time for them to move out onto the stage.  At the last minute, Hawk pulled what we always referred to as his jackass routine where he'd back up and rear like a stallion.  Without missing a beat, I grabbed his leash and hissed at my husband to just go.  Hawk twined around my legs and wagged his tail as he watched the others glide out onto the stage.  Treat pranced across the stage as if she were the prima ballerina.  The ooos and aaahs of the crowd told us backstage that the dogs had completely stolen the show.

During the intermission, we were mobbed.  People couldn't get enough of the greyhounds.  Treat, especially, ate the attention up.  It was really an amazing night.  There were a lot of people who wanted to know how they could get one of their own, and we were happy to tell them.  An article about the performance was done in the fall issue of Celebrating Greyhounds in 2004.  When the ballet toured that summer, they asked several other greyhound groups to participate as well, since we couldn't take off work and drive the dogs around the country to the different performances, however, our group was the first.  Being in the ballet was definitely one of the most interesting things that we have done with the greyhounds.  You never know where your dogs will take you!

A Very Special Treat

A while back, I mentioned that an essay I had written was chosen to be in Celebrating Greyhounds.  They were looking for stories about how your greyhounds inspire you.  After I heard the stories some people had to tell, I really wasn't sure I'd have a chance of being selected, but I was.  Since today would have been Treat's thirteenth birthday, I thought I'd share the article today.

My life seems to be divided into two distinct categories that are separated by December 30, 2000. That was the day we went to the adoption kennel and came home with a little brindle greyhound princess named Treat. Her name seemed too perfect to change and it suited her. So, there was our life before Treat and our life after Treat. I had no idea on that day how she would make such an impact on my life.


Through Treat, we experienced many things that we never would have otherwise. While I tend to be a shy person, Treat was extremely outgoing. People everywhere were charmed by her, which gave me an opportunity to meet a lot of people I wouldn’t have otherwise. Being on the other end of Treat’s leash suddenly inspired me to be more outgoing with people that we met in everyday life.

We began to do meet and greets with our local greyhound group and I found that being a volunteer was something that I could actually do. Treat ate up the attention and I found that I really enjoyed talking to people about how wonderful she was. Then we took volunteering to a new level. Treat inspired me to do something that I’d secretly thought about for some time, but hadn’t quite had the courage for. We began to visit nursing homes together. Treat and I became a certified therapy dog team and later a READ team, as well. Visiting the nursing home was something we enjoyed a great deal, even though there were some nights when I came home and thought I was too tired to go. She would give me that look and I’d go change my clothes, pick out a fancy collar for her to wear and we’d go to visit.

I also began to diet while we had Treat. I wanted to be a person who looked like her dog a bit, I suppose. It wasn’t enough to just eat right, however. I had to exercise, as well. Treat never let me get away with skipping a walk. She let me know that I had to get up off the couch and go out into the world. She would have walked off the ends of the Earth if I’d have gone with her. Every day, she inspired me to get up off the couch and make myself move. We were both much better off for it.

Treat also helped me to return to something else that I dearly love. Throughout school, I dreamed of being a writer. However, my dad convinced me that I couldn’t make a living as a writer and I pursued a different path. After we adopted Treat, I joined a message board. Soon, I was sharing stories of her exploits along with pictures of her antics. Through Treat, I found my voice as a writer, although I didn’t realize it for several years. Her inspiration lives on now as I dabble with fiction, poetry and keeping a blog of the funny things that happen in our everyday lives. If I hadn’t gotten inspiration for anything else from her, finding the outlet of writing again would have been worth every penny we paid for her adoption fee.

About a year and a half ago, Treat had to leave us after a brief battle with a spinal tumor. However, she left me with one final inspiration. After she was gone, I found myself adopting another greyhound, because I wanted to continue on the journeys that she’d started me on. Even though she wasn’t the only greyhound here in our house, she and I had a very special bond and closeness. It was as if we were each an extension of the other. Two of our hounds were seniors and couldn’t do nursing home visits or some of the other active things that Treat and I did. Our younger hound is really my husband’s dog and partner. That left me with only one option, which was trying again. Her inspiration lives on now in the form of Bunny, a very young greyhound who inspires me to try even more things and to continue on the journey that I began with a beautiful brindle greyhound almost nine years ago.

I will always be forever grateful for the inspiration and encouragement that Treat gave to me. My life has been enriched in more ways than I can even describe or recount. I have met wonderful people, traveled to places I never expected to, tried things I didn’t think I could do and have discovered more about myself through her inspiration. I have truly been blessed to have known her.

Swedish Chocolate

I have a good friend who happens to live in Sweden.  On occasion, we send each other boxes in the mail.  When I get a package from him, it's an unusual event as the stuff in the box is for me and not the greyhounds.  The girls sniffed his latest box when I opened it and then became disinterested since it didn't contain any of the stuff they've gotten accustomed to inside.  (Is it unusual for the post master down at the post office to know my dog's names, but not mine?)  Anyhow, usually I send him comic books that he can't get over in Sweden and he sends me candy and music that I can't get here in the cornfield.  It's always a fun exchange, since we never know exactly what will be inside until it arrives.  I usually put the candy away and just eat a little bit of it at a time since I am trying to lose a little weight and because Mr. Taleteller has a particular weakness for chocolate.  (One of the few rare arguments that we have ever had was over a box of chocolate covered caramels that I recieved as a gift which he devoured without even saving me one.  We've both learned a lot since then.) 

Last night, I thought I'd try this one particular bar of chocolate that had been sent.  I forgot one very important thing.  Our girls, particularly Bunny, are mad for yogurt.  This chocolate bar has yogurt and raspberry inside.  No sooner did I peel open the wrapper than Bunny and Blueberry appeared in the bedroom like some sort of tempest.  I couldn't give them any, I mean, we all know chocolate is dangerous for dogs.  I ate a few bites and put it back in the drawer.  Blueberry stalked off to the living room in disgust.  Bunny didn't give in so easily.  For the first time that I can remember, when I climbed into bed, Bunny was curled up on my side.  This is unusual.  She normally sleeps against my husband under the quilt he piles on to the bed.  She was willing to sleep on my side of the bed for the possibility of getting a bite of that chocolate.

A few minutes later, Mr. Taleteller came to bed.  He noticed Bunny gazing adoringly at me on my side of the bed.  He commented on how unusual it was.  He even held up the side of the quilt and offered her a spot.  She was not budging.  I began to laugh.

Me:  I think I know why she wants to stay over here.

Mr. Taleteller:  Oh?  Why is that?

Me:  I had a bite of chocolate.  She's hoping for a taste.

Mr. Taleteller:  You had chocolate?  (He turns his own puppy dog eyes on me.)

Me:  Well, yes...  It has yogurt and raspberry in it.

Mr. Taleteller and Bunny:  I love you!

Me:  You want a taste?

Mr. Taleteller and Bunny:  YES!

So, I climb out of bed and get the chocolate bar out and break off a few more pieces.  Mr. Taleteller sniffs at it and arches his eyebrow.  He tentatively nibbles off a little corner.  He chews it and then grins like a kid in a candy store.  Bunny turns her doe eye on first him and then me as she sees him eat the whole thing.  She lets out a sigh of disgust as she realizes that each of us ate some more and she still didn't get any.

After the reaction everyone has had to it, I think I better find a good hiding spot for it.  I've noticed that they've taken to stalking me lately.  I wonder why that is.  I never thought I'd be nearly knocked down by my dogs and husband over a piece of chocolate.

Psssst!  A note here from Bunny -- send more chocolate and yogurt!  I almost got her to give me a taste!  I was this close! 

A Small Brag

A few months ago, there was a post on Greytalk, a greyhound message board that I frequent, by the editor of Celebrating Greyhounds.  They were asking for essays about how your greyhound has inspired you.  I thought I'd give it a shot and see what happened.  I worked on what I wanted to say for a little while and sent it off.  Honestly, I heard some of the other stories that people had to tell and I figured I didn't have a shot at getting accepted.  One man told about how his greyhound had inspired him to beat cancer.  I didn't have anything nearly that earthshaking.  I put it in the back of my mind and went on with life.

Imagine my shock and surprise when I got an e-mail back saying that my article had been chosen.  I couldn't believe it.  I was asked to write a short biography and find a good photo of Treat, who was the dog I wrote the essay about.  Finding a good picture of her was nearly my undoing.  They needed a picture of her that was at least 300dpi.  The digital camera that we had most of the time while we had Treat did not take photos that were of very high quality.  I was frantic to find a good photo.  In desperation, I e-mailed Mark Caughel, who took some wonderful photos of her while we were at Dewey Beach on vacation a few years ago and asked for permission to use a photo he'd taken.  He sent me the digital file and graciously gave permission for his photo to be used. 

When we went to the post office today, my issue of the magazine was finally here.  I opened it, and there Treat was, looking amazing.  I'll admit, I missed her again for a few moments.  It is a cool feeling to see my words about her in print and know that other people will read them.  The whole process gave me time to reflect on how I've grown as a person since we brought Treat home.  For people who are curious, I did not get paid for the article.  Celebrating Greyhounds is run to raise money to help more greyhounds get adopted, so profits made go towards that end.  That is fine with me, it's just another small legacy she leaves behind.  I'm just happy that a journey we began almost exactly ten years ago has come to this point.  Her gift keeps on giving.  It's yet another gift left for me by her in this wonderful holiday season.