Afghan Racing

Not much of Crufts got us animated this year (must be getting blase), but one bit that made us sit up, whistle, jump off the settee and crowd the screen, was some footage of a bit of just-for-fun racing of Afghan Hounds. Fully shampoo'd and groomed out they were all flowing hair and waves of colour as they ran towards the camera, played back in slo-mo.

They looked to be loving it, and the ones whose turn it was just to watch were up on their hind legs at the spectator fence yipping with excitement as first the "hare" and then the dogs shot by. You knew they were having a whale, when the "out-takes" at the end had the dogs leppin' off the track, over the barriers, or turning round in mid race to run the other way

Can we do some of that, Dad?

We were reminded of that when Dad was commenting on how Janie, they brindled greyhound in Dad's 2CV club pub meet last night spent all night flaked out on her side. Not that long ago she was a restless thing , never relaxing, always moving from person to person asking for a fuss, or crisps and peanuts (never getting any - Pete and Josie are very strict about that, but it didn't stop her hoping). Now she's that much more grown up, she's quite the mature, sober-minded lady. No trouble in a pub

Deefer

Moulin de what?

Ah well - another Crufts with no big prize for westies. Best Westie was, if memory serves, a French dog called "Touch of Class du Moulin de MacGregor" which by our translation means "of MacGregor's windmill". No... I have no idea either, but then who are we to speak when Haggis is actually "Zellick Joshua" by "Zandawn Renewable at Jusbar" out of "Pick'n Mix", and the Megster is "Romjil Star of Wondor" (sic) by "Jusbar Bosun Pickle" out of "Romjil Alexandria".

Anyway, the venerable Touch of Class was not shortlisted in the Terrier Group, so progressed no further, but well done him for getting that far - no mean achievement, obviously, and to all the other Westies who even got there. You have to be pretty good to even be allowed in, so "not winning" is nothing to be ashamed of.

Deefer

Pay Attention, Rat!

Pat attention, Rat! That's how she speaks to me, that Mum of mine. There we were, unusually, the entire family all chilling out on the sofa - Mississippi on Mum's lap, Felix on Dad's, Meg and H on the sofa seat and me, as usual, lying along the back of the sofa. Crufts was on TV and the Obendience chamionships were about to start. Mum obviously thinks I need some ...um... coaching... in this area

Ah well. Now it's all over and Mum's favourite, the Tibetan, "Fabulous Willy" has won Best in Show. Dad is thinking the tabloids are gonna make hay with that name on tomorrow's front pages. A wire-haired fox terrier got Reserve BiS. The weekend is over

Pay Attention
Rat... :-((

Westies on TV (ignored)

Well, there was, briefly, a Westie on crufts tonight, shortlisted on the terrier group, but I must admit, I was too busy beating up Haggis, that we both missed it. I perked up a bit and paid attention while the fly-ball was on (here's me looking at the collies leppin' back and forth - I bet I'd be good at that!) But it was a tiring old day, so here's a shot of me asleep with Meggie. By the way, I have now lost my penultimate puppy-tooth. I have one upper (lft) canine to go - looks very odd with both, as the adult tooth has now emerged fully, so I have 2 "fangs" that side.

Love, Deefer

A muddy walk, then Crufts

The weekend again, and we get a nice extended walk round the Abbey Fields. Was muddier than we expected. Myself and Haggis , we trot delicately round the worst bits, but Meggie is the world's worst mud-plugger. Straight through the middle of every swamp, she goes, and ends up black up to the plimsoll line. Then wonders why she gets a wade in the deep sink and a towelling off, while we just get brushed out when we're dry

Loved the bit in Crufts where the agility dog leaps triumphantly into the handlers arms, knocking him backwards over the fence! Also, we liked the bit of mini-agility the presenter lady did with her dog Archie in the studio. Loud and exciting, especially with me and the H joining in!

And Dad has finally managed to suss how to embed the site meter into this site. Be interesting to see what the traffic is like. Dad is firmly convinced that barring friends and neighbours, nobody even knows we're here!

Have a great weekend
Deefer

More shouting at the TV

Ahhh.. more chances to shout at the TV. Crufts Gundog Day and a nice shouty dog being raced round a field by a lady on a horse. Just looked tooooo dog-shaped on the TV and the noise of the whisltling were all too much for me. I just had to lep, across the room and get my nore up close to that screen. Haggis was going mad too, so it was doggie mayhem in our house for a while.

Terriers tomorrow, I think
Deefs

Crufts on TV

Gotta love this dog-friendly TV. Tonight a pre-view of Crufts and this week from Weds onwards , the real thing. Or maybe Thursday, I'll get Dad to look it up. "We" apparently, always watch the terrier day but Westies never seem to come anywhere, not since Olac Moonpilot in the 80's. Haggis has apparently got some Olac DNA (well) hidden away somewhere. Here's me leppin' up to shout at the TV from close range (in this case a collie being put through her dancing paces). That's when I've finished shouting from the sofa. the nerve! Strange dogs in the flickering box. A girl needs to take a firm stand

Go you Westies!

Deefer