Dear Momma Julie,
I had a big adventure this weekend: I went to my first obedience trial. I had been to one “fun match” before, where I had a lot of fun running around the building, so earlier this month I overheard my human saying that I would not be going to an obedience trial (whatever that is) until my brain arrived from backorder. But after last week she changed her mind, and decided that we should try to give you some good news, so we went. Yesterday I shocked the human and took first place in a Novice class. Then, this morning, I decided that these events should be fun: on the heel-free exercise, I took off on the first step and ran around the ring as fast as I could, twice, and then headed out to look for somebody else who wanted to play. I managed to get in a quick circuit before she caught me—and then I rolled over on my back, waved my feet in the air, and nibbled on her shoelaces. Everybody said I was adorable, but she still hauled me back to my crate and left me.
There was another chance this afternoon, and I was tired, distracted, and in need of amusement, but thanks to a very kind judge, I have a new title. Now I am
U-CD Alta-Tollhaus Octavian
I know it was not an Olympic performance, but I want to dedicate my title, or at least my one first-place ribbon, to my mum Allie. The human says she knows my mum was just rolling her eyes the whole time I was in the ring, but I want you to know that I did try. It isn’t my fault that I am still a junior-high nerd with a brain on backorder.
I love you, Momma Julie.
Rajah
What a wonderful tribute! I love how you describe the adolescent gear shepherd as a junior high kid with a brain on back order. That is hilarious! Congrats on the new title!
AWESOME! The look on Raj’s face brought tears to my eyes. He did Allie proud this weekend. Congratulations to you both.
Congratulations! LOL, I would have never thought to use the description “brain on backorder” but it is perfect!
I was so engrossed in the story, but when I seen the “Brain on Backorder” I laughed right out loud! Thanks, I needed that. Congrats on the new title, your gorgeous!
Great story,,,love your descriptions, congratulations, Raj is beautiful.
What a fitting and awesome tribute. Congratulations to both of you. Rajah is definitely a great looking Allie pup!
This post made me cry, I’m sure Momma Allie is very proud of you Rajah.
“then I rolled over on my back, waved my feet in the air, and nibbled on her shoelaces.”
This made me laugh. Via (Alta-Tollhaus Ombré Viola) did the same thing her first couple of times in the ring. Allie’s kids are such goofs.
Good job, Silly Boy Raj! Congratulations to you both!
Ann, you need to post adventures and antics of Raj more often. He definitely has his mother’s sense of humor.
Ann,
What a super post. O’Raj has grown into a hansome hunk. You can sure see he is an Allie son.
Congratulations on your 1st place and new title. Way to go Raj!!
Congratulations – what a funny story and such a handsome photograph to go with it.
Congratulations Ann on your hard earned title. This picture just turns me to mush, he looks so much like Allie. The warm, open, loving, innocent, sincere, I-can-do no-wrong look that typify’s Allie and her kids.
Were you really mad at Raj during his antics? Or did you want to be mad but you just couldn’t be mad?
His first place is just a teaser of what he can be and the other stuff is he wants to make sure you appreciate it fully when he does shine.
Please give him a big hug, the kind were you bury your face into his neck and tell him he did his momma Allie proud.
Thank you Ann.
Raj wishes you a good morning. We felt two tiny drops of rain on the early walk, but not enough that a person could really notice.
I had all I could do not to laugh at Raj during his “born free” routine. He does not need encouragement. It was bad enough that all these other people were telling him how cute he is. When I finally persuaded him to stop nibbling on my shoelaces, we stopped by the practice ring on the way to the crate, just to do a little heeling. I told him that since he had so much energy he might as well do something useful with it.
The only reason we went back into the ring for the second trial was an attempt to teach him that he has a job to do. I didn’t want him to conclude that he can do something funny and leave the ring to applause. I was ready to ask to be excused at any point, and our judge, Pat Strong, was remarkably supportive. I think the only reason he sat at the end of the heel free was that Lorelle, doing Utility with Timber in the next ring, happened to yell “Sit” at the right moment. But he passed, so we are back to working on Open retrieves and playing go-out games.
I will give him a big hug from you–he is always up for that.
Thank you for the smiles. Laughter is a huge reinforcer for these Allie kids.
So true. Koda, rat/bird/opposum and my Mom= epic.
Great story…thanks for sharing! Congratulations!!