I know I promised the second half of my guide dog report, but I’m trying very hard to force myself to clean my apartment, and that’s going to take some time. Maybe I’ll post it on Christmas.
In the mean time, here’s a cute but shy puppy for y’all.
Those ears.
Thank goodness for Macy’s window-kitties!
I keep telling myself, ‘you HAVE to come back here with a laser pointer’. But I always forget!
Is that a smile?
Ugghhh, it has been a long day, and I really don’t feel like doing anything but throwing myself straight into bed. But I skipped yesterday already, so I’m going to give you a quick drive-by Chihuahua-ing. It’s been a while since I posted one of these guys anyway.
I know I rag on Chihuahuas sometimes, but I gotta say, ankle smooches are nothing to sneeze at.
Xavi was such a goofy dog. He spent the entire time I was there (and that was more than five minutes) alternately growling and barking at me, and licking me and trying to get me to pet him. He was clearly quite conflicted, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help him come to any final conclusions.
I think part of the problem may have been the fact that that right there was His Stick.
That’s actually a pretty intimidating expression right there.
Turned into a nose shot, and then a few smooches.
I absolutely love that fur coloration. Anyone know what that’s called?
He did a lot of dancing around, wanting to chase or be chased.
Bark bark bark. Ah well, we’re all a little bipolar sometimes.
Okay… look carefully at this dog. See if you can remember a dog that I posted some time ago that this might be a repost of. And if you think you know it (or even if you don’t!) click here.
Incidentally, I said yesterday I might be taking a few days off posting. I’m obviously not taking today off. But I’ve run into some bizarre health issues, which while currently not serious are incredibly annoying, and thus far I have no idea whether I am going to get better, worse, or stay the same. Please excuse any deviations from the schedule.
Oh! And while I’m talking about something other than today’s dog: if you have been waiting for me to post your dog, and haven’t seen it yet, please let me know! I just heard from someone a week or two ago saying ‘oh, you finally posted my dog, I was watching the site every day for two months!’ While I have no objection to people looking at my site every day, I feel like that sort of dedication should be rewarded a little faster than that. So let me know if I took some pictures you want me to post, and I will do my best to oblige.
And now, on to the mystery dog!
The one I mean is the one on the left. The one with ALL the fluff.
There was a ‘dog day’ for Giants fans this summer, and I went down to check out something that I totally forgot about and will be posting about soon. While I was there I saw this happy fella. Not entirely sure what he is (looks halfway between English and American bulldogs) but he sure was enjoying his getup.
Incidentally, I might be taking a couple days off starting tomorrow. Hopefully not, but I thought I should mention it just in case.
He was just walking around like that. How did they stay on??
I can’t remember whether he was the one who was dyed with orange kool-aid and promptly licked it all off. I think so.
So, as I mentioned last week, Autumn and I were invited to the Guide Dogs for the Blind holiday festivities. (It’s one of the fringe benefits of hosting a dog blog. Also invited were people from ‘Dogster‘, ‘Bay Woof‘, and many other fine groups.) Guide Dogs for the Blind is one of the larger guide dog training organizations in the US, and also one of the niftier ones. (You’ll hear more about why I say that next Sunday.) If you’re looking for a dog-related charity to give to for the holidays, they are a great candidate. (Although I would also encourage you to give to your local food bank: especially with the looming cuts in food stamps and unemployment benefits, there are going to be a lot of people needing food out there in January…)
Anyway, I’m gong to post some pictures from the meet-and-greet before the gala today, and then some pictures from the luncheon and the speakers and afterward next Sunday.
A lot of the attendees were guide dog fosterers and trainers, and their charges. It was almost eerie, being surrounded by so many WELL-BEHAVED dogs.
Many of the dogs, both working and training, were dressed in their holiday finery.
If you see a dog’s head tilted in one of the pictures, there’s around a 90% chance it’s because I used my squeaky toy to get their attention. I love it when they do that.
This gentleman, a music history instructor (professor?) at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, was a recipient of one of the organization’s dogs, and wanted to give back, so he volunteered to play some music at the event. Celtic harp music, a favorite of Autumn’s and mine.
Of course, the six-week-old puppies were the stars of the show. Especially the golden retrievers. Softest fur ever.
If she had held that pup out any longer I would have grabbed it and run. DO WANT!
My hat is off to the foster families and trainers. I don’t know if I could give up a dog like that after I raised her from a puppy.
The itty bitty guide dog committee.
The one with only one smudge probably rubs against something dirty, gets another mark on there, performs some mischief, and then grooms it off. “It wasn’t ME, it was my BROTHER!”
They almost look like two tiny footprints.
I’d be scared to have a white cat. They blend into sheets entirely too well.
Mm… chocolate.
Corgis and Berners may have the happy-goofy expression down pat, but Labs are the undisputed masters of the innocent look.
Not shown: treat.
I don’t know, I just think these two Huskies look particularly impish.
I don’t know if the one on the right is a mix or just a very unusually colored husky, but isn’t she gorgeous?
I wonder if I could borrow them? We could go sledding in the mountains east of San Jose.
This one’s got the eternal grin. So many huskies and corgis are just ALWAYS smiling.
Look at that elegant lady. No goofy grin, but she’s absolutely gorgeous.