Beaver Brook Dog Show

It was like an impromptu dog show -- pure breeds and mixes. After having just watched the Crufts Dog Show, I felt honored to witness a local version at my very own park earlier this week.

In a 30-minute stretch so many fabulous pets.
- Aussie Shepherd
- Bulldog
- Golden Retreiver
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- Rough-Coated Collie
- Chihuahua
- Cockapoo
- Black Lab
- Chocolate Lab
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- And many glorious mutts!!!

Both species, man and animal, fraternizing while lounging in the grass. The pups chatted vigorously then took quick, but frequent mud baths. Most refreshing, however, were the back scratches on the emerald-green fields that abound at Beaver Brook.

As a dog parent I am delighted when the beloved rolling in the grass expedites the cleaning process after a swamp visit. My car is a "dogmobile," but there are limits.

Toby's first trip to the Acton Park

Toby by the water, originally uploaded by phaird.

This was our first trip to the Acton park. It's off School St. behind the fire house. My new neighbor told me that there are all kinds of trails that go off into the woods from there. It was really nice and had this small body of water for Toby to swim in. We got there a little late. Sundays at 10am is DOG TIME at the park. There was still a few dogs around though and everyone was pretty nice. It was new to Toby so he ran around finding all the new scents to smell. He really liked the water but there was some boys fishing and I was worried about Toby getting stuck on a hook. I'm going to try to get there again next week but I really miss Waverly. There is no place like it. I’m hoping to focus on a few different dogs at Waverly soon. Keep checking to see.

Happy Days

We got a late start to the park last night. As a result, there was only a small group of dogs. HEAT + SPRING = WATER. And that is exactly where our intrepid visitors were gathered. The handful were splashing and grazing where the babbling brook passes under the foot bridge bringing playground/water park dwellers down to the rolling green fields and woods.

Cooper, Riley and Chagall stayed close to the shoreline and their people. Roscoe, a black and tan Coonhound, was nearby, too, but was keeping his eagle eye and nose pointed to the woods. Detecting creatures only his hound sensibilities could pick up.
Meanwhile, my dog, Chagall, was doing his usual stalking of Roscoe. This has gone on since Roscoe was a puppy. Even though Chagall is now smaller than the lanky hound, he is not deterred from attempted mountings and Sumo-style belly bumping and takedowns. Roscoe is the most good-natured dog ever. He actually seems to enjoy it ... for awhile.

With the next few days of brilliant weather, we'll see you at the P A R K.
{Even when the dog is not around I have gotten in the habit of spelling 'park' so I won't inadvertently get Chagall's hopes up.}
We are, after all, living in our dog's world!!

Now that the weather has possibly finally taken a springy turn, traffic will greatly increase at our home away from home -- Beaver Brook.
Every day at Beaver Brook is a smile for owners and their canine companions. My dog, Chagall, and I don't feel complete if we haven't visited the park that day. If we don't see the robins digging for worms, the mallard duck couples, cottontail bunny babies and even the ancient snapping turtle mother, it is a less than perfect experience.
One of this year's newbies has made a particularly BIG hit with regulars and passersby. Andre (the Giant) -- a 4-month-old Great Dane. He is the color of a Weimarner. That beautiful blue. Andre does not know what to make of his enormous paws. He is like a newborn pony -- lacking control of his limbs and devastatingly gorgeous. Upon his approach that first day, about a month ago, I thought I was seeing my first Neapolitan Mastiff. a breed near and dear to my heart. The little man had a forehead full of wrinkles and floppy hound ears that seemed to pull his large head downward. Andre was always losing his battle with gravity.
I haven't seen the big guy in a few weeks. Is he still coming?

Friendly Face

Friendly Face, originally uploaded by phaird.

WOW, it's been so long since I've been able to get back to the park. I've been so crazy busy and my guy has been really missing out. Not so much the park but the interactions. Like being able to run around with this little one. So friendly and just loves to play with others.

I've got a pretty good excuse though. I just moved into my first house. I'm now living out in the burbs. There's lots of dog owners out here but I'm still trying to dig out of all the boxes I've got that I can't get to the park. I'm hoping this weekend.

One good thing that I'll post soon is images from Tony our illustrator. He's started off doing these really great drawings. So stay tuned and I'll have some up on the blog in a few days. Alleyne has been working on stories too so she'll be adding to the blog as well.

More soon.