No Rain for the Dog Jog!

On Saturday, mom and I did the Richmond SPCA Dog Jog.  Every year my therapy dog group the Caring Canines has a team.  Last year's Dog Jog was a crazy, wet mess, and I refused to do the tricks I was supposed to do as part of the flash mob.  This year looked like it would be a repeat of last year, with a rainy morning and a very bleak forecast.  But about an hour before the Dog Jog started, the rain stopped and the sun came out.

Ready to start

Nearing the finish line

What a fun Dog Jog!

After the Dog Jog, mom, dad and I went for a pack hike at North Anna Battlefield Park because it turned out to be such a beautiful afternoon.  We had never been there before.  The woods were pretty and the trail was nice, although short.  We hiked the whole thing and it was only a little over two miles.  But mom and dad thought the Civil War earthworks were very interesting.  I thought the earthworks looked like they would be fun to play on, but momma said that wasn't allowed.

Great day for a hike!

This morning, we went on another hike with some of my new doggie friends.  It was a little bit rainy, but not too rainy for us, so we had a wonderful time.  I spend the rest of the day today curled up in the nice cozy bed my buddy Hero gave me when he moved to Scotland.  I think I like the bed so much because it smells like Hero.  We miss Hero and his family a lot.

I haven't been blogging as much lately because I'm learning to use my new computer, but I hope to be blogging more soon. 

Richmond SPCA Dog Jog - my first flash mob!

On Saturday, Willow and I walked with the Caring Canines team in the Richmond SPCA Dog Jog to help raise money for the Richmond SPCA.  It was VERY rainy!!!

We were also part of a super secret flash mob right before the start of the Dog Jog.  When the deejay played "You Make My Dreams Come True" by Hall & Oates, a bunch of people started dancing.  When we got our cue ("Listen to this"), a bunch of dogs started dancing too!  Or, at least, that was the plan.  But just as the group of humans started dancing, it started raining really hard.  It was raining so hard that the rain was getting in my eyes whenever I looked up at mom, so I wouldn't look up at her.  Plus the rain magnified all of the yummy treat smells.  Needless to say, mom couldn't get my attention at all, and I didn't do my part of the dance routine.

The dog part of the flash mob was really quite simple -- speak, speak, up, spin, spin, up, down.  Easy tricks that I know quite well.  We had even rehearsed the night before (who knew that flash mobs have rehearsals?!?), but I just wouldn't do it.  I've decided that I don't do tricks in the rain, period.  Willow didn't want to do tricks either.  We didn't see how the other dogs did, but the dancing humans were so good, they kind of stole the show anyway.  And it was pretty humorous to see a bunch of raincoat and poncho-clad people dancing this perfectly choreographed routine in the pouring rain.

After the flash mob (sorry I have no photos, mom was too busy trying to cajole me into doing tricks), we went to the starting line with the other hardy Caring Canines.  Willow doesn't like standing around -- she was ready to get going.  Finally they said "go" and Willow and her mom took off running.  Mom and I just walked really fast.  We wanted to finish quickly so we could get home and dry as soon as possible!

Dad is such a good sport -- he was ready to pick us up as soon as we crossed the finish line, so two very wet dogs and two very wet women piled into his car for the ride home.  Mom and I were SO soaked!  And my Caring Canines cape was dripping!  It felt SO good to get inside the house and get toweled off!  We spent the rest of the day curled up on the couch! 

Part of the Caring Canines team at the start of the Dog Jog

The starting line

Willow is eager to get started

Me in my sodden cape

Checking the starting line for treats

Ah, the smell of wet pavement!

Waiting for the Dog Jog to begin

Approaching the finish line

A wet Willow on the way home

 Willow and I shared the backseat on the ride home,
but mom sat between us (that's why I look so sad)

I find wet flash mobs to be exhausting

Well you hell yeah you make my dreams come true (you you you you) oh yeah!