Hi! It’s me, Luther.
This is a big week at our house. First, it’s my Gotcha week.
That means I’ve been here a year, this week. Rescue dogs, like me, often don’t know when their birthdays are so we get a special time to remember when we got our new homes.
Home is good! I have more and more friends and keep learning new things.
My favorite words are, “Ok, peeps,” which is what Mom says when it’s time for us to go out.
I like out, especially when it’s cool.
Sarah is helping me to practice coming when Mom calls us. She’s been here longer and knows lots of things, though sometimes I think she decides not to do them.
Out is almost as good as dinner, but not quite.
And there’s more good news.
I got promoted to reporter!
We spent the last two nights doing something Mom calls Westminster. Sarah and Phoebe say we do it every year.
Clearly, it had to do with dogs. I could hear them bark but I couldn’t smell them so I didn’t get scared.
I’m not so good at watching TV, though. Mom says I don’t see too well.
I think that’s one of the reasons it’s good that I’m here now.
Mom explained things as they went along.
Dogs run in circles and try really hard not to knock their people down. This is harder for really big dogs like me.
Special friends called judges pet them all over and look at their teeth and watch them move.
Apparently, the judges are trying to decide which of the dogs can do the best job of being the kind of dog they are.
Mom says I’m really good at being a Newfoundland.
Mom also says some of the judges don’t always do things the way she would have done them.
As far as I could tell, lots and lots and lots of dogs ran in those circles.
One of them was a Pekingese Mom liked a lot. He seems to have a famous grandfather who won a few years ago.
Apparently Pekes are little dogs that waddle when they run and look very determined. This guy’s name was Bernie. He came in second in the Toy group which was good but we seemed to be sad about it anyway.
Then there was a Newfie like me. She didn’t win either but Mom said she did really well in the Working group, especially for a girl just getting started.
We watched and watched and watched. (I may have napped a bit.)
Finally, there were just seven dogs running in the circle. We were cheering for a dog called Bean. Mom says he’s a Sussex spaniel.
Bean knows a cool trick. He can sit up on his bum with his front paws in the air and wait for treats.
Apparently, Newfies are not built for this particular trick and Mom says we don’t have to learn that.
I wish we could, though. Mom thought it was really cool.
A tiny white fluffy dog named Flynn won the big silver trophy. Flynn is called a Bichon.
I think it would be fun to have all those people cheering for me, but apparently Flynn takes a bath two or three times a day and I’m not sure about that. Too many towels!
Mom says she used to run in those circles with dogs. I think she might miss it a little bit.
Rescue dogs can’t really run in the circles so much. There are rules.
Mom says that’s ok. She loves us just the way we are.
I’m still learning, though.
I wonder what I’ll know next year that I can’t even imagine yet.
Being a puppy mill dog was not at all a good thing.
Being a rescue dog is a whole lot better.
Though my stuffed chicken doesn’t look nearly as good as it did when I got here!
Thanks for reading. Even if I haven’t slobbered on you yet, you’re one of my friends, too!
Happy Valentine’s Day from Mom and Sarah and Phoebe and me.
Love, Luther