10/27/2020
mountainhousesportdogs
I've been shopping for a winter coat for Luda, my cane corso. I expected her to be more tolerant of cold, and she does okay, as long as she doesn't get wet. I discovered this during a lovely run along Wolf Creek this summer when a thunderstorm rolled over us. Cold, freezing rain and wind. I was wet, then soaked, then borderline hypothermic for the last few miles.
Luda would run ahead, find a spot near the base of a tree, dig a shallow depression and curl up in it while we went by. Catch up and repeat.
The collies were fine, of course.
Thinking about cold dogs makes me think of a show, our local show, which takes place over Memorial weekend. This particular day might have been the Sunday or Monday trial, and we got rain overnight. Those days, the obedience was on the main lawn area, no cover.
I was trialing with my Very Good Dog, Loki the black cur( Loki was a pit bull and "cur" is an insult in thise circles of thought, but I like it as a term, and anyway, Loki was not a true apbt and all that, so it fits)
I arrived at the Fairgrounds, underprepared as in all things: dog, collar and leash.
We waited outside the ring, huddled together with my arms around him while he shivered.
Loki had a gorgeous short, sleek as cornsilk, night-sky coat and no body fat. He was was a beautiful dog.
No necessarily all-weather.
A kindly woman, exhibiting, I believe, Berners, came by and covered us up with her extra towels. Better quality towels, I might add, then I used myself at home.
Such a cool dog show moment.
Loki qualified that day and did sits and downs with his bare belly on the cold, wet grass.
Anyway, I like that memory. Loki gave me quite a few of them.
Luda will too I'm sure.
And I think I've found her jacket.
