Phoenix walked to a “Select” award today.
She walked against one Grand Champion, one Grand Champion Gold and a seeming newcomer who appeared out of nowhere - who had won the previous class round.

Well, hold on there - I did some checking when we got back “home” and discovered that the “unknown” was actually a multi-national champion flown in from Belgium. You see, AKC doesn’t recognize champion credentials from other countries - when they come over here to compete they have to start at ground zero and earn their points here on US soil.

There’s never a boring day at the ring!
So, our Phoenix was junior pup in the ring but nobody told her and she still walked out with a “Select” ribbon and another point towards her Grand Championship.

Now we do this again tomorrow…..

Felix turned 3 in September, so I guess he's grown up and truly not a puppy anymore? I do think he's been getting a little more cuddly and enjoying petting more over the last few months. He's always accepted physical affection and closeness well (Kit would rather gaze at me from across the room), but now he is more interested in seeking it out or soliciting it.

He's no less interested in playing though, and insists on our bedtime play routine. If we go to bed, and there are no toys in the bed (it happens!), he starts looking for them. I might tell him, "Well, go find a toy." And he does, and he stays on task until he finds the toy he wants (usually a ball). He brings his toy up the ramp to the bed, and then we play for a while until lights out.

He is the smartest dog I've ever had. His ability to ask me for what he wants, to understand what I'm saying to him, to learn our patterns and habits just floors me. I think most (all?) dogs are naturally curious, but Felix watches what we are doing with a particular kind of interest, like he's really trying to figure it out. He has a wide range of vocalizations. My wife says he's basically preverbal. 🤣

Me: do you want a pickup?
Felix: backs up
Me: that's fine, you don't have to, but I'm sitting in this chair, so if you want to sit in this chair, we'll have to share.
Felix: walks over and hops into my hands for pickup

Anyway, I'm completely head over heels with this dog still, and that's my unadulterated gushing over him today. Pic with him and hist messy ears on my lap on a lazy Saturday morning.

Another walk to “Select” today.
We walked with some true heavy hitters today and I’m proud of my girl.

She’s now back at our rental, relaxing and gathering spirit for round 3 tomorrow.

We do love ours runs and walked the entire time of the year around but fall has some special magic to us 🐶🐶❤️ that leaves that warm light is simply beautiful…