Sunday Salutations: Drool is Love
In honor of Slobber Appreciation Day, we tell you all about our drool-monster Crokell. We also give a recap of last weekend's adventure in the dog sport named Fast CAT!
Today was a little crazy - actually most of this week has been. Frist there was work busy, and then there was home busy, and writing busy, and dog busy, and just busy busy. But hey, everyone needs a hobby - ours appears to be staying busy. I would say we are pretty good at it. Also, I was hoping to go a cancer fund raiser walk (The MDA Boot Walk) they hold every November. But… Well, I slipped Friday. It wasn’t that bad of a slip except that I hyperextended my bad knee. So. No walkies for me. Sadness.
Luckily, last Sunday we did our first Fast CAT trail with the dogs. Yes, that is right. There is an AKC (Dog sport event called) Fast CAT - Fast Coursing Ability Test (think 100 meter dash after a lure). I am not sure what to think about the person that named it, because it totally makes me think of how Tod would name things. (Updates from that below.)
And then today was a friend of ours birthday. We messaged her happy birthday and are trying to work out a schedule to visit her. Yet, well, everyone is busy with the holidays coming up. But she did tell us today was “National Drool Appreciation Day.” Also knowns as Slobber Appreciation Day, and as Tod always says “Drool is love.” So, considering our logo is a Newfie, our most well known characters are Newfies, and my first dog as an adult is a Newfie, we had to appreciate the big boof today - the one who has inspired so much of our writing.
The Many Names of the Drooliest of them All
Crokell actually has too many names in my opinion but like a turtle from the science-fiction Liaden Universe, his name keeps growing. He was originally “Mr. Lime Green” as that was his collar color at the wonderful breeders house. (Hi Tracy!) Since all the litter fur balls were black with just a smidge of white, they each got a colored yarn collar to keep them straight until they showed their personalities enough to get a REAL name. Mr. Lime Green then showed himself to be a little spitfire. He was awake and moving, ready to go, ready to play, and more likely to want to interact with dogs and people. So, when Naming time around came around, the little high energy (for a Newfie) fluffy ball was registered as “Rio Nova’s Fast and Furious”.
Now, I can get behind the first part. For a Newfie, he can be fast. His recall (come) is always fun to watch as he gallumphs over to whomever called him, but furious… he isn’t.
Next, Tod got to give Rio Nova’s Fast and Furious a call name. Sticking with our mostly alphabetical naming order, Crokell was selected and then changed to Crokers for informal occasions. The odd name, just like Beleth’s, is actually for a demon… This might be why Tod is more or less banned from naming our animals any more.
Now, one would think the naming would end here, but no… Tod’s brother heard Crokell’s name once, and was like “I am not going to ever remember that.” And proceeded to call him “Larry”. Now, for ever person that don’t want to say a demon name, when calling him, he will come to Larry as well.
Yet, it goes even further… and I am sure more will come.
So Crokell at the age of 7 (almost 8) years old, his full name (sans titles because I never remember the orders of those) is:
Mr. Lime Green, Rio Nova’s Fast and Furious, “Crokell”, Crokers, Larry, Duffous, Big Boof, Perfect Puppy, Puppers
Fast CAT
Getting back to the story from last Sunday, after we posted the blog, we took both Crokell and Dante to their first Fast CAT competition. It was mostly an excuse to met up with some of our dog training friends and see some of Dante’s siblings. But it was nice and cool, not something common this far South. I figured it was going to be mostly grey hounds, and Mini American Shepherds, but actually there were a ton of different breeds. (Many Staffordshire Terriers! Woot! -Tod) Just for fun, we signed both of them up figuring Dante would take to it like a fish to water.
Crokell went first. Anna released and Tod caught. Crokell actually did pretty good for never trying it before. He ignored the lure but ran to Tod. His time was 30 seconds, which included a stop halfway there to pee… Yes, he is easily distracted.
When he ran it again, Tod released Puppers and, now that he understood this was like a water rescue “Go Out”, he ran straight to Anna in 17 seconds.
Dante… did not take to it as quickly. The first time, Tod after releasing him, had to run (100 yards! -Tod) with Dante, to get him down to Anna. (And I’m still waiting to find out my time! -Tod) Dante didn’t really notice the lure either.
The next two times, we got smart. Anna walked down to the catch position right before the run. And Tod made sure Dante watched her walk down. After that, Dante understood. Whenever the dogs before him got released, he wanted to run down to Anna. He got 9.5 and 9.2 seconds on his runs.
But he still doesn’t know why the lure is in there.
The club running the event was wonderful! They were patient and helpful - especially since we’d never even practiced it before. We did have to reassure them that, while we wanted our critters to do well, we were primarily concerned with them having fun. Which we all did.
But for all that, we forgot to get pictures. It is a little hard, as this sport means we need a catcher and a releaser. Might have to invite extra people and put them to work. (Looking at you Potato. -Anna)
Chaos Tip of the Week
So, on drool appreciate day, take a moment to enjoy the love that actually hangs around. (Thanks Tracy!) Dog kisses and kitty licks are meant to leave a lasting impression.
Critter’s Weekly Question
What is the one thing you like the most about drool?
~Anna and Tod