Bristol ‘Best in Show’!

The Fun Dog Show in Bristol was exactly that. Fun. Dash was the VIP guest (in her fancy coat and matching collar) and we opened the event by breaking the good news that I’m now patron of the Bristol Dog Action Welfare Group, or Bristol DAWG for short (http://southwestdawg.wordpress.com/). This is a fantastic organization, dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned greyhounds and lurchers. It was founded in 2009 by Elkie Lonnkvist and has consistently rehomed an average of six dogs per month. The dog show was a fundraiser but also an awareness-raiser of the continued plight of these lovely creatures. I’m pleased to say we met lots of happy, healthy hounds and their devoted owners. Judging proceeded swiftly through the categories of ‘Best Puppy’, ‘Best Pedigree’, ‘Most Handsome Dog’, etc. until it was our turn to select the ‘Best Greyhound or Lurcher’. How to choose from fifteen impressive specimens? Although I’ve met plenty of greyhounds (and lurchers) in the three and a half years that I’ve owned Dash, I still consider myself a greyhound enthusiast rather than an expert. After looking up and down the line of dogs, I made the hounds do a lap of the ring. If it’s good enough for Crufts, I thought. In the end, the selection was made and the rosette awarded (the greyhound at the far right of the group picture). It was only afterwards that one or two of the organizers remarked on the similarity of the winner, at least in colour and markings, to Dash herself! Ah, well, it just goes to prove there’s only one ‘Best in show’ in my life – the ‘Bitch of the Year’ herself.

Bitch of the Year becomes Essex girl!

With the promotional season of the book in full swing, Dash and I were in Essex over Easter. More specifically, we were guests at the Greyhound Walks Show near Braintree. Now, for those of you who are unfamiliar with Essex (I’m thinking of Dash’s foreign fans here), the county has a reputation for brashness, with the Essex girl probably coming off worse than the Essex man. I’m glad to report, however, that fags and fake tan were in short supply – probably because the weather was so scorching! Due to my rubbish navigational skills, we arrived later than expected, but no sooner were we set up on the stand of Burgess Pet Care (which we were sharing), than dogs and owners were queuing up to meet Dash. It was again a surprise and a delight to see how positive people were about the book and what it’s doing for greyhound adoption. Writing is a lonely pastime and getting a book published such a long slog, but having someone say how much it made them howl with laughter or even helped them overcome difficulties with their own greyhounds is a  wonderful thing. What’s also quite nice is selling out of all the books I took with me! The next event we’re due to attend is a Fun Dog Show as part of National Pet Week. Dash and I will be at the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke, Bristol, from 11.00 this Sunday 8 May. We’re judging the category for ‘Best Greyhound or Lurcher’ and with the Bitch of the Year disqualified from taking part, it’s got to be an open field.