A Dog Party

A dog party!

A big dog party!

Big dogs, little dogs, 

red dogs, blue dogs,

yellow dogs, green dogs,

black dogs, white dogs

are all at a dog party!

What a dog party!

- from Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman

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^Our host for the day, Heather, proves that the best way to make an Irish friend is with an open bag of beef jerky in hand. Do not think for an instant that Gracie (far right) was shy about stepping up for handouts; at this point, she had such a belly full of treats that I'm surprised she was still standing.

^ Heather's plan was to use the treats to coax the dogs over to her photo station, where the obedient animals would calmly and patiently take turns posing in her kissing booth. Apparently the lads and lassies cared less about doling out smooches and much more about scoring delicious treats. Please note Gracie, front and center, third dog from the left. 

^ If you've ever been to a toddler's birthday party, you know that there's always that one kid who doesn't want anything to do with the games or the crafts or the other tiny guests. That one kid who just wants to eat cake and ice cream. Yes, that one kid at this party was my very own Grace. She spent a good portion of the day sniffing at the treat table. 

^ This moment was captured near the end of the party, when many dogs had already left and my head-spinning excitement had slowed to the point that I could think about taking photos.

* * * * *

On Saturday, I took my dog to a party. A big dog party.

And yes, there were big dogs and little dogs.

But all the dogs were red.*

Yes, this was an Irish Setter party and my red dog was one of oh, maybe 25 redheads who spent the afternoon gamboling about a beautiful horse arena that had been turned over to the pups for the day.

Oh, I know. Every dog person's heart is shaped to love a certain type of dog, and there is no right or wrong, good or bad breed to love.

But for me, spending time in a romping mass of spirited Irish pups is surely a taste of heaven, and honestly, it was an afternoon that simply took my breath away.

What a dog party!

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* One dog, a Gordon Setter, was black.