Groovin' with Genghis at the 9th Annual Fashion for Paws Runway Show

Those of you who know me know that I'm pretty much of a nature girl. Pretty outdoorsy, kinda hippie, kinda crunchy, way more likely to sport a tie dye sarong with a treat bag than a cocktail dress with a purse. But there's a secret side of me that only those closest to me know about.  

That's the side that loves getting all dressed up and having an evening out with my sweetie 

and my family

and actually getting to walk the runway with Genghis at the Washington Humane Society's Fashion for Paws Runway Show!

Photo by Moshe Zusman

It's an annual benefit for the shelter, wherein volunteers who raise a certain amount can walk the runway in fashions donated for the evening by participating designers. Their dogs get to borrow doggie fashions for the evening and walk the runway too. 

It was three months of hard work to raise enough money to qualify, but I knew it would be worth it just to have this experience once!

As someone who grooms other beings for a living, it was fantastic to actually feel what it's like to be groomed myself and to get my hair and face done by professionals. 


There's a first time for everything! 

All the models spent most of the afternoon together backstage, so I got to make some new friends while I got my hair done and practiced my walk. Meanwhile, my sister brought Genghis to the event and he stayed at a special zen dog paradise until it was time for us to walk.

Then that moment came! Genghis and I were united backstage and I got to see him in his sparkly turquoise magnificence. 

When we walked out, he exuded calmness and self-assurance. Glad one of us did!

I had some treats because I thought he might do that thing he often does in public where he rolls over on his back with his paws up in the air and doesn't move for a while. 

Which would have been kind of good, but I knew the organizers of the show wanted to keep things moving. 












But Genghis elected not to play dead and angle for a belly rub on this occasion, instead just pausing in front of a photographer whenever he could to make sure they got a really good shot of his handsomeness. 

Photo: Janet Donovan

I missed not having Fozzie and Dahlia, and missed not having them hump my leg, lunge at other dogs, and bark and yodel loudly as they careened and pulled uncontrollably at the end of the leash. But maybe others wouldn't have enjoyed that as much. 

What's wrong with people, anyway?

Thanks Genghis and family for a lovely evening! This was truly a night to remember.

Dog play Zen

Each time I've brought Star over to work her magic with her cousin Genghis, my sister and I sit watching in stupefaction over the things that the two of them apparently find enjoyable. 

For both of them, repeated biting of each others' necks appears to be a favorite pastime.  Genghis also loves taking Star's legs in his mouth, and they both love flipping over on their backs with their mouths open, gnashing their teeth in each others' general direction.

All this goes on in near-complete silence. There's the occasional growl, gurgle, or snap, but most of the time they're totally quiet. 

There's a feeling of total engagement, complete camaraderie, almost what you would call calmness. A kind of doggie Zen, where the two are completely on the same wavelength.

Until recently, I never saw this kind of play with Star and Fozzie. They've always gotten along pretty well together, but their play has had a different kind of intensity, with more running, more tugging, more loud vocal yodeling and arguing.

I thought that Fozzie was just like most normal dogs, in that he didn't really enjoy having his neck continually bitten and so couldn't get into a play session with Star. 

Then I let them into the guest bedroom together. With a cushy, Queen-sized bed all to themselves, and away from under Lamar's judgmental eye, they hit a new groove and had one of those Zenlike play sessions. 








No growlies, no snappies, just mutually enjoyable biting, chewing, wrestling, and a bit of humping. 

Not once did I feel they were on the verge of getting out of hand; they just went at it for a while then stopped when they were tired. 

I was happy to see that they had that capacity! Star and Genghis seem always to be in the mood for the same kind of play, but it was nice to see Star and Fozzie able to get into that groove too. 

It doesn't surprise me that Fozzie is not always up for the kind of rough play Star loves, as I think of Fozzie as a very complex dog. (I hope my sister isn't reading this. But if you are, yes, I know Genghis is a very complex dog. Maybe Star just brings out the big goof in him).

Do your dogs have different play styles? Have you noticed that some are incompatible because of these differences, and just need to find the right playmates?

From Abandoned to Gainfully Employed: Star's new gig

Anyone who has ever been unemployed knows that having a job is key to self esteem. 

Even shelter dogs suffer from having no serious work to do, which is why staff in more progressive shelters are always finding ways to engage and employ their residents.

Star's been really lucky in that regard.

Not long after she joined us, a job opened up that immediately piqued her interest. 

She already knew she had an aptitude for playing with large, goofy dogs with similar (read: annoying) play styles.
 





Her early play sessions with Genghis were so vigorous in fact that they were probably what caused her hernia-like swelling and landed Genghis in the vet's office as well with a hematoma on his ear.
 


In which vet visit we learned that, in fact, Genghis could stand to lose a few pounds. 

Which led to the offer, and Star's immediate acceptance, of a job as Genghis' personal trainer.




Star takes her job very seriously. She's been going over several nights a week and wrestling, chewing, rolling around, and generally working out with her larger cousin. 

This is a great setup all around.  Genghis gets exercise, a huge help because for humans who do have jobs, it can be hard to find enough time to provide adequate exercise to the pooch. 


My sister and I get hours of entertainment, as we sit with a glass of wine, watch Genghis enclose Star's entire head in his mouth, Star chew heartily on Genghis' neck, and Genghis drag Star across the floor as they both hold on to a chew toy as if their lives depended on it. 




And Star gets the satisfaction of a job well done.
 

What do YOUR dogs do for a living?

Pre-holiday activities

We have been working hard to fill all of Star's days with us up with fun, since we know her adopter could materialize any minute!

Last weekend, my sister and I took her and Genghis for a wonderful walk around Greenbelt National Park, a lovely park full of trails and right around the corner from where we live.  

 
Since they hit it off so well on the trail, we let Genghis and Star have another play session the following morning on my porch!

Those two are perfectly matched. 








All Star wants is someone who can just go and go and go, and who won't take offense at her obnoxious chewing and rearing. 

Genghis is oblivious to rudeness, and apparently loves having a little girl dog chewing on his face, standing on top of him, and climbing on his head. 

 

Funny to think that all of my recent foster dogs have been of a similar type--petite short haired young leggy things--and almost all have loved to play with Genghis. 

After her fun morning with Genghis, I convinced Florian that it had been way too long since we'd been to the Potomac. 

The weather was cloudy and misty but warm, a perfect day for a spooky meander.













 

We saw some kayakers in an area of narrow, deep rapids 













that was just below a dam and a sign that said to get out of the water immediately and avoid the deadly undertow. I could imagine kayaking in that nice calm stretch above the dam, 

not knowing that you were headed for a major change in hydrodynamics. Gives me a chill to think about. 


The dogs didn't seem too worried, though of course we are careful to only let them play on the safe edges of the Potomac. 












After a long hike along the river and then the C & O Canal, 

 




we found a bridge that took us across the road and next to the neighborhood that looks over the Potomac and some very enviable houses. 





 




Since Florian, the intrepid explorer, can't stand going back the same way he came on any trail, 

we hiked for awhile along a heavily trafficked road, during which stretch I was of course tasked with holding Star and Lamar. 












Though I doubted we ever would, finally we found our way back down to the river and our van and Florian had the satisfying moment of saying I told you so, Zuzi. 

And Star for once gave us a very quiet evening. Well worth the exertion!

Happy Thanksgiving to the shelter dogs

Since I promised Lamar no more foster dogs for a while, I have been making an effort to spend all kinds of quality time with shelter dogs in other ways. This past weekend, I took two Washington Humane Society dogs who are in boarding at a doggie daycare to the Silver Spring Thanksgiving parade. 

Candy is a 10 year old puperoo who still has a lot of energy and spunk. Cub is a 7 year old beagle mix man who just loves people and is sweet and gregarious.  

They loved coming out and meeting all sorts of people, 










 



getting really good scratches, 













smelling the flowers, 

enjoying each others company,

and seeing the parade.

There was another foster dog named Gus there, who just showed up on the porch of the people who are now fostering him.

 Looks like Fozzie! 

I live in a neighborhood that is very multicultural, and at events like this I realize that just about every country of Latin America is well-represented here.

There were Bolivian dancers, Ecuadorian, Peruvian, 

others I don't know. I love that.

After the parade, I brought the pups home to meet Fozzie and co., and then over to my sister's house to meet Genghis. 

They seemed like they were in heaven being outside in the sun and nature, and they were not the only ones enjoying themselves. 

These guys live in a doggie daycare, so I wasn't surprised they did just fine with new dogs. 

Genghis can be a bit intimidating, but he likes most other dogs and once everyone loosens up they have a blast. 

These pups started to look like they could imagine sticking around, and my sister and I were starting to feel the same way.

But no, gotta be disciplined! Back to the daycare for Cub and Candy, and Fozzie and I took a nice little walk along the Anacostia River. 

We are off to New York to spend Thanksgiving with my parents! I am hoping my mom will make her nutty, hearty, crunchy meatless meatballs.

This will be Fozzie's first trip to the big city, and I am fully prepared for him to be absolutely overwhelmed, nutty, impulsive, and impossible amid all the sights, sounds, and stimulation.

Especially if we see the pot-bellied pig!

Brownie's big weekend

I was going to devote the entire weekend to fun activities to help Brownie build confidence and become more adoptable. As it turned out, I only had a day to do it...but more on that tomorrow!

We did have a chance to go by my sister's house Friday night and see how he does with two important demographics: new, big dogs and wacky little girls. 










My sister loves it when I get a new foster dog because she loves for her big boy Genghis to get a new buddy to play with.

Genghis is a great dog, 100% reliable and goofy with kids and other humans.

For some reason both Fozzie and Lamar hate him, so he has no regular playmate nearby.

But he sure has fun with my foster dogs! 












 



What a great socialization opportunity and energy outlet for all. Brownie's aerial leaps over Genghis' body were a sight to behold. 










And when they were done romping, they just plotzed out in different spots on the floor and snoozed companionably.

The next day, we wanted to give those two a little more space to enjoy each others' company so my sister and I decided we would descend on my loving, long-suffering Aunt and Uncle.









They don't really seem to suffer when we come over; I only say that because I think that in their position, with a beautiful house and pool and a relaxing, sunny afternoon to look forward to, the Stade family and its associated poorly-socialized canines would be the last thing I'd want to see.

But they are always welcoming, and they seem to actually enjoy it, God help them. 

Brownie fell in love with Uncle Bob. 














And he really loved having all that space to run around with his bud Genghis. 

When he runs he's like a little antelope, zooming around and so happy to be free. 













He loves to romp around with the slightly more dignified Genghis, 
 

and see if he can taunt him to abandon that dignified demeanor. 

Not too hard when Genghis's default behavior is to flail around on his back with his paws in the air. 
 
Lamar looks on reproachfully, but at least there's something in it for him too. 









Lamar, sit back and have a glass of wine while the kids run around, why dontcha? 




That sounds like a plan.

Brownie, I'm glad you got to enjoy the fun with my aunt and uncle before the pool closes for the season. It's a ritual we try to put all our foster pups through, for their benefit and for ours.