The Wannabe

Thanksgiving has started with our local tradition, Loudoun Hunt riding along our property! It's always a stirring site, as the riders are in more formal attire, "pink" coats and top hats, quite a few junior riders on ponies and guests following the hunt in cars. A few families had parked at the top of our drive, waiting for the horses to come up the utility line and the kids spent time with the dogs, who are out in their big play yard. For the first time in the 11 years we have lived here, we saw a fox run ahead of the horses and hounds. It had been hiding out in the woods near the kennel, then decided to get ahead of the chase. It bounded across the field and a couple of the hounds soon picked up the scent. The riders had already started up the utility line so they continued up to the road. More foxhounds came into our field, but then saw the collies and ran up to the kennels. The whipper in quickly rounded the hounds up and reminded them of their job at hand. Meanwhile, the fox had run through the woods, dashed across the road and was bounding across the horses' field towards safety in more woods further up the road. There were cries of "Tally Ho!" and off everyone went, save for one shy hound who headed back for home and an old hound who wanted to stay for a play date with the collies. Our dogs were spent from all the excitement and barking at all the unexpected company in their yard. That is, all but one! Twister tried every which way he could to join in the hunt. He was confident he could be a foxhound for the day and was ready to join the pack! We're calling him Foxhound Wannabe!

Sadie the Show Girl!

Sadie has been with Ellen the last few weeks, learning how to be a show dog and competing in seven shows. She's often been first in her puppy class, was Reserve Winners Bitch on Nov 14 at the Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club show (yeah!!) and always had fun! She's home now, back with best bud, Mosby and having fun with her siblings.

Congratulations, Grandpa!

This handsome fellow is the grandfather of the puppies, Jordan's father!

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Twister

He's still waiting to go home!

Lauren's Halloween Costume

Lauren the Parade Dog

For many years, the library has participated in the Leesburg Halloween Parade. A few years back, I taught one of our other dogs, Ben, to pull a wagon for the parade. This led to other parades and a special program one month with Outreach Services where he visited several senior sites with his wagon loaded with books. Ben's almost ten now and starting with arthritis in his shoulder and has had to retire from wagon pulling. We decided to train Lauren to take over the parade duties and the video shows her progression. She wasn't enthused at all in the beginning, but once she pulled her wagon in public and got lots of attention, she enjoyed it. Lauren had a blast at the Halloween parade, stopping for every camera and wagging her tail the entire time!