Dog Park Culture

Lucky for all dogs in Edmonton, the dog parks here are vast and pleasurable. We take Shupa to romp whenever possible. Over the months we have been able to get to know many Terwilligar dog park regulars- and we present a few here.If you aren't playing, you will get play-barked, forever, all of the time, until she is tired, which may never happen.

Dog parks-have their own doggy culture. Prior to 8 months ago we were oblivious. The unwritten rules of park etiquette- while mostly common sense- are interesting in their own right. here are our observations so far:

1) It is acceptable to only know the names of dogs, and not of people, even if you have walked dogs with them for months.

2) Not picking up poop is social suicide (hmm I agree with this one!)

3) Designer Labradoodles, or doodles of any sort are all mutts out of their owners earshot. Their owners all overpaid :). I prefer "muppets".

4) If your dog humps someone, it will get thrown.

5) Everyone knows the local baddies, there really aren't that many..but if your dog gets into fights, humps, or growls, you are almost America's most wanted and the regulars all know who you are!

The joy of the chase!

Shupa loves to play with boxers, lucky for her we hooked up with a regular pack of boxers plus a small pack of two Weimaraners. Some of the pictures we took sadly ended up overstaturated, but some came out nicely.

The new coat, still in one piece.

One of the Weimaraners (Ruger sp?) loves the camera- we have at least a dozen handsomely posed pictures of the big boy.

Loooves the camera!

Christmas 2009

We are back! I lost the family camera this summer, and so we had to wait, portrait-free for the Christmas present camera to get us back into action.

Shupa recently turned ONE! For her first birthday she received a dog coat and booties. This was sorely overdue. Past -10 C, she gets cold fast, and is really unable to walk outside for any length of time. She got an Obtrack jacket, and I am really impressed; great fit, stretchy, covers most of the belly and is pretty styley.

First time in the new jacket, chasing my parent's dog into deeper snow. Stay tuned for pictures of Shupa in dog boots.

One year old...sigh..I don't even remember what the puppy was. We are really happy with the puppy Shupa is, and the adult she will become. So far she has been easily taught, calm and overly friendly. Cheers to another year!

Messing up the living room rug..again...socks, rawhide bits- the playground of a nibbler.