My Bearded Buddy

My girl and I are friends with this very cool family, the Kratchmans. There's Terry, the mama, Mackie the AireGramps (he's 14), Sassy the Airegirl (she's 10), and Dovah Doo the AireClown (he's almost 8). Here's a photo of me and the Dovah Man a few months ago on grooming day. (His mama is the one holding our collars).

Two weeks ago, my Dovah bud left for the Rainbow Bridge very suddenly. He seemed like his old self right up until he left, but little did any of us know, he had a tumor silently growing in a sensitive place. One minute he seemed fine, and one minute he was gone. The vet said it was clear he died very quickly.

I had just been out at the park playing with him a couple of weeks before, and he was roachin' and chasin' and sniffing for all he was worth. Here's Dovah Doo (on the left) splashing around with his sister, Sassy, the last time I saw him.

That same day Dovah took some time out for a little solo roachin' after his swim.

Then, he posed for my girl. One thing Dovah was very proud of was his amazingly long and full beard. In fact, he was famous for it. Look at the juicy lusciousness of that beard (after a roach in the mud).

Here's a close up of his juiciness. At last count, his beard was 8 inches long when combed out!

Dovah was such a good boy! My girl and I miss him and his clownish antics terribly! It's just not right seeing Sassy and Mackie without Dovah trotting over to stir things up.

Just before Dovah went to the Bridge, I challenged Miss Maggie the Airegirl to a beard growing contest. Now, as an expression of my love for my buddy, I want to dedicate the Dogs With Blogs first annual Beard Growing Contest to Dovah Boy! If anydog could appreciate a fine beard, it was him!

This contest is open to any dog, hammie or cat out there who wants to grow their beard. The rules are very simple. If you want to play, peemail me or leave a comment on this post. Measure what beard you have now & include that in your peemail or comment. You can provide periodic updates on your blog with your progress if you like, but on January 1, 2008, everydog (hammie or cat) who is participating will take a final measurement.

There will be 2 winners. The dog, hammie, or cat whose beard had the greatest change in length from now until January 1st will win for greatest improvement. The second winner will be the dog, hammie or cat who has the overall longest beard. That way, if you normally don't let your beard grow & don't have one now, you still have a chance to win. There will be a prize for each winner!

Whatdya say? Are you going to throw your beard into the ring? Dovah, Maggie and I DARE YOU. Nope. We DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!

Goober love,

Stanley

Buzzed

A couple of days ago my girl loaded me into the car (sans ZZ) and said we were going to see my buddies Sassy, Mackie, and Dova. I thought to myself, "Cool. I love playing with those guys. Let's hit the road!"

Here I am yucking it up with Dova and Sassy (in front), blissfully unaware of the fate that was about to befall me.

My girl told me she had brought us to their house so she could get her first Airedale grooming lesson from Terry (mom to Sassy, Mackie, and Dova). You'd think having had a couple of Airepups before me she would have learned to do that before now, but whatever, lady. Have at it. I'm settling in for some good playtime with my pals.

Mackie Boy was having a fine time, albeit, on his own without us.

Sassy was all grins and giggles.

Dova... well he was just a little confused.

Little did I know that my girl had plans for me of which I knew not. While I was feeling sorry for the poor sucker she was taking her clippers to for the first time, she informed me that I was going to be her hair model.

Here's my do before she buzzed me.

Here's my do after she buzzed me.

See the 2 cowlicks on my chest (no, she did not buzz me bald in 2 places - these bald spots were already there under my very thick & wirey chest hair)? Weird, huh? Who knew?

Needless to say, I'm feeling a little exposed!

Freezing in GooberStan,

Stanley