Chewie: Renaissance Labradoodle

Chewie has had quite an event filled week.

1. Gromit came to his agility class to show him how to use the teeter
2. Gromit got groomed and Chewie  got to go to the dog park instead
3. Heidi was called to come and retrieve Gromit at the salon and Chewie  decided to ride shot gun in the limo.  Once Gromit was escorted to the car they were chauffered to the dog park - the 2nd trip of the day for Mr. Bugtussle
4. He got bones and a kong in the same day
5. He successfully shook with his "other" paw

But the topper to it all?  He paid his $15 fee, got his picture taken, showed off his rabies vaccination tag at the gate and took the time trip back to the Renaissance Festival with Heidi and Kristin.   

I have to say, I thought we might have a good time with Chewie but I had no idea.  Even as we were registering people were asking us all about him.  When we walked through the gates I can only imagine what sensation there was for him - Turkey legs, pork chops, salted nut roles, horses, goats, fast moving tortoises , sheep, patchouli, sandalwood, sage, smoked jerky, perfume, pottery, dried flowers, herbas, and lots of leather  - leather mugs, leather vests, leather boots, leather hair ties -- phew - Chewie was dizzy with scent overload.  

First stop for us?  A wood craftsman who made board games - cribbage, nine mens morris, and the like  - and for Chewie - a dish of water and dog treats.  That is how it was everywhere -  a whole group of performers stopped to pet him.  We did not go more than 5 minutes without someone addressing Chewie - children, adults, men in tights, women in bone laced girdle strewn long heavy dresses with lacey hair coverings and faces painted, people with wine blushed faces and men with braided beards and pony tails.  Dangles from everyone - men, women, children -everyone had jewelry.  

Early on Chewie was absolutely enamored with the lid less open trash bags - everywhere!  We had one early scare when Chewie's nose was faster than our shoulder and he lunged under a bench for an entire turkey bones and cartilage.  One poor women was absolutely disgusted as I pried his jaws open and pulled the bones from way inside his gullet - like a sword swallower - I think they were long enough to touch his stomach - ugh!  After that every bench was a potential treasure chest so one of us had to keep our eyes on the ground at all times - a different view of the festival. 

Chewie must look exotic with his long dread lock doodle curls - people asked us if he was a bouvier at least 5 times.  Very interesting connection.  

He greeted toddlers with sticky hands, people with canes and wheelchairs, fairies that wanted to dash him with pixie dust - they asked us three times?! -

....

 and then there was the Renaissance Man.   

Now I have tried desperately to read dog body language and communicate with my dogs for the last 4.5 years - but this guy, he is a barker - yelling about his wares - at shoppers -  quippy huzzahs and corny jokes all with a bit of baudiness - inviting people in to his shop - this guy looks at Chewie and smiles and literally barks  at Chewie - 'WOOF" - LOL!  Cute, and it got the attention of people - but what happened next was hysterical - Chewie turned and gave eye contact and barked back -  and from there they had a conversation and I believe Chewie had the last rapid fire woof woof wooooooof, nose and snout happily leaning up to the sky - then he shook himself and trotted up to this very tall man and sniffed and smiled and allowed himself a few scratches from this kind man.  

Not sure the sun could make the day as happy as it made me to watch Chewie as the ambassador of goodness for Bugtussle and the Labradoodles.   Perhaps next year he will need to wear something with dangles or at least some leather - maybe something other than his twins collar - maybe a little patchouli...  

Finally - Chewie met the piglet at the petting area -  a new experience for him - he was reinventing himself during the festival - he was his own Renaissance Labradoodle!  Huzzah