Dog days.

We survived another county dog show.
It really isn't that dramatic, as in survived, except that one never knows what little mishaps and events may take place when dogs are involved.

This year it was just a near-mishap. The dogs slept the entire night in the house last night, as rally and agility is judged Friday night, and showmanship and obedience on Saturday morning. I didn't want to take the chance of having to wash the dogs again on Saturday morn, so thus, a night indoors.
The twins slept with the dogs on the living room floor. When I came downstairs this morning, the dogs were getting "belly scratches" from the girls. Apparently Jasper shared Lilah's pillow. Hey, at least the dogs were clean. While the two handlers were getting ready for show day, the twins opened the front door and the dogs took off...running...towards the neighbors, maybe?...
This was near the time we were to leave. The dogs were called, no dogs...
We loaded into the van, crossing our fingers that they hadn't headed for the nearest swamp. After a loop through the neighbors' yard, the dogs came running, meeting us, thankfully just wet from dew, no mud.

We got to the show in time.

The dogs and their handlers did fine, ribbons in colors from red to purple.
The true win was while waiting for others to finish their events, I witnessed Ted sitting on the ground with Scooter, nuzzling him, nose to nose, then stroking his head and humming to him.
I am convinced that after competing together, a kid and his dog develop a bond- they were a team, and they survived. Ted was quite nervous today, but together Ted and Scooter accomplished the goal, competing in the show, they have been working for all summer.
After receiving his ribbons, Ted told me he wants to be in dog training again next year. He's been pretty certain all summer that he wasn't going to do it next year.

It makes all the driving kids and dogs to training sessions all summer worth it.