Tuesday the 7th, Day 200

WOW... We went to the NEATEST place the other day...

Dad and Pa have noticed how my svelte form is a little... TOO svelte. That is to say, there's a little too much of me in all the wrong places. *sigh* I have been on a diet, and although I have finally lost 3 lbs (YAY!!!) I am still... well. How can a girl put it? Out of shape. (If *sausage* were a shape, I'd be just fine!)

One of the answers to this, is DOING STUFF.... and not just laying around. *ugh* ...but because I am SO a-skeered of everything, especialy small dogs, or dogs who bark at me, or strangers who pet me, or or or or... Pa and Dad had been trying to work on THAT instead of taking me to the dog park like other dogs do, to stay FIT and in shape!

I've recently discovered how cool tennis balls and frisbees are, but our apartment is very small... so...

They finally decided to give me a chance, and see how I would do, at the Off-Leash Dog-Park!

YAY!!

At first, I was nervous. We sat on a bench, and I watched some owners bring dogs in and play with them. I stayed on my flexi-leash, and Dad and Pa were very careful, introducing me to the other dogs and people... but Gradually, I got more and more interested in what was going on... Did you know some dogs bring their own tennis balls? I love tennis balls- they feel good in my mouwf...

I found out they taste even BETTER after they've rolled around in the dirt, bark, and leaves, and have been mouwfed by a whole LOT of dogs... WOW. That tasted great!!!

After Dad and Pa let me off the leash, I started to mingle and all, and I found out a lot of the dogs were REALLY neat people! Some of the owners were pretty special too- some, I would duck if they tried to pet me, but others I would rub right up against! I liked some of them- But best of all was watching all those DOGS!

I even met another Rottie! She was so tiny... but I liked her.

I saw a BIG german shepherd whom I thought was very handsome... I followed him around and told him how handsome he was- but he wasn't too interested. darn.

I made friends with a pretty pit bull mix who was a creamy brindle on top of a BRIGHT white!

I saw some TINY dogs who barked at me, but they weren't even as big as the CATS! wow. That's saying something. I left them alone, because small dogs are dangerous, you know.

I watched a strong and VERY fast lab, and I wanted to play.... he even kept inviting me to play! ...but I was too shy.

All the dogs were having a pack game of chase-the-ball, and I wanted to join in, but I was still to much of a wallflower. I stood near the spot where they gathered, by the human (a stranger to me) who was doing the throwing, and I was kind of a fringe-dog. Meeting people, watching them run out and then back... I was probably saying things like, "wow, you run fast..." and "ooh, good catch!" but Dad and Pa don't speak Rottie- and I was only talking in body-language. I didn't bark or growl, or yodel, or nuffin! I was so very sweet.

It surprised them very much, and I overheard them talking about other play times- like after work sometimes, or on the weekends... wow. That would be so great. Maybe I would work up my courage, and play a game or two with other dogs! I might like that more than I let on... herding them might be fun, after all... herding the CATS is my favorite game at home, you know!

WHEW

All tired out!

Big Bertha