Showing posts with label Woofstock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Woofstock. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I'M WOOFING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS

OK, let's play a new game shall we? The name of this game is: Only in Toronto ...

Only in Toronto would you have an event for dogs, in which you are encouraged to bring your dogs, that is entirely inside.

Only in Toronto would you have an event that featured a dog talent show where one of the humans declared his pet's trick was doing "whatever he wants to do" The dog laid down by the way. Gave me goose bumps

Only in Toronto would you have a gigantic state of the art convention centre transformed into a dog kennel and said convention centre's "state of the art" being an area filled with wood chips, just perfect for pooping

Only in Toronto would you have not only have vendors selling "gourmet" dog food but selling "gourmet holistic whole free range raw diet" dog food .. and no, I didn't make that up (OK I made some of it up, stop being so observant)

So what we have here is the winter version of Woofstock. And no, I don't suppose all those things are exclusive to Toronto but it is probably an urban conceit to host an event where hundreds of dogs are attending, all inside.

No I did not take Terra. When you own a border collie, you learn to avoid any situations that may lead to them mocking you, as in "Seriously, you brought me to play with all these dogs .. in a building .. with fake grass ... seriously?"

Anyway, here's the video. I'm hearing derisive canine snickering from the other room

Monday, June 13, 2011

WOOFSTOCK TORONTO 2011: ONCE AGAIN THIS BLOG GOES TO THE DOGS

When does caring for your dog become over indulgence? Sometimes that determination is subjective; some people allow their pets on the furniture, we do. Some will tell you that permitting the dog on the couch puts you at their level instead of clearly demarking the ling between human and dog. Valid argument but I feel I do enough in that area to establish my dominance so to speak. Mostly, though, people just can't deal with the idea of sitting on dog hair. I'm used to sitting on hair, usually my own, it's not a problem.

This brings us to Woofstock. No, that is not the remembrance of the Woodstock Music Festival by an old hippie who's brain has been addled by overindulging in the smoking of red oger dogwood (it doesn't work .. or so I've heard)

Woofstock is a celebration of all things canine, held in several cities around the world and bi-annually here in Toronto. It has been running for several years and is quite popular be we've never before attended.

We did not take the girls. Held in the homey St Lawrence Market district, I knew that the festival would attract tens of thousands of people on a sunny Sunday (sunny Sunday, don't you love when that works out that way) in an area of closed off streets where they would have to be on leash ... not really an enjoyable past time for a pair of border collies who would much rather be off leash and running someplace, any place, fast.

But I had heard that were many vendors there, all in one location, selling their wares cheap and it was a nice day to and mingle with some dogs

There is a stage at Woofstock where people perform goofy dog tricks and display canine fashion. Now goofy dog tricks I can dig. I think all dog tricks are or should be goofy. That's what a trick is, just something silly, like a high five or playing dead or catching treats off their own nose. Tricks are different from discipline. Tricks are just for fun and to help develop a bond between you and your dog. Anytime I spend with the girls, giving them attention, is good for all of us

Doggie fashion is something else. I don't include warm jackets and boots in this; we live in Canada and some short haired breeds need a little help to enjoy the climate. Fashion is different. Fashion is putting angel wings on your dog, or dressing them in costumes.

I mentioned over indulgence. There you go.

Mostly we wandered around, picking up the doggie essentials; chuckit balls, poop bags, treats, some homeopathic meds for Hayley's arthritis and just having fun meeting the mutts and watching them play and interact.

I've gone to the dogs. How happy am I now.

NOTE: There is a video that goes with this blog but Blogger seems to be having a problem with my embed code and is garbling the video. Until I get things worked out follow this link to the video



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