Frequently Dad is asked do I like the cold weather.

Here is a video of a BRT up North, do you think he likes the cold?

Met Talya on walk downtown.

On a recent walk downtown I met and had my picture taken with several people.  So far only Talya's mother has sent me the photo.  Meet Talya, visiting from Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

I was a little distracted, we were just approaching Amelia Fine Jewelry, where Gigi and John give me cookies. 

We met the proprietress of Hoyt House

Hoyt House is a downtown B&B Inn owned and operated by Ricky and Tracey Escalante.

Hoyt House

We were downtown on our cookie route, when we met Tracey, her son Alex and her grand daughter Brooke, visiting from New Orleans.

Me, Brooke, Ms. Poppy, Tracey & Alex.

Cookie Route - Shops that have treats for us, Amelia Fine Jewelry and La Torre's Gifts. 

Met Daelyn and her mom at Hobby Lobby

Ms. Poppy and I  were visiting Hobby Lobby, a pet friendly store, and met Daelyn and her mom.

Many others stopped to admire us and talk with dad about us.

2017 Paws Parade - 2nd Place

Me and my cart.

 Ms. Poppy supervising.

Micheal & Cody came to fix the pump.

Micheal & Cody, from Mumford & Son Pump Service came by to fix the well pump.  I supervised them while they worked, until the gnats got to bad, and then took this photo before they left.

Micheal, Konna & Cody

Farmer's Market, walk downtown and beacon at Happy Tomato.

Mom wanted to go shopping at the Farmer's Market, so we went.  Dad walked us from the Market to downtown (Coffee Shop), where Mom joined us.  On the way we met Christine and Michelle, visiting from Jacksonville.

After a stop by La Torres for cookies, we headed to Happy Tomato, where Mom & Dad had lunch and Rick brought us some beacon.

Home Depot Today

On the way to the Post Office dad stopped by Home Depot to pick up some supplies for the fence.  While there Cathy came over to talk to me.

She agreed to a pic for the blog.

Cathy & Friends

Met three young ladies downtown

Tate took this picture of me and her friend Jadera while I waited outside Southern Touch while Mom was shopping.  Jadera is a local, maybe I will see her again.

Installation Team from First Coast Installation

The installation contractor (First Coast Installation) from Lowe's Appliance Department came out today to measure the rough opening of the existing wall oven to see if the new one will fit.

Both were dog lovers and agreed to take photo with me.

Met Alexis Downtown This Afternoon

Alexis, from Callahan, was impressed by how calm both Ms. Poppy and I were.  Enjoyed meeting you Alexis.  Two bad we missed you on Saturday at the Car Show, you would have enjoyed meeting my friends Rafa, Cass'ole and Monster.

Alexis

L-R Rafa, me, Ms. Poppy, Cass'ole & Monster @ Car Show.

Downtown with Poppy and three of her friends.

L-R Rafa (BDF), Konna (BRT), Poppy (BDF), Cass'ole (BDF), Monster (BDF)

We drew a crowd where every we went.

Friday Afternoon Downtown

Mom & dad went to 4th Street Deli for lunch, after we picked Ms. Poppy up from her grooming session at Passion 4 Pouches.

After that we made our usual route downtown, a stop at Amelia Fine Jewelry for a cookie then down to La Torres for more cookies.

Coming back from La Torres we met Joslyn and Jovanny, visiting Fernandina from Muskogee, OK.  That me on the left and Ms. Poppy on the right.

Downtown after dinner.

The evening started at 801 Kitchen & Bar.

Then we went downtown where we met Julie-Ann, Kaitlyn & Worth.

Julie-Ann from Tifton with me

Kaitlyn & Worth from Melbourne with Poppy

Georgia from Chattanooga, TN

I helped dad at the 1930 Beach Cottage where I met Georgia from Chattanooga, TN.

Angie Meets "Hot Guy" while vacationing in Fernandina

Angie wrote; "I loved meeting you while I was visiting Fernandina Beach last weekend!!!  You and your fellow canine buddies (Monster and Cassoulet, Bouvier des Flandres)  were all gorgeous!!!!!!

 

I joked with my Dad that I finally met a "hot guy" while on vaca and sent him our pic.... he was less than amused :)

Angie is from Forney, Texas.

Dog Show Terms Defined

A FB friend (Kareen Carruthers) poster this:

Dog Show Terms Defined
1. Great stud dog.....Mounts anything that can fog a mirror.
2. Excels in movement.....If he gets loose, runs like Hell.
3. Personality Plus.....Wakes up if you put liver up his nose.
4. Good bite.....Missed the judge, got the steward.
5. Large boned.....Looks like a Clydesdale.
6. Good Obedience prospect.....Smart enough to come in from the rain but ugly.
7. Quiet and good natured .....In his kennel.
8. Excels in type and style.....However, moves like a spider on speed.
9. Won in stiff competition.....Beat 4 puppies and a 9 year old novice dog.
10. Multiple group winner.....At 2 puppy matches.
11. Pointed.....His head is shaped like a carrot.
12. Noted Judge.....He put up our dog.
13. Respected Judge.....He put up our dog twice.
14. Esteemed Judge.....He puts up anything that crawls.
15. Specialty Judge.....Puts up anything that looks like his own breeding.
16. Won in heavy competition.....The others were revoltingly overweight.
17. Shown Sparingly.....Only when we had it in the bag.
18. Show Prospect.....He has 4 legs, 2 eyes, 2 ears, and 1 tail.
19. Finished in 5 shows.....And 89 where he failed to win a ribbon.
20. Well Balanced.....Straight as a stick, front and rear.
21. Handled brilliantly by.....Nobody else can get near him.
22. At stud to "approved" bitches.....Those bitches whose owners check is "approved" by our bank.
23. Linebred from famous champions.....Ch Whoozitz appears twice 6th generation.
24. Terrific brood bitch.....Her conformation is the pits, but she throws big litters.
25. Wins another Best In Show.....His second, under the same judge, our uncle
 
Author unknown, copied from DogSnobs

Busy Evening Downtown

Mom & Dad were having dinner at Arte's.  Mom was inside holding the table, waiting for Kris, Erica, Keith, Logan, Aiden, & Declan.  Dad was outside, directing them to the back room.  We, Ms. Poppy and I, met  Mackenzie, Joe & Cortney (L - R).  Mackenzie, West Chester, Pa., is visiting Cortney & Joe, 

After dinner we went over to Centre St. where we met Lara, from Cleveland, OH.

Then we met Emily & Mitch from Franklin, IN.

Konna was on duty protecting the house.

Brian, from Overhead Doors, called to say he had finished his previous appointment early and was on the way.  We were driving back from Jacksonville and should arrive about the same time as Brian.  Konna and Poppy (BDF) were in the house, on duty.  I told Brian to go ahead and get started if he arrived before us, the door was disengaged.  We got home an Brian was at work, Konna and Poppy met us at the door ready to charge into the garage.  A few back commands, and maybe the fact that the bag I was carrying had some left over Arby's roast beef in it did the trick, they backed into the kitchen.

Brian said he was dutifully challenged when he opened the garage door, and for some time afterwards.

After their treats Poppy headed for the bedroom with Carol and Konna and I went out to talk with Brian.

Brian agreed to a picture with Konna.

Tuesday, no dogpark, so we went downtown this evening.

Stopped by La Torres for our treat, Steve was on the phone so Dad had to take us in to get the cookies.  Then he was slow given them to us.  I jumped up to tell him I wanted mine, Ms. Poppy did the same.  We got our cookies.

Amelia Fine Jewelry was closed and there were no cookies left on the ledge.  On the way back to the car we met Kate, from Columbus, Ohio.

Made new friends downtown tonight.

Ms. Poppy & I  arrived downtown late, Sound on Centre was over.  We did meet Rob & Deena from Atlanta area.

Police

We met Officer Christina on our walk downtown yesterday.

Met Samantha from Kingston, NY

After the dog park we did a quick trip downtown where I met Samantha, visiting from Kingston, NY.

Dad is a Scofflaw

When mom isn't with us on our walks downtown, he illegally tethers me outside the coffee shop while he goes in to get a cup of coffee to enjoy while we sit outside the shop.

Me illegally tethered outside 4th St. Deli while dad ordered his sandwich, I am doing a great sit-stay.

Dad had his Op-Ed on the ordinance published in Fernandina Observer.

https://fernandinaobserver.com/2017/05/24/citys-proposed-tethering-ordinance-an-opinion

Ms Poppy showing her intellectual side

Reading Harry's New Yorker over his shoulder.

A cousin's mom writes a book about him.

4 yo Titus, who lives on a farm in Canada

Victoria Lechler, has written about her Black Russian Terrier Titus, she made it available for free, on Titus' birthday (4/13/17), it regularly sells for $8.99, and is also FREE if you are a Kindle Unlimited member. 

Dear Titus, Letters I Wish My Dog Could Read, the introduction:

Dear Titus, When we first met you didn't cuddle me sweetly as I imagined you would but instead bit my nose and barked at me. Right then I knew that life with you might not be peaceful but it would also never be boring. You have never stopped making us laugh with your antics, such as, your insane love of the vet that leads you to vibrate like a sugar high kid who ate their entire haul of Halloween candy in a 15 minute binge. Your desire to copy us and be "just like people" has led to you trying to drive the truck, rinsing and spitting in the bathroom after brushing your teeth, attempting to sew and lining up your stuffed toys to watch TV. You are not the easiest dog to bath or clip. When you wipe our face on my towel after refusing to let me dry you off with your own towel or when you sit on me and trap me when I am trying to groom you I am not sure whether to laugh or cry. It isn't always easy living with a genius puppy who has a giant dog body and the curiosity of nine cats but it is often funny...at least for those who just read your stories instead of living through them.

 Dad went to Amazon and got a FREE copy, he has started reading the book, he laughs and looks at me as he reads it.

While walking downtown I got to show off my obedience.

Mom was feeling a little under-the-weather, too much oak tree pollen, and Ms. Poppy kept her company, so our walk downtown was just me and dad.  We stopped by La Torre's, but Steve was busy, so a nice lady held my leash while dad went in to get me a cookie.  It was then onto the coffee shop, where dad tied me up to the hitching post while he went in to get a cup of coffee.  I was a little bad, he had to come out and remind me that I was in a sit-stay.

After dad had some of his coffee we continued the walk.  At Amelia Fine Jewelry, there were no cookies on the ledge, so I had to do a sit-stay while dad went in to get me a cookie.

Onward to Amelia Tavern, where dad was ordering lunch to take home to mom.  I did a very good sit-stay while he ordered.  I repeated my sit-stay when he went in to pick-up the order.

Ms. Anne, who was having lunch on the patio, was so impressed that she came out to say hello, and tell dad what a good dog I was.  When dad explained that I had a blog Ms. Anne was happy to have her picture taken with me.  Ms. Anne is visiting Fernandina from Milton, Ga.

Ms. Anne & I in front of Amelia Tavern.

Two'fer

#1 -  A year ago dad posted a list of BRT characteristics, number 23 was "You will never go to the bathroom alone again,".  Here is what that means.

"Take your time, I'm on watch mom."

#2 - When we were downtown, after the dog park, we met Amanda & Gretchen, from Chicago.  Amanda had grown up with a Bouvier and really enjoyed meeting Ms. Poppy.

Gretchen & Amanda

Ms Poppy was a great breed ambassador yesterday.

After the Animal Expo mom & dad took us for a walk downtown, where they were going to get lunch.  As usual we went by La Torres to get our cookies, then it was on to Amelia Fine Jewelry, to get a cookie from Gigi or John.

After several stops to accept complements and adoration we were finally in the home stretch, between 3rd & 4th streets.  Dad and I had gotten a little ahead of mom and Poppy.  When we got to the corner of 4th we waited, and waited and waited.  Looking back mom and Poppy were talking with someone, on the patio, at Amelia Tavern Restaurant & Brewpub, the new brew pub that had replaced O'Kane's.

Amelia Tavern (from Fernandina Observer)

We waited a little more then finally went see what was keeping Ms. Poppy.  She had met a couple who had previously owned two Bouv's and they were in love with her.  Until I arrived and the gentleman fell in love with me.  Mom and dad gave them my story (an ABRL rescue that turned out to be a Black Russian Terrier).  They discussed how to get in touch with Terry Minda, Valkin Bouvier, Red Square BRTs in Florida, Midnight Rider BRTs in Alabama and BRT Rescue.  I also invited them to join Black Russian Terrier on FB, while Ms. Poppy encouraged them to join Bouvier Des Flandres Appreciation & BOUVIER DES FLANDRES : Too Precious to Be Neglected


We went on to see Jay & Annette at 4th Street Deli, their curbside tables were all occupied, so we checked the back patio.  There was already a couple and their dad, with three dogs.  They invited us to join them, there was room at the table.  Mom shared a little of her corned beef and pastrami with us, dad ate all of his.



By the time we got home and dad PM Nancy (Valkin Bouvier) on FB they had already been in touch.

Hopefully both a  Bouv & a BRT will be getting a new loving home.

Animal Expo 2017

At Animal Expo I met Rylie, who was helping out at the Pooch Pantry table.  She wanted a picture of herself with Ms. Poppy and me.  Here you are Rylie.

Left to Right Konna, Poppy & Rylie.

Slo-mo of me at Dog Park today.

A 120 fps slo-mo of me.




This one emphasizes my gait, at the end I am doing my "fun police" routine, barking with my ball in my mouth.  PS: I told dad to hold the camera correctly this time so you get full frame view.

Poppy is a Brindle, not a grey haired old lady.

My friend Poppy on left.

 Frequently, when we stop to talk to people, they think that my friend Poppy (CH Obvious Smart Alec, a Bouvier des Flandres) is old, because of her gray color.   Not so, she is a brindle (AKC grey brindle), here is what she would look like if shaved.

A Grey Brindle shaved.

Name the breed, Bouv or BRT

I have posted this picture on Bouvier Appreciation asking friends to identify the breed from left to right.

 

The original was posted on Black Russian Terrier site, by Zoe Roberts,with this text:

One cannot have enough BRTs. Our stud male at the very back (looking as indifferent as ever), his 3 lady friends and one of his daughters (f/r). Two of our girls, Raven and Midnight (2nd from the left and in the middle) are Wiltshires only two Search & Rescue volunteers. We are so proud of them and hope to have them qualified by the end of the year

Trip To St. Marys

Ms. Poppy and I went with Mom & Dad to St. Marys.  After lunch we walked the waterfront where we met Becky & Mamie.