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[CardiCorgiOwner]

MAYBE I SHOULD GET A BORDER COLLIE

The big dog show is this weekend. Riley, my Cardigan Corgi, finished his novice obedience title a few months ago and we haven’t been in the ring since then. Riley is entered in Novice B today. I go and check out the rings and they're great. Curtains on all sides and fully matted. My hopes for placing rise.

The steward calls, "Number 37" and Riley and I proudly trot into the ring. I seem to have his attention. The judge says, "Forward" and off we go. But wait. The leash is heavy. It feels as though I'm dragging dead weight. A quick glance down reveals the problem. My dog's nose is INHALING the ring mats. Not just sniffing but INHALING. As I continue to drag him down the heeling pattern, I cannot get him focused. I ask the judge if we may move on.

As we move to the figure 8 exercise, Riley begins to respond to me. Now we're back on track. I begin to do the outside loop of the figure 8. Uh oh. Leash is heavy again. Really heavy. And twitching. Riley is now laying on his back, four stubby legs straight up in the air and squirming with a huge smile on his face.

I try to pick him up but am unsuccessful. The crowd is laughing.

The judge allows us to continue. At heel free, I take five steps forward, but Riley is still sitting at the start line. I call him. He takes two steps then drops onto the floor, on his back, wiggling all over. Again, the crowd laughs as I attempt to scoop him up.

Soon, it is time for stays. At least this is one exercise he can do. He's never broken his sit-stay. I leave him and walk across the ring. 30 seconds into it, he begins to lean. Tip over, really. He's trying to sit, but it's hard to sit when you are also trying to inhale the ring mats. He finally falls onto his side, facing me and all the other exhibitors, spectators, stewards and the judge. This is horrifying, because, after he has fallen over, I realize that his, hmmh, his, well, his, "winky" is hanging out for the whole world to see.

Oh my God.

The judge dismisses us from doing the down-stays. "Thank you" I reply.