Callie is an Awesome Dood, Chaper 942

[Frannie & Callie]

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to any of you that I think Callie is the greatest thing since sliced bread. One of the reasons is her "go with the flow" attitude.

Yesterday, we had quite a day planned...early morning walk, haircut (for me - Callie got groomed on Friday but she is a welcome guest at my salon), tennis match, then we were both invited over to a friend's house to visit (me with their new baby, Callie with their dogs). Callie was a dream through the whole thing. We went on a good exercising walk (I sometimes have to remind her that we're on a WALK not on a SNIFF), where we some some of our preferred neighbors and their kids and dogs. Then, we went to the salon. The receptionist there is a former vet tech and she could not be crazier about Callie. Callie was so sweet and well-behaved there that one of the women who was also getting her hair done decided that she wants a doodle and left with instructions on how to put in applications for IDog and the DRC. What a good doodle ambassador!!

After the haircut, we headed out to the tennis center. I'm not sure why I ignored the signs that said "accident on 285E (the highway we were about to get on, in the direction we were heading) but we were stuck on the road for 45 minutes. Callie just hung out on the backseat and looked out the window and didn't make a peep. We got to the tennis courts and Callie was instantly the belle of the ball. Everyone wanted to pet her, find out about her, etc. She handled it all with great aplomb. We found a shady spot to watch my mixed doubles team at play and a teammate's daughters take turns feeding Callie ice cubes (which she won't touch at home!). After a few hours of this it was time for us to leave. As I was walking through the gates, I saw a different group of friends playing their matches and went over to say hi. I got there right as my friend David (who was on the courts playing) started saying "I don't feel very well". I was pretty sure I knew what was going on - it was very hot yesterday (it was around 90 degrees, which can translate to 100+ on the courts) and David hadn't played summer tennis in Atlanta before. At best it was heat exhaustion, at worst, heat stroke. Unfortunately, I have a lot of first hand experience in this, because I'm a fainter and have (embarrassingly) fainted many times during tennis matches. We made David (who kept insisting that he needed to keep playing, even though he couldn't stand without help) go inside the clubhouse to get cooler. Callie was right there with us, helpfully licking sweat off of David's legs as we put ice packs all over him and made him drink water and eat some salt. When that wasn't making him feel better, I had my friend Steve keep Callie and took David to the ER where they got him in better shape with massive amounts of IV fluids. Once David once home and resting, Steve brought Callie back. He reported that Callie had a great time with his 3 year old daughter and their dog, Sparky. They went on a nature walk and to the dog park. I was SO proud that Callie was a good girl with them. Then, being the loving girl that she is, she went and snuggled up with David and gave him lots of doodle kisses, to help speed his recovery.

This all may seem very ordinary to y'all, but Callie is the first dog I've ever had who could/would do all of these things, and it just makes her all the more precious to me!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think it's wonderful that we can take our Doodles anywhere and expect them to behave. We never did that with our other dogs...probably because we were also coping with kids at the time. Now we're getting in the habit of bringing Guinness & Murphy with us, and they're getting to be pretty easy going and flexible. It seems like the more places we take them the better they behave. Callie sounds like such a sweetheart and perfect Doodle role model.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Callie sounds like such a good girl. Not to mention the fact that she is extremely adorable!

[Christine & Shelby]

Callie - you sound like an amazing Dood! I can relate to the hot temperatures... I live in TX and it is already HOT! I've never experienced summer before (I was born Oct. 2009), but mom keeps mentioning getting my summer hair cut this week... sounds like we both will be cooler doods in a few days! Glad you friend is feeling better - sounds like you really had a fun day!