So Proud of My Boy!

[Jen, Lachlan, and Declan]

My puppy sitter (and Lach's honorary aunty Cindi) invited Lachlan and I to attend the local kennel club fun match and potluck yesterday, so with some misgivings I cleaned the pup up and hauled him to the park. Gotta admit I was imagining lots of "Hi, this is my pogo-stick ...ermmm ... puppy", but decided that it would be worth it for getting him out and surrounded by other dogs, people, and general chaos.

Lach's just turned 6 months and in the middle of the "I'm a daft puppy" crazies, the attention span of a coffee bean, absolutely convinced that all dogs and people love HIM as much as he loves THEM, so I fully expected a foaming-at-the-mouth whirling dervish at the end of my leash for the day. He surprised me. No, he stunned me.

We arrived at the park and I snapped his lead on and let him hop out of the car. He turned around, saw all the dogs and people, stopped dead and looked at me with huge eyes like a little kid, "Wow, mum, COOOOOOL!" Then he heard Cindi call his name and "OMG! OMG! She's here too! Is it my birthday?! YAYYYYY!!!" He got big hugs and fuss from Cindi, then introduced to the rest of her small crowd and their dogs ... lots of wiggling and puppy excitement .... and lunch was called.

I'm looking at him ... the crowd of people around the small table at the other side of the rings ... trying to work out if I'm even going to be able to get to the table with him through all those people and dogs ... and one of Cindi's friends asked if I thought Lach would stay with her while I fetched my lunch. I honestly wasn't sure how he'd react to that, but confidently handed her the leash and walked away ... trying not to look over my shoulder and let him see that I was concerned. Heh, no reason to be. He watched me walk away, then turned to her like "Hi there, gorgeous! I'm your new best friend!" No fuss at all.

Get back with my food and plop myself into a chair, she hands me Lach's leash so she can get her own food, I loop the leash over my wrist and put my foot on it so he can't jerk my wrist and send my paper plate o' munchies flying. He eyes my plate and promptly lays down at my feet like a grown-up! (One thing I've done from the start with him, "I'll probably give you a bit of my dinner ... but ONLY if you're laying down, mister.") Pretty soon everyone else in the group, having had to crate their own dogs in order to eat, is giving him bits of chicken and commenting on how polite he is!

(Smart little man! "Hey, all I have to do to get fed yummy stuff is lay here and look cute!")

One thing happened that made me laugh hysterically. A lady came up to me and was telling me all about the kennel club and how I really should consider joining and coming to the monthly meetings. She was ever so sweet. Then she asked me about Lachlan's breed and I explained, with a straight face, that he's a Goldendoodle. "Oh, he's a mixed breed?" Yeppers. "Oh. I don't know about that. Well, you can ask the club president anyway, I suppose." I was just smiling and nodding and silently wishing she'd go away and leave me to enjoy the afternoon ... and at that moment Lachlan looked up at her and gave her one of his amazing belches, "braaaaaaaaappppppp", then turned his back to her and sat down.

Yep, that's my boy!

We stayed three hours, eventually getting up and actually walking through the crowd. Yes, walking. Calmly and politely. He even, I swear to you, SMIRKED when we walked past an ex-pen full of hysterically yapping Shelties. When we said our good-byes the entire group complimented me on having such a calm and well-behaved puppy! (Who are YOU and what have you done with Lachlan?!)

I don't even have the words for how proud I am of this pup!

[Bonnie and Kona]

What a good boy Lachlan is and I love his comedic timing!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Great job buddy!! The belch was the best timing!

[Ellen, Brûlée, and Tira]

What a fun post!  Your retelling of the kennel club experience was so funny.  Lach is one cool Dood!  Good on you guys!

[Frannie & Callie]

Lachlan - you're a perfect doodle ambassador (and I'm happy that you burped at that snobby lady...who doesn't seem to realize that most "pure" breeds started out as mixes!)

[Lindsey]

LoL- I LOVE that he burped!!! Good boy Lachlan!! :-)

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

fantastic!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

That's so awesome! Way to go buddy! What a good (and smart) boy you are!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Lachlan, You are a good pup and you knew just when to burp. Way to go!!!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Way to Lachlan!  I can tell your mom is bursting with pride (and well deserved).

[Elizabeth & *Kosci*.]

Congratulations on having a well behaved boy.