Vern is NOT a Size Medium!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Years ago, before I married my husband, one of the things that convinced me that he was the one happened when he gave me a sweater for a gift in a size medium.  Maybe he needed new glasses or maybe he was a bad guesser, but no one had ever gotten me a medium sweater before and I was not going to let this man get away from me. Of course, I had to exchange the gift, as I was pretty sure I wasn’t even a medium at birth, but that was beside the point.  Now, years later, I have the biggest dog I have ever owned, who could never fit into a medium anything.

 

Yesterday, I was wandering the aisles of TJ Maxx, when the Halloween department caught my eye and in particular, the dog costumes.  I know many of you are strongly opposed to dressing up our dogs in costumes, but luckily for Fudge and Vern I am not one of those people.  I even had a friend look at me like I was out of my mind and ask me if I took them Trick or Treating.  When I said, “I’m not an idiot! Of course, we don’t go Trick or Treating. I am doing this for pictures.” I am not sure I made my case.

 

Well, imagine my surprise when I came across an adorable lion costume and the package showed it being modeled by either a Chocolate Poodle or Doodle.

It was like a sign from heaven to put that costume into my cart for my own Chocolate Doodle, Fudge. Luckily, it came in an XL and I knew Vern would take a turn too being a lion.  I showed my family when I got home and watched them shake their heads and then tried to put the thing on Fudge.  Let’s just say Fudge makes a strong case for the Naked Doodle Club and is not always as pliant as Vern is when it comes to modeling clothes. She did not seem to want to be a lion for Halloween.

 

Unfortunately, for the only other model I had nearby, it was his turn next. The anticipation was at such a high that even my daughter and husband waited eagerly for the results. Here is Vern modeling the XL Lion costume.

Notice the way it clings to his curves.  It sort of reminds me of trying on wedding dresses when most of the sample sizes came in size six or eight.  Getting this costume on Vern was like getting the sausage into the casing and I just kept saying over and over,  “This is an XL. Where do we go from here?” and thinking my sweet Vern was going to have to join Weight Watchers.  My husband said, “Maybe you could start treating them like they are dogs,” but I was too busy trying to think up other costumes to pay much attention to him.

 

After the photo session, I decided I had either just flushed $9.99 down the drain or I was going to need to enlist more help in getting that costume on Fudge.  Later, I went back into the kitchen and picked up the package only to see that somehow I had purchased a size MEDIUM and not an XL. How could I have made such an extra large mistake? I wasted no time telling my Vern that he wasn’t going to have to start keeping track of points and going to weigh-ins and that he was just big boned after all. 

 

(Here he is hanging his head in shame right before I told him it was all my fault)

He was so happy and Fudge was even happier, when she saw me packaging up that medium for a return trip to the store. Little do they know, they had plenty of costumes there for exchange and this time I will get the right size.

[Sue, Lola, Pongo & Hubby]

This is too cute. Vern looks so adorable in that lion head that I could cry. Our doodlies are so tolerant of us constantly poking and prodding at them.....I love them!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Poor Vern!!  I'm not sure even the XL is going to fit - you may have to go to the "Big and Tall Shop" for his costume.

[Becka]

It looks like the lion is trying to eat Vern.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I was thinking that the medium would fit Peri!!!!  He looks hilarious!  I love it.  Did you get the right size already?

[F, Calla & Luca]

OMPDs. Oh my, poor doodles. As you may surmise, or even remember, I am a firm believer in naked doodles. I only dress myself because of public decency laws sometimes. BTW, this just reminded me that thee is a nude beach at Sandy Hook. Some folks accidentally ended up there this year since the usual access road was barricaded. The doodles would have been happy. If I didn't know it was all done lovingly and that no animals were hurt in this photo shoot, I would have to turn you in. But do tell F and V they can come here for a respite.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Leslie, that is hilarious! "I"m not fat I'm big-furred" That suits Sophie Bear so well. She is so skinny under all that doodle fluff.

 

"Fat Guy in a little coat" was from Saturday Night Live. One of my all time favs. It's exactly what I was thinking too!

[Leslie and Halas]

That's so funny!  It reminds me of Chris Farley's "Fat guy in a little coat" routine from whatever movie that was.  Except Vern's not a fat guy.  He's just big boned.  When Halas is really fluffy, I describe him as big-furred.  My mom made a bandana for him that says, "I'm not fat. I'm big-furred."

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Hey Vern...my mother is just as crazy as yours!  She is always dressing me up and I have become quite good at posing for the camera.  I too am a rather large Doodle.  I am a 73 lb Standard GD but very slim and fit at 4 years old!  My DP (Doodle Parents) are traveling right now...in fact they are on YOUR coast in Boston.  They are flying home tonight so tomorrow they will come pick me up from the Dog Ranch where I am staying. Since they didn't leave me with anything other than my cell phone so I could e-mail them, I am unable to attach a photo of my last year's Halloween costume.  Go check it out on my page.  I am a full sized "Sheep" and my costume was an XL that my mom ordered on line.  I can send it to you if you want to wear it.  You also might enjoy my smell since my mom likes to keep me fresh and clean...though I am really a Tom Boy at heart and love to get dirty just like you.  I think we could really be great friends!

[Jennifer and Jack]

OMGosh, what a way to start the day.. I love it..... So funny, Him hanging his head in shame had me laughing out loud.......

 

I just have one question?? why don't you take them trick of treating??? Jack goes... We walk around with the kids in our neighborhood, a lot of people have treats for dogs in my area.. I also have a huge basket of healthy treats for the dogs that come to our house.. I like the idea because this way all the neighbors get familiar with each others dogs so we know where to return them if one gets loose.

 

Jack goes to more Halloween parties then me, we go to PetSmart one, our town one, now the one at my mom's dog park, and a private party one.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

@Jane, did you get them at Cozy Critter?  I ordered my guys the Candy Corn collars too!  Black background with the orange and yellow candy corn????