Salty Dog

...without the salt, as this is a fresh water river. Darwin has yet to have his first chance at swimming. Currently, the river is just one big drinking bowl to him. Someday, though. Someday we will see if he will be a swimmer. (Of course, we will do this in an area where we won't have to worry about him getting sucked downstream or anything like that).

On the bank of the Clark Fork river.



Such a goofy boy.



-Mel, Corgi-keeper

Corgi in the tall grass

"Hi. I'm hiding. See how well I blend in? My Mom will never find me."



"Uh, oh. She spotted me."



"Getting closer, Mom."



"Well, now that you're here, watch as I enjoy the sunshine in all my corgi glory."



-Mel, Corgi-keeper

The Tao of Corgi

In Taoism (ancient Chinese philosophy) there is a theme similar to acting as a 'stick in the river,' i.e. there are some things you cannot change, so rather than fighting them, you need to let go and float on like a stick in the river, letting the current take you where it will.

For Darwin, we call this philosophy 'frisbee in the wind' and he embraces it rather well. He may not know where we will be going on our next adenture, or what will happen, but whatever comes, he will be there to face it with a wagging tail and all his bright enthusiasm, embracing the change so long as his mom (or dad) is at his side.



-Mel, Corgi-keeper

Dog on a Log

Darwin's Dad took him back to the state park yesterday while I was at work and thoroughly tuckered the little guy out. When I arrived home this evening, we decided to take him on a quick jaunt there again. What amazed me was that he recognized the place the third time pulling into the road that would lead us to the parking area and was making Cardi grunts of anticipation. It was rather adorable :).

In between thowing the frisbee and enjoying the nice day outside, I managed to snap a few pictures of Darwin in a new location for him: on top of a log. He wasn't quite sure about all this at first, but since he'd been asked to alternatively to sit or lay there, he did it.





The other thing that has amazed me in the last two days is that Darwin has been resorting to napping in his crate. He apparently sees this as his haven for finding deep sleep (as he sleeps in there at night and has since before he even came to us). He'd never really showed interest in sleeping in there on his own during the day until yesterday when he was tired enough it apparently seemed like the best place to nap. Tonight he has been switching back and forth between sleeping in the crate and under my chair, depending on my location. I really love this dog.

More pictures from this evening's walk coming throughout the course of the week.

-Mel, Corgi-keeper

Darwin is Official!

A few weeks ago, I finally decided what I wanted to have as Darwin's AKC registered name, so I sent in the papers. They finally arrived back.

He is: Shadowalk (the name of his kennel) Dog of a Different Color

I'm rather excited about this, as he is my first registered purebred dog! (The other was the golden retriever I had as a kid, and though I wanted to have him registered, we never did...).

-Mel, Corgi-keeper

A Day Out

As it was such a nice day and my husband and I actually had a morning off together, we decided to make an adventure out to a nearby state park we had never visited but had been suggested to as a good place to take your dog and running them off-leash was allowed. So, we packed the pup into the car, along with his breakfast, grabbed some doughnuts, and headed out!

Darwin was so excited to be going somewhere (and particularly, to be going somewhere with his frisbee) that he would not eat his breakfast before we left. I poured his food into a bowl and we took it with us. Once Darwin was secure in the knowledge that he wasn't going to be left behind (and, more importantly, that the frisbee throwing would not be happening immediately) he decided to eat his breakfast,unconventially, in the car.



We arrived, and Darwin was excited by the prospect of running free in the woods. However, he was quick to remind us that we weren't there only for a nice stroll in the park (i.e. see below).



He wasn't enjoying himself at all, now was he? (and also was deciding not to quite cooperate with my idea of taking his portrait by the river).



"C'mon Mom and Dad, my legs are much shorter than yours and I'm still faster than you!"



As we neared the end of our walk, the little pointy-eared one was given a few more rounds of frisbee to wear him out so that he might spend the afternoon asleep.

"Here I come!" Galloping towards us as top speed.



Getting closer....



And back at last. Those frisbees can sure go quite aways in that open space.



We were assaulted (and by assaulted, I do not mean these other dogs were aggressive, more that there were a lot of them all at once, they were all friendly, happy, goofy dogs) by a hound, two labs (one a pup), and a rottweiler on the way back. Darwin greeted each in turn (and at one point, we almost had a train of one dog sniffing the next dog's rear sniffing the next dog's rear, etc.), and then we were off to the car. No pictures of this as it was a rather chaotic moment and the camera was off and stowed away.

Happy dog on the ride home.

"Thanks, Mom and Dad. I'm ready for a nap now, but can we go again soon?"



-Mel, Corgi-keeper

Eye C U

In a close-up, you can see that Darwin has glorious golden eyelashes. These are one of several orange "highlights" that he has.



-Mel, Corgi-keeper

Guardian of the Silver Chair

Sleeping on the job.



He suddenly becomes aware that someone is watching him.



"I see you! You cannot escape the notice of my enourmous ears."



This is Darwin's favorite spot when I am at my computer. In fact, I always make sure he has vacated the area before I move my chair anywhere, as I don't want to squish him. He definitely likes to be as close to me as possible no matter where I am located in the apartment.

-Mel, Corgi-keeper

**Photos by Diane Hargreaves

Mortar boards kinda look like frisbees...

At least to the untrained eye....

"Mom, those two things are not the same!"



He insisted we throw the frisbee instead of the cap to celebrate his graduating.

*Note: Please forgive the shoes and the bag of empty plastic containers in the background. I should have moved them before taking pictures, but didn't.

We may not have quite passed our CGC this weekend, but we did finish advanced obedience, so that's what the hat is all about...

"See? I'm a good boy. I'm wearing the hat all nice. Can we throw the frisbee now?"



Proud boy.



"Really? Another one? At least I don't have to wear that insipid hat this time."



"Fine. I'll smile."



"And look. I will do a trick for you. Now throw that darn frisbee already!"



"Whatever you say, Superdog...." The frisbee is thrown. There is a clack of toenails and a flash of a fluffy butt, and the photo session is over.

-Mel, Corgi-keeper