… ahhh, the feel of the wind blowing through my fur… the gentle flap, flap, flap of my tongue as it waves in the wind…

Man… if I could only get my head out of the window… I sure miss summer drives when I get to stick my head out the window when we go on trips… I don’t know what the people complain about… I mean, I’m plenty warm in my two coats…

I’m not sure where we’re going on this trip, but I don’t recognize anything… we’ve passed the beach, past the dog park and even past the road that takes us up to the river… WHOAA! Watch it with the fast stops up there… don’t you see me standing up back here? …

…Hey, if we’re stopped then we must be where we’re going… let me know what I can find out about this new place… on, there’s a sign… it says “Charleston Kennel Club – AKC Show…” man, oh, man, don’t tell me we drove all this way just to end up at a kennel… well, if that’s the case, I better get out and check everything out…

Sniff… sniff… I don’t smell myself here so I’d better mark this spot… sniff, sniff… another dog smell over here… and another here… and another over here… this must be the biggest dog kennel in the world… I haven’t smelled this many new dogs since I went to the dog park the first time…

… looks like we’re going into that big metal building… Wow! Look at all the dogs and people… I sure hope they have enough room for all of us… and I REALLY hope they have enough food… I wonder what type of food they have here… sniff, sniff… huh, that smells more like people food, then dog food… I think I may like this kennel after all…

… I wonder why all the people are all dressed up? I’ll ask that Beagle over there… Bark! Bark! Hey, what’s your name? Cool, name… nice to meet you Beasley… my name is Max… so why are all the people dressed up? Usually when my people take me to the kennel they’re in old clothes… something about not wanting to be covered in fur…

Oh… this is a People Fashion Show, not a dog kennel? That makes sense… so I’m guessing the AKC on the sign outside must stand for American Knitters Club? So what are all of us dogs doing here? Oh, we help the people win ribbons… well that makes sense… I mean I already had to teach my person to play fetch and get me treats…

Nah, I don’t think I’ll let my people compete today … I know this is my first time but just looking at how my people are dressed I can tell they wouldn’t have a shot at winning any ribbons…

Hey, good luck with your person Beasley. I hope they win something… if you don’t mind, I’m going to hang around near you so I can hear what’s going on…

… better move closer… pull, pull, pull… it looks like the people are going to walk around in that ring over there… Hey, it looks like Beasley and his person are up first… let’s listen to what Beasley’s saying…

“… Woof! Woof! I can’t believe you wore that tweed jacket with the elbow patches… don’t you know that was sooooo 1980? And will you quit brushing my fur? Have you looked in a mirror? That comb over is not fooling anybody… focus on your own hair… I’m already adorable… and besides, no one is looking at me… I mean, I’m not the one being judged…

All right… time to strut our stuff… you stay right beside me and I’ll guide you around the track… is your number straight on your sleeve? Remember, if they can’t see your number they won’t know which person you are… now, pause… okay, turn… now let’s walk back to the judge…

Okay, good, we made it all the way around the track without you tripping like at the last show… okay, time to stand up straight… Heeeeeyyyyyy, easy on my legs…. If you put them any further back I’m going to fall over… man, you are sure fidgety today… touching my tail, rubbing by fur, moving my legs… just stand still and it will be fine…

… of course, you do have a reason to be worried with that tie you’re wearing. I told you it doesn’t match that jacket… If you only get a purple ribbon I think you will be able to blame the tie…

Well, okay, I’ll let you give me a couple of nibbles on those treats in your pocket… sure I know they’re in there… honestly though, I don’t know why you insist on carrying those liver flavored treats in your pocket… sure I enjoy them, but the smell is out of this world… what if the judge smells you… good bye blue ribbon…”

…Wow, Beasley you sure had your paws full with your person… I hope you get to play fetch after this is over…  I missed the end of your person’s show… how did he do? A red ribbon? Well, that’s not so bad, right? … yeah, I agree, it was definitely the tie that cost him the blue ribbon… hopefully he’ll get a new tie for his birthday…

… maybe I’ll enter my people in the next people fashion show… Nahhhh… have you seen how they dress? Not a chance…