One of the reasons that a lot of my clothes have permanent, blobby, black stains on them.

It was quieter last night at Dirt Nite. Otterpop and Ruby had to stay in the car. I'm still not sure how much to run Otterpop, and the night before she may have run around on the beach at low tide. OK. She did run around on the beach at low tide. Low tide. Sunset. Big open beach. The dog has to have some fun.

I figure though, let's not test out the theory of Is That Cruciate Ready to Blow Yet by adding in some agility the next day. Ruby had to be the buddy system for her. Was a crappy night to be them. Although, life couldn't be that bad if someone keeps telling you, "Here. Enjoy another nap. On the house."

It's wonderful and sonically amazing how much less barking there is when Otterpop stays locked away in napland. And I can do something productive with Gustavo so he stays distracted from the border collies. We worked on his latest trick. I'm trying here, people. Right now, it's the basic little dog jump up into your arms trick. It's a simple trick. All the little dogs know it, including 2/3 of mine. Simple tricks are good for Gustavo and still take a long time to teach. But I'm trying to get him so he leaps up onto my stomach and runs up my chest. Like how I've seen him climb trees. Then hopefully I can teach him to bank off of me, and leap back down. Wouldn't that be a funny way to put him into a down on the startline?

Dirt Nite is a super place to work on this. Because it gives him something else to focus on when border collies are running. And also, because it rained this week and the dirt is extra damp and clammy and clingy, making this a really super trick to teach a dog with filthy, dirty feet.

You know that super is a code word, right? A code word that pretty much sums up why much of my wardrobe has permanent, blobby blackish stains all over it. If you ever notice this, just think, super.