Dog Day Morning

In the time Before Cora (BC), I used to go for walks at Point Isabel just to enjoy the scenery and the happy dogs running free, off-leash and loving life. I was a little envious of all the dog owners, who seemed to be having just as much fun as their dogs, but at the time, I had two cats at home and a full-time job. I'd enjoy the walk and a stop at the cleverly-named Sit and Stay Cafe, but always wished for a canine companion to enjoy fully the Point Isabel experience.

Ever since Cora arrived in our lives, I've been thinking of treating her to a morning with her brethren. She gets mightily excited when other dogs are around and her herding genes come to the fore - she always tries to get any and all dogs (and people) into a bunch, and will run and bark tirelessly until she is satisfied. I had my doubts about how she'd react to hundreds of dogs at a time.

This morning being sunny and crisp, the lure was irresistible; after a hearty breakfast of Cheese Dreams, I bundled her into the car and headed for the park. Point Isabel has 23 joyous acres of grass, water, fields and sidewalks and ever so many dogs of all descriptions, from mincing Chihuahuas with attitude to lumbering Newfoundlands without - Cora was on overwhelm from the first minute. She ran, she chased, she sniffed, she barked, she waded up to her watchit in the puddles - in short, she had a whale of a good time and would still be there running if a kind stranger hadn't stepped on her trailing leash for me to bring her to a panting halt.

Then, off to the aptly-named Mudpuppy's, a facility where one can either bathe one's own dog or have the kind staff do it for you. I opted for the latter and went to Sit and Stay for the best cup of coffee I've had in the Bay area while they rinsed all the mud of the morning from her coat. The dog I got back 15 minutes later was sweet smelling, fluffy and ready to go again! This girl has stamina!

We came home, however, as I had had enough walking for one day and as I write she is flat out in the sunshine, yipping in her sleep, reliving in her dreams a fine dog day morning.