143 – Laura Reeves Sings 12 Puppies of Christmas
Laura Reeves Sings!
The last two weeks of the year are normally a quiet, restorative, hibernating time of year for folks. Even with celebrations, friends, family and feasting, the tempo gradually slows down as we take time to review the year past and contemplate the one ahead.
So Merry Christmas crew! As we each celebrate the holiday season in the fashion we choose, I just wanted to take a few minutes to say THANK YOU.
I mean, wow! The first Pure Dog Talk episode debuted Nov. 21, 2016… thirteen months later, we have created more than 140 episodes released on iTunes and just about every other available podcast delivery system. We built a huge, resource-rich website. And we’ve enabled well over 160,000 FREE downloads of knowledge and insight directly from the best in the sport to anyone who wants to listen and learn.
What an amazing gift you have given Mary and I. All of you…. Our listeners, our fans, and so many legends who generously shared your time, your memories and your wisdom. We literally would not be here without you.
Orlando 2016 to 2017
Last year at the AKC National Championship in Orlando, I walked a couple marathons worth of concrete floors, spreading the word about our brand spanking new venture.
This year we were thrilled to announce we’ve joined forces with Aramedia Group, publishers of ShowSight Magazine, to enable the show to reach an even larger audience. Mary and I are no longer a two-girl band!
With AJ Arapovic and his outstanding team behind the show, we have some really exciting plans on the horizon. Each one of which is designed to continue serving our thriving community of avid knowledge seekers in bigger and better ways.
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Puppies, Puppies, Puppies
Let’s continue Celebrating the History of our sport and Creating a bold vision of our future!
Meanwhile, as we all know, I can’t miss out on a teaching moment so here goes.
Puppies make everything better. Gramma always swore it was a hot bath that cured everything from the common cold to a broken heart
Newsflash gramma, it’s puppies. Sweet puppy breath, fat puppy paws, silly puppy antics, gumby puppies sleeping, noisy puppies eating. Puppies encapsulate all that is good and pure in the world.
Of course, there’s also puppy poopie and peepee; puppy gruel; six loads of laundry a day; sleep deprivation; random and limited opportunities to bathe, eat or socialize; no time for Christmas decorating; and, the attendant brain fog descending due to all of the above.
Puppies embody that spirit of renewal and cleansing that make the New Year such a joyous celebration.
As we bid farewell (and for many, good riddance) to a turbulent and divisive year past, let’s raise a glass to the hope, the joy, the pureness of purpose represented in our puppies.
These little ones, if we choose them as our guides, harbor hate for no one. Their affection is not restricted based on race, gender, sexual orientation, creed or national origin. They are equal opportunity employers of beseeching looks, demanding caterwauls at feeding time and sock destruction.
In an uncertain world, we can find comfort, courage, kindness and focus in the unquestioning trust of a puppy’s steady gaze.
Laura Reeves Sings 12 Puppies of Christmas – OMG!
And, because I believe we all need a laugh, especially at what can be a challenging time of year, please join me in a sing along of the “12 puppies of Christmas”…. (A Laura Reeves original production!)
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a puppy in a sherpa bag…
(Caveat, never give a puppy for a Christmas present!)
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, five cooooover ads… four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, six Sprinter tires, five cooooover ads… four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, seven shiny suits, six Sprinter tires, five cooooover ads… four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eight sensible shoes, seven shiny suits, six Sprinter tires, five cooooover ads… four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, nine doggies dancing, eight sensible shoes, seven shiny suits, six Sprinter tires, five cooooover ads… four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, ten tongues a wagging, nine doggies dancing, eight sensible shoes, seven shiny suits, six Sprinter tires, five cooooover ads… four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven puppies squalling, ten tongues a wagging, nine doggies dancing, eight sensible shoes, seven shiny suits, six Sprinter tires, five cooooover ads… four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
And, on the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve friendly judges, eleven puppies squalling, ten tongues a wagging, nine doggies dancing, eight sensible shoes, seven shiny suits, six Sprinter tires, five cooooover ads… four show collars, three air fresh’ners, two towel rolls for my puppy in a sherpa bag…
Peace on earth, good will to mankind from all of us here at Pure Dog Talk.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night…
139 – Dog Show Mentor with Laura Reeves
Laura Reeves on Dog Show Mentor – Safe Travels
At Pure Dog Talk we are proud to support all of our friends providing educational resources to the purebred dog fancy. Lee Whittier, the Dog Show Mentor, recently invited Laura Reeves to talk with her members about travel and safety tips while attending dog events. Lee was gracious enough to return the favor and share the interview with our listeners!
Tips from Laura Reeves
Whether traveling by car, RV or airplane, long distance or short, we have tips and recommendations to help ease the trip.
- PICK UP after your dog!!
- DO NOT wash dogs in the hotel bath tub!!
- Carry a leash and a gallon of water for every dog in the vehicle.
- Pack for safe ingress/egress.
- Carry shade cloth in summer and chains in winter.
- Always be prepared.
- Install a temperature monitor.
- Nothing is more important than your animal’s safety and well-being.
- The best guarantee of your animal’s safety is direct supervision.
- RV maintenance — tires, generators, etc
- Electricity — know what it can and cannot do.
- Long-distance, cross country driving — get dogs out every 4 hours. Get food, fuel, potty dogs and people all in one stop. Plan ahead for shorter drives to accommodate this schedule.
- Keep a light weight pen on top of the stack to set up for young dogs to contain.
- Avoid feeding before driving to avoid car sickness
- Air travel — Not all airlines are created equal — Alaska is amazing.
- Know airline and their requirements.
- Be prepared to provide a bigger crate if needed.
- Fly your own wheels.
- Freeze water buckets to hang in crate.
- Put a small scissor or sharp object in an easily accessible pocket of checked baggage to cute zip ties on crates.
- Easier to travel with a friend.
Personal Safety
As a final topic, Laura offers the Dog Show Mentor some awareness topics for personal safety while on the road.
Input from retired Law Enforcement Officers
- Stay alert and aware.
- Pay attention to your surroundings.
- Body posture, head up, shoulders back.
- Stay in well-lighted areas.
- Situational awareness.
- Avoiding conflict is vastly better than fighting.
- Keep keys and cell phone with you.
- Bad guys don’t want to be the center of attention. Make a racket.
- If you have to fight, cheat. Your goal is to win, stay alive.
- Stay in touch with a friend or family member as regards expected travel.
- Make use of non-lethal deterrents… Pepper spray etc
- Dogs help deter, but don’t assume it will always work.
Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week: Dogs that Chew
Listen in to Allison’s best suggestion for dogs that chew their hair or beds… today on PureDogTalk.com
113 – Laura Reeves: On the Road Less Traveled – Stories of Dog Show Journeys
On the Road Less Traveled, Laura Reeves reminds us of takeaways from the dog show journeys themselves, and inherent dangers too.
Stories and Memories of Dog Show Journeys
The annual road trip to National Specialties is a must for any serious breeder. At Pure Dog Talk we have covered this before. But beyond seeing each stud dog for generations, the continuing education for breeders, the treasure trove of mentors, and the reunions of crazy friends that all have your breed as a common bond, dog show journeys offer something else… the road less traveled.
The Road Less Traveled
Traveling in the Western U.S. equates to hours across Louis L’Amour deserts and desolate places. Tornado watches and a mindful eye to the sky are in the midwest as we drive miles of grassy plains. Dark, winding roads, often slick or snow-covered in the Northeast where a momentary lack of attentiveness can be treacherous…
We all have stories, and most importantly, memories of our road trips.
We laugh about being stuck in the middle of nowhere, so remote that we can imagine “banjo music”.
Make Good Memories on the Road
Good memories result from good outcomes. So being safe on the road, preparing properly for your travels, and being aware of personal safety is something that we care enough to ask you to do.
Safety is not an accident!
This workplace sign goes for dog shows and road trips too!
So please enjoy some stories from Laura Reeves in epsiode #113, and listen and take heed to the “near miss” that could have ended in tragedy.