Yesterday was our dog obedience club’s annual picnic. It’s kind of like a pot-luck – the club procures the “entree” and everybody brings side dishes, appetizers, drinks, desserts, etc. to share. By picnic’s end, if you’re not stuffed to the gills, you’re not trying. 
It’s the only time in the year that we all get together and just let our dogs play. We’re lucky enough to have a member with a beautiful, spacious, and full-fenced yard, so all the dogs can just run around, chase balls, chase each other, and have a wonderful time.
Torque and Booker loved playing with five-month-old Portuguese Water Dog puppy Revel – she’s a sweetie pie and we think Booker’s more than a bit smitten. There were over a dozen dogs there – with no fighting or any other issues.
One big reaso
n for that is “crate town.” Everybody has portable crates for their dogs. When we’re involved in competitions, we want our dogs to be able to relax. And, frankly, we want to be able to go the bathroom. So we all have these collapsible crates and seem to just set up “crate town” whenever we get together. It makes eating a picnic meal from the plate on your lap much easier when no cold, wet, nose is trying to assess the fare.