Snapshot Chronicles

Susan Getgood's personal blog

  • Home
  • About Snapshot Chronicles
  • Privacy & Disclosure
    • Cookie Policy
  • Getgood.Com

To Cash

04.14.2019 by Susan Getgood //

Ch. Blueberry’s Cold Cash June 8 2007 – April 7 2019

Last Sunday, we made the hard call and said good-bye to our dear sweet boy, Cash.

Ch. Blueberry’s Cold Cash at about a year old

Cash was one of the most beautiful Scotties I’ve ever had. His head was perfect, and his body was totally in proportion, just on the slightly smaller side. But his real super-power was that he was the nicest dog you would ever meet. Everyone loved him. Immediately.

Cash at about 5 months old

And he liked everyone, but he adored my mom. When he was born, I wanted him to be her dog, but it didn’t work out that way, right away. But when we all moved in together in 2012, he adopted her as his special person. If you were looking for Cash, just find Sandy. He was meant to be her dog and he knew it.

Cash in our backyard. Mom’s foot.

His partner in crime for more than 8 years was Penny (Ch. Blueberry’s Copper for a Kiss, at left in picture below.) She’s missing him quite a lot right now, but slowly getting back to herself.

In the end, we had almost 2 more years with him than we expected. He was very ill in June 2017, with fluid around his heart and an apparent slow bleed, and was sent home from the hospital for “quality time.” He had a few illnesses over the almost two years, but each time, miraculously he bounced back. This last time, though, there was so much going on in his poor body, that the hard call was the only call. So we said goodbye and sent him home to be with his mother, Reva.

See you at the Rainbow Bridge, buddy. We miss you.

Cash

Categories // Dogs

Reflections on Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, 2014

02.19.2014 by Susan Getgood //

I attended Westminster 2014 as a guest of STAINMASTER, official Westminster carpet partner

Reva watches Westminster (2007)
Reva watches Westminster (2007)

Sky the Wire Fox Terrier went Best In Show last week at the Garden, and if you want the play by play on the judging, there are more than a few sites that will give you the scoop.  And of course Sky and her handler were all over the TV talk shows the next day, plus the traditional victor’s lunch at Sardi’s and a walk-on in Kinky Boots.

Instead I want to share my perspective about what Westminster means to all dog people, breeders/exhibitors and pet owners alike.

The Winter Olympics may be alternately #sochifabulous and #sochifail, but for a few days every February, New York goes to the dogs and it is marvelous. Like nothing else in the world.

Even though I have been living in the NY area for more than three years, I haven’t attended the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show since 2005 when we were showing Carly (GCH Blueberry’s Attitude Dancing). Thought about it many times, but could never quite push the button to buy the ticket. This year though, the folks at STAINMASTER reached out to see if I’d be interested in joining them at the Show. The Garden is only a few blocks from my office so an easy walk over after work to enjoy the final three groups and Best In Show on Tuesday night.

It was a lovely evening. I’d forgotten just how magical Westminster is.

And how important it is for educating and informing the public about the sport of purebred dogs. Even though there is probably an all breed dog show within driving distance of your home at least every month, if not every week, most folks will never attend one. Westminster and the other two nationally televised dog shows (the National Dog Show/Kennel Club of Philadelphia held mid-November and broadcast on Thanksgiving and the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, held every December, this year in Orlando) are how most folks experience the sport.

Which is both good and bad. The good of course is that people get a chance to see so many beautiful dogs; if they attend breed judging during the day or watch it streaming online, they can see some of the top specimens in their favorite breeds, not just the breed winner that competes in the group at night. Not as many as you would see at a national breed specialty (a show connected to the the national breed club for a specific breed) but some of the very best.

The bad is that the pageantry of Westminster can sometimes give the wrong impression of the sport as elitist and snobby. Certainly some dog people are; just like in any population of people you got good ‘uns and bad ‘uns. The pageantry is part of the celebration, just as parades and medal ceremonies are part of the Olympics. Dressing up in the ring isn’t showing off; it is showing respect —  for the dogs, the exhibitors, the spectators and the sport. People dress up to show at ALL dog shows; Westminster just raises it up a notch.

But the sport isn’t just for rich folks. Perhaps in its early days it was, but then again, many leisure activities and sports that we enjoy today used to be the sole province of the wealthy. And yes, at a certain level you need money or a sponsor to afford to compete. But again, true of any sport. Without commercial endorsement, many Olympic athletes wouldn’t get the opportunity to compete.

The reality is that showing dogs is hard work. For owners, it is an expensive, but rewarding, hobby. You don’t do it to make money. You do it because you love the breed and are committed to improving it. Dogs are purpose-bred to do a specific job, and in the end, the dog show is about selecting the best examples of the breed. Not the “prettiest” or best groomed. The ones who, if necessary, could best do the job of their breed, and therefore most worthy of passing on their genes.

All the dogs you see on TV are champions, grand champions, group winners, best-in-show-winners. They are the top examples of their breed. They are also someone’s much loved dog. Whether the dog lives with his breeders, owners or the handler, every single dog you see in the dog show is well loved.

Dogs is quite simply the only hobby you will ever have that loves you. And that is why dog people do it. Not for the winning, although that’s nice, or even the puppies, and that can be even nicer.

It really is all about your dog.

Westminster this year was especially fun for me because I could share some of my knowledge about dog shows with the other guests in STAINMASTER’s suite. Usually when I am at dog shows, I am with long time breeders and judges who have forgotten more about dogs than I will ever know. This year though I was able to share what little knowledge I have with the other guests — the brand managers from STAINMASTER, their PR firm and the other bloggers and journalists. I was nowhere near as good as David Frei on USA Network but hopefully my little bit of inside scoop helped them enjoy a great dog show even more.

STAINMASTER WKC cropped
Courtesy STAINMASTER

STAINMASTER was there as the official carpet partner as part of its introduction of a new pet-friendly carpet line, STAINMASTER PetProtect. You could see the carpet throughout the show at the Piers, where breed judging was held during the day.

I was very impressed with the thought that went into creating this carpet. In particular, they use a color-safe process to dye the carpet fibers, which makes it less likely to fade under the demands of the inevitable pet stains.  In the house we rented prior to moving into our current home, we had wall-to-wall carpet, and an old dog, and we used to joke about the “crop circles” in the carpet.  STAINMASTER PetProtect also has a custom cushion system with a special moisture barrier designed to protect the subfloor and reduce odor.

Not to mention the really cute commercial, #unshameyourpet:

Categories // Dogs

Commercials worth watching: P&G Thank You Mom/Raising An Olympian series and Budweiser’s Super Bowl #BudweiserPuppy

02.02.2014 by Susan Getgood //

Disclosure: I attended a press event for the launch of P&G‘s Raising An Olympian short films last fall.  I have no connection to Budweiser or the #BudweiserPuppy.

Normally, I write about commercials over on my marketing blog, and share my opinion about both execution and effectiveness, focusing on how well they reach  (or don’t) the target audience. While it is entirely possible that I will get around to a post about this year’s Super Bowl and Olympic entrants,  just in case I don’t, I want to offer up some purely personal opinions about P&G’s 2014 Thank You Mom/Raising an Olympian campaign and Budweiser’s stellar Super Bowl entrant, the #BudweiserPuppy.

First P&G.

The company began using its Olympic ad budget to  recognize the mothers of Olympic athletes  in 2010, as the “proud sponsor of moms” and continued in 2012 with a massive multi-brand campaign around the London Summer games, #ThankYouMom. The cornerstone of the 2014 campaign is a series of films (28 worldwide) interviewing Olympic and Paralympic moms about “Raising an Olympian.” 

And it’s a winner. Not just because it tugs at the heartstrings, and makes you want to call your mom. I like this campaign because it is a positive portrayal of mothers, something we don’t see as often as we should in advertising. More often than not, Mom is a stereotype.

Certainly those who criticize the campaign for its focus on moms have a point; in all probability, Dad is equally supportive of his athletic child and may even be just as likely to buy toilet paper or chauffeur to early am practices. But, at the end of the day, the audience knows that. Thanking Mom doesn’t detract from Dad or pretend that he isn’t a part of the story.  

For me, however, it does go a long way toward offsetting the many negative or stereotypical portrayals of women, and especially mothers, in mass advertising.  These moms of Olympians are real people. Even if our kids will never win a gold medal, we can identify with their hopes and dreams for their children. We have them too.

Another reason to like this year’s campaign is the Raising An Olympian films themselves,  which give as good a picture of the hard work these athletes, and their families,  have invested in achieving their dream as any network-produced biography spot.

Budweiser. You win at Super Bowl commercials. That is all. I even allow artistic license on two things that a responsible breeder would never do: the “puppy adoption” sign and  letting the new owner put the puppy loose in the car.

 Update 2/3/2014: A fellow dog breeder and good friend reached out to me this morning about the #BudweiserPuppy ad. There *are* a few things about the ad that a responsible breeder would hate, as they give the wrong impression about dog breeding. Specifically, and I reference them above, a breeder would never have a Puppy Adoption sign on her property nor would she let the new owner take a puppy loose in the car. If you don’t come with the crate, you don’t get the dog.  Also very unlikely that the puppy would be able to sneak out so repeatedly.

It’s also pretty clear to me that the woman is supposed to be a responsible breeder, not a shelter or rescue. You only see one breed and a litter of puppies. Would it be more realistic if you saw the dam? Would it be better if they hadn’t had the “adoption” sign? Sure, but this is a commercial. It’s fake!

I truly believe Budweiser wanted to make a heartwarming, puppy-centric commercial that would sell some beer. Not spark controversy about purebred versus shelter dogs. 

And it is a great commercial. It’s funny and cute and animals, and I’m just choosing to forgive Budweiser for mistakes that I attribute to artistic license. Most viewers wouldn’t get that the woman was a breeder without some sort of sign, and I prefer to think they just didn’t know that the term “pet adoption” is often used to bash purebred breeders. The crate? You can’t have the heart-wrenching scene with the doggie in the car window, followed by the Clydesdales and the dog running home, if the puppy were crated. It’s a story.

But it bears repeating. If you want to adopt from a shelter, go for it. Just do your homework and know what you are buying with your “adoption fee.”  If you are interested in a purebred dog, that’s an equally good and responsible option. Do your homework on your breed, and look for a responsible breeder through the national or local breed club  or the AKC. She won’t have an adoption sign on her lawn, she will put you through a pretty exhaustive check before she sells you a puppy (and rescue will be JUST as strict), and if you don’t have a crate on the day you come to pick up your puppy, it won’t be going home with you.

Hey #BudweiserPuppy – maybe you could share some of these tips with your many followers?

Enhanced by Zemanta



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Categories // Advertising, Dogs Tags // Budweiser, Super Bowl, Super Bowl advertising

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

Travel Posts

chicken and waffles with egg and syrup

Where to go, what to eat when in Philadelphia with kids

Spring has sprung, and I’m out and about

More Posts from this Category

Recipes

Coconut Custard Pie

It’s been a while — a LONG while, but I’m ready to start blogging again. Starting with some original recipes I created as part of a Monthly Baking Class I just took — Baking with Christina Tosi of Milk Bar fame I created this pie to evoke the memory of a Coconut Custard Pie I […]

Potato Galette Recipe

On today’s menu, Potato Galette. Super easy. All you need for 4 generous servings: 2 large potatoes, olive oil, salt and shredded cheese of your choice. Slice the potatoes very thin. I use a mandoline. Toss with olive oil and salt, some herbs if you wish, and then layer in a pie plate, alternating a […]

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

More Posts from this Category

Search

Posts

  • Where to go, what to eat when in Philadelphia with kids
  • Coconut Custard Pie
  • To Cash
  • Election Notebook (2016): Hillary at the Apollo, Trump’s abortion remarks and Maddow rocks the house
  • Childhood Hunger in America: What you can do to help

Archive

Social

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Copyright © 2023 · Modern Studio Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
 

Loading Comments...