Slice of Nice

And Romeo make 5, months that is!  I’m working on the 2010 Arizona Border Collie Rescue calendar.  I first met Romeo when he was a puppy at Travel Hounds USA.  Romeo’s Mom is my friend, Layne, who owns Travel Hounds.  Ever since I’ve know Romeo, he’s been a very shy border collie and only warms up to you if you are worthy.  I was delighted to take pics of Mr. Romeo when he was a pup and this is one of my favorite pics and probably will show you his personality more than I can describe.

Owning a store full of agility equipment, you would think that Layne would have an agility dog - and as I see it - she finally took a step to the dark side and was going to try out her BC agility dog.  However, Romeo had different ideas.  There was something about agility that he wasn’t really keen on, so one day, Layne does what every BC owner seems to do at one time or another - she went herding with her Romeo. Most of those who run off to herd fall in love with the sport.  I think it’s something about watching your dog do what they were bred to do.

As a photographer, it’s really hard to capture the herding shots you think you should be taking.  For instance - the dog working the sheep.  I have always wanted the shot with the herd in the forefront and the BC coming around them.  But, alas, sheep and herding dogs don’t go where photographers want them to go.  So, I go for one of my other favorites - the BC watching his sheep.

I also love to focus on the sheep - because they seem to be talking in some of the shots.  Or they just look plain vacant.  I would title this one “Sheep Talk”:

As a dog lover, I really enjoy watching the border collies herd.  It is just fascinating that they know this stuff to the core of their being.  Watching Romeo herd was especially fun because I have known him since a puppy and Layne’s struggles with his shyness and finding something that he likes to do.  Romeo, the herding dog, is COMPLETELY different from the Romeo I’ve met.  He is full of confidence and walks with a completely different air about him.  I have no doubt that the calendar picture we pick for him will be of this new Romeo on his way to being a herding dog extraordinare!

The Arizona Border Collie Rescue 2010 Calendar should be available for purchase in September 2009.  Keep an eye here for ordering information!

Yes, we were in the ‘Windy City’ as the Chicago Cubs started their tradition playoff downfall.  But, we didn’t have tickets to that event, we were at the HH Backer Pet Trade Show launching the Slice of Nice Greeting Cards.

Slice of Nice Greeting Card Booth at the Pet Trade Show

There were two entire floors of pet product to wade through.  I truthfully don’t know how all the buyers are able to process that much information during the three day show!  As a pet parent, I was in the mode of “I need that, Emma needs this, Casey would LOVE that”.  I told Gary that it wouldn’t do for me to own a pet store of any kind.  Thankfully, that’s not what we are doing!

Anyway, we met alot of nice people and some good dogs as well.  I think the dogs got the better end of the deal at the show, as most of them had strollers to ride around in and each booth had a cookie for them to try.   We were across from Paws Fur Ever, which were selling these plastic paw boxes.  I had his sales speech down within the first day.  And as a lovely parting gift, we now have a set of four coasters.  I could also demo the Ultimate Leash for you as well, since they were across the aisle from us too.  I actually took two of these home for the Slice of Nice models.

But I think the most fun product that came our way at the booth were something called Kitty Boinks.  This kid was being towed around the show with his parents and he was entertaining himself with one of these KB’s.  Of course I was watching him facinated because I am a big kid at heart.  He spotted me and came over and shot me with it.  After much instruction and goofy trial and error (picture a 35 yr old woman in business casual dress contorting her body around in an effort to master a cat toy) I was finally able to master the toy.  I felt quite accomplished.  The boy, who I swear will grow up to be a sales man, disappeared.  However, he did reappear later bearing a Kitty Boink just for me.  So, I spent the rest of that day playing with my KB during the lulls in traffic and came to realize that while entertaining myself with it, it helped my sales technique.  Not only had it put a smile on my face while my feet were trying to remind me how much they hurt, my antics interested countless trade show attendees enough to come over into the booth and we struck up a conversation.

All in all it was a nice convention, a great launch, and a great learning experience.  People who do trade shows on a regular basis, just like dog handlers, have this fortitude for greuling travel schedules, long hours, and gypsy living.

Check out some of the favorite cards at the trade show:  Dog Sympathy, Christmas and New Puppy.

Here are a couple more booth pictures:

Emma

Here is the shelving we used to display the cards.