So 2009

I acknowledge that it's odd to make a post about stuff that happened last YEAR, but I had no time to make a post about this earlier. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

=> AKC Dog Show :3

My dad had a media gig at the AKC dog show on my birthday, so I tagged along. When else will I ever go to a dog show? It's not like I'll ever buy tickets to attend one. :v

If you've seen dog shows on Animal Planet, you'll recognize many of the scenes I snapped here. It's quite similar to what you see on the telly.

^ There was a large area separated for last-minute dog grooming before the ring. Very amusing when you see dogs of all builds being fussed over with clips and combs.

^The ring! The dogs and owners are very professional and ready-to-go in the arena for judging. The contestants will run around the ring, get examined by the judge, etc. A small snack to persuade obedience and a comb for a last run-thru was always present in the owner's hand.

^Now here is something you most likely have not seen on TV. Outside, a large pool with distance markers along the side offered another contest. You guessed it- whoever jumped the farthest pwned. The trainer will toss a toy/bone into the pool, and the dig will (hopefully) leap, fly, and land in agua. The average for a large dog was 10-20 feet. For high-flyers, it was 22 ft. For very timid dogs, it was 3 ft- here were a few amateurs who were adamant upon staying on dry land amidst much encouraging by their owners.

^There were stalls and booths featuring quality dog food, pillows and blankets depicting dogs, fancy collars, and many other canine paraphernalia. My favorite was the Jog A Dog, as seen above.

^The agility course is everyone's favorite. Unfortunately, all I can say is that it is the same as what you'd view on Animal Planet.

For noobs, this is how agility races go:

The trainers have a few minutes to go over the obstacle course without their dogs. Each jump, ramp, tunnel, see-saw, etc is labelled numerically. Time will be added unto the dog's run and they will have to correct their mistake if the canine makes a wrong move out of order. The dog and the trainer has one chance to go through the course as fast and perfectly as they can. This causes very precise commands and gestures from the trainer and quick thinking on the dog's part.

It's incredibly intense.

^There were also booths in a seperate floor in which each one featured a different breed.

There are definitely more types of canines than you can shake a paw at.

...This is what you guessed it would be...

a Herding dog demonstration!

Here's how it goes: Dog sees geese/cattle/animals, owner gives command with voice/whistle/crook, dog herds animals to whichever direction.

You may think that there'd be a spot of trouble when the geese scatter-but they don't. Animals like to stay together when there's danger, right?

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Over winter break, I

-saw the Blue Man Group

I must say that for 70-80 bucks per person, it wasn't worth it. The show is entertaining and fun, but the humor is overdone and the performers take up too much with everything. The audience had to pass up toilet paper for 15 minutes, and most of the time, the Blue Men were drumming. The special effects and the music is pretty coolthough. It really depends on you if you want to see it, but I regret not going to Soleil's Beatles Show (Love) instead.

-had chocolate fondue @ the Melting Pot. It was chocolate heaven but don't go there, it's a ripoff.

-visited the City Center in Vegas. IT WAS SO COOOOLLLLL

YOU HAVE TO GO THERE IF YOU EVER VISIT VEGAS, IT'S VISUALLY STUNNING