Stunt Dog Experience with Alex

Last Sunday, November 13th I took Alex to see The Stunt Dog Experience at our local Bankhead theatre. After crossing the street between the parking garage and the theatre we stopped to visit Livermore's iconic statue stationed directly in front of a corner ice cream shop. The sculpture is a charming portrayal of a boy sharing his ice cream with a dog. The title of the art sculpture is Sunday with Jessie. Alex patted the top of the dog's head. Many a hand must have done the same. The paint is wearing off in the stroking spot.

As we were about to enter theatre for the matinee show I had Alex pause by the poster advertising with The Stunt Dog Experience.

Once inside the theatre lobby was an area featuring a local adoption agency. Alex made friends with a little chihuahua. Every dog in the show had been rescued from a local shelter or pound. Several were narrowly adopted just the day before scheduled euthanasia.

I encouraged Alex to leave the dog he was petting to enter the theatre telling him there would be many more dogs inside. He needed convincing because I think his philosophy is a that a dog is like a bird – one in the hand in worth more than several in another room. But he and I did eventually head toward our seats. There were banners hanging on the stage.

I took my requisite event selfie of the two of us once we were settled in our seats.

Our seats were in Row L, not quite front row seats, but they were on aisle and the way seats were angled we had a great view. Being farther back was actually an advantage. We could see the full travel of the Frisbees as they were flung from one side of the stage to the other and high in the air, And when there were time trials where the dogs negotiated a slalom, a hoop, a tunnel and a ball catch, we could capture it all with little head movement. Alex laughed a lot, especially when the dogs barked and he clapped with glee at their antics.

After the show some of the canine stars gathered in the lobby for a meet and greet. One of the livelier performers was a part cattle dog mix, a high energy breed. The emcee of the show described him as part clown, part athlete, and part ADD. Alex petted him but we were told the dog was not a lover.

Alex had to go to another cream colored performer to get some doggie kisses.

Although it had been quite sunny when we arrived, the sky had opened up and it was pouring rain as we made our way outdoors back to the car. There was several inches of water building up within the gutters outside the garage.

I had not brought umbrellas but Alex was undaunted and squealed "wet...Wet...WET" as we scurried to the car. Well, "scurried" until our timing was off and we just missed the pedestrian crosswalk light. We had to stand in the pouring rain until it S-L-O-W-L-Y changed back to "walk". The picture does indeed reveal that Alex got wet!

Once home, Alex tried on his new stunt dog T-shirt. Efforts to get him to look at me and smile were fruitless.

Alex preferred to look down and admire his new shirt.

The stunt dogs from the show have fame all their own. From 1999-2000 they performed for every half time show for the San Francisco 49ers home games at Candlestick Park. They have been on television shows such as Late Night with Dave Letterman, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Good Morning America, and the Tonight Show. The founder and emcee of experience is Chris Perondi who is a firm believer and proponent of adopting dogs from rescues and shelters. Check out the web site http://www.stuntdogshow.com/ and scroll down watch the feature video on Youtube. It is an excellent showing of what Alex and I enjoyed so much. There are a few facts about the show in the next photo. The Stunt Dog Experience is two 30-35 minute segments with a 15-20 minute intermission in between. Be sure to take the family when the touring show is near you. 

As I write this post on Thanksgiving Day, the National Dog Show is playing on the TV in the background. How ironic. These focus-bred canines are quite a contrast to the lovable, lively, eclectic mutts from the stunt show. I am learning a lot about the pedigreed pooches. Did you know that the long ears of basset hounds sweep along the ground as they sniff to help funnel the scent to their nose? Terriers have long tails and are white so that when they relentlessly pursue their quarry down a ground tunnel, the owner can see them and haul them back by their tail. I guess mutts, unlike pedigree breeds, were meant to entertain.