Guilford Country Fair

basset
Originally uploaded by dangunderman.

Vermont has mastered the art of the country fair. If you need proof, make sure you're in Guilford next Labor Day weekend. I attended today in the hopes of witnessing the annual ox pull competition. But alas, the ox pull happened on Day 1 of the fair.

So instead I was entertained by the dog agility competition. You know, dogs running through obstacle courses. Most of them are energetic breeds -- the shepherds, the spaniels, the collies.

Then there was the basset hound. One trainer fought and lost the battle against centuries of breeding. The low-riding pooch would run through the tunnel, then walk in circles, sniffing the ground where the other dogs had been. He'd run over the see-saw, then walk in circles, sniffing the ground where the other dogs had been. He'd jump the hurdles, then walk in circles, sniffing the ground where the other dogs had been. The trainer would have to get his attention after every obstacle.

Pure genius!