It's Just a Little Dirt

Last Saturday was one of those first warm days of spring where I just can't wait to get outside and soak up some sun.  It's also a great opportunity for some quality time with the Pajamas.  I couldn't very well enjoy this wonderful day without her!
We took her to the off leash area in High Park to give her the freedom and give my arm a break.  Her leash comes off and she lets a few celebratory barks.  Freedom!  We walk along at our own speed, while Pj blasts along ahead.  She slows when something extra intriguing catches her nose and she falls behind as we move along the path.  I call her name, and hear her the tags on her collar jingle.  A sure sign that she's abandoned that yummy scent to catch up with mom.  Just as soon as she catches up she's off again in front sniffing out the trail ahead.
It was all very calm and relaxing as we wind down the hill and on to the paved path.  I recalled a previous trip down this path that left my dog a muddy mess and prepared myself for the worst.  Sure enough, along the paved path runs a muddy area that leads to the river.  Pajamas, along with most of the other dogs were venturing in the mud as they moved along ahead of their owners.  Sure Pj was getting muddy but it was just her legs and belly.  Easy enough to clean off with a quick dip in the river before heading to the car.  And she needed a bath anyway.

Jenna casually mentions how impressed she is that I am calmly accepting my muddy dog. "It's just mud," I say feeling quite proud.  As if on cue, Pj stops.  She flips over on her back and begins rubbing her back in the mud.  She tosses.  She turns.  She flips over and lets both sides of her face slide through the mud one side at a time.  Now she really is dirty.  Dirty doesn't even begin to describe it.  I am shocked!  I am slightly embarrassed and it is too late to do anything about it.  I hear a guy say, "Woh, the dog used to be white!"as he walks by my dog and she playfully slaps her paws through the mud.  It's true.  There isn't an inch of white on her.
Since it's already a lost cause we continue on our walk with Pj running and rolling her way through the mud.  When it's time to go, we find a stick and play a little bit of fetch in the river to help wipe off the mud.  It works like a charm on her lower half, but since she doesn't dunk her face or back in when she swims she's now white on the bottom and black on top.  Better than nothing I think to myself.
We put Pj in the backseat and take her home where the two of us head straight to the bathtub.  It's takes three sets of lather, rinse, repeat to get the majority of the mud out before I finally let her free and give her a good rub down in the towel.
And then it's time for the best part!  I wrap her in the big towel cover her in a blanket and cuddle up for a nice long nap together with the afternoon sun coming in through the window.  It truly was a wonderful day, muddy dog and all!