As part of winning Mr Puppy UK, I was automatically entitled to be entered in to Mr Puppy EU, held at LeatherPride in Antwerp, Belgium. This would be fine, but this puppy hasn’t been abroad in over 12 years, my passport was long since expired and lost… Thankfully, and to my surprise, between Christmas and New Year a new passport arrived for me. Pity I had to just be domestic in it though!
With my owner travelling abroad more often than I have, he was put in charge of flights and hotel bookings, and all I needed to do was drive to the appropriate airport, make sure I had all the pup gear with me and perform at the competition.
Thankfully, both sides came together quite well – we touched down in Brussels, and headed to find a train to Antwerp. Both my owner and I were initially disappointed, however, when we discovered we couldn’t go on a double decker train and had to make do with a normal train. However, due to the price differential, we did manage to book first class which was nice and comfy!
We arrived in Antwerp, duly booked in to our hotel and found our room was MASSIVE! We then got things sorted out ready for Saturday and then thought about heading out with two things in mind: finding the venue location so we knew where we were going on Saturday and also to go out to find food 🙂 It turns out that our “Double Room” was actually the suite though, so we were extremely happy. We wandered around, found some food and then after food we followed some people dressed in leather and headed up to the venue with them to see where it was and plan the route from the hotel… this was probably perhaps just as well, and thankfully an easy straight walk to and from the hotel.
The Saturday duly arrived, and with the bags packed for the trip out, we headed off to the venue. As part of the Mr Puppy EU competition, I was having to stay for a dinner afterwards, but my owner was not able to. We started off with being introduced on stage in front of an audience, before heading back to Camp K9 for a playtime and a chance to meet and chat. Next on our agenda was a chance to play in the mosh pit in front of the judges with the other pups – which was great fun if a little tiring! Unfortunately due to schedule changes on the main stage, most of the competition was now to be held on the Sunday!
The Saturday also gave us a chance to wander around the venue and see what else was going on; chatting to people from Regulation, and spotting a Vac Cube that people were able to play in.
By the time Saturday evening came around, my owner left to go for his food and back to the hotel while I went to the meal… well, it was just as well I remembered the route home, as I was a very happy puppy at the end having consumed quite a fair bit of red wine… the only thing I remember is that I talked to lots of things on the way back to the hotel, and that every puddle seemed to come out and catch me! After rinsing Spot and hanging him up to dry, I sorted out Sunday’s attire and then curled up for the night.
The Sunday was the big day… I put Rubber Spot on in the hotel room due to it being light and spacious before we set off down the event. Due to the weather, had to pull on my combats and fleece over the top though, which was a bit of a shame. The reason for the rubber was that I was dressing to impress at the interview stage of the competition *wags*. The interviews were the first thing of the day, so after the nerves of that were over, it was time to get changed out my rubber in to the normal Lycra outfit.
A chance for a quick rest, then it was on to the obstacle course, set up around the Camp K9 area. I thought I did quite well at this fun and enjoyable task, but it was completely up to the judges who were watching. After the Obstacle course, it was on to lunch – porridge in a bowl with some Pain au Chocolat and Belgian Waffles as a side snack. To say I made a mess eating this was an understatement…. I had porridge everywhere as I ate like a puppy would! Though porridge sets like concrete on the end of my nose!
After a period wandering around selling raffle tickets, it was on to the next two items – the final two things on Main Stage before the voting – a “Howl Along” and a “Puppy’s Got Talent” contest.
First up was the “Howl Along” … this was to be done in a similar way to “The Voice” from UK TV … 4 judges face away from the contestant and if they like what they hear as a song then they turn around. … I had a mental block and forgot the second part to my song and so my owner rushed back to grab my phone so I could do some last moment listening to the track to try and memorise the second half to my song. 2 pups before me and then came my turn! I was scared and nervous – not helped by the fact I still couldn’t remember the second part to my track. Too late now! The track started…
“*screech of tyres* … It must be Cruella. Your dearly devoted old school mate. Cruella de vil – that’s it”
Then I started to howl Curella de Vil as a pup. I got through the first bit ok, and then came the bit I couldn’t remember – so I just howled Crulla de Vil over and over. Thankfully not for to long as moments later the compare said to stop the track as all 4 judges had turned round. I was so relieved that was over!
One pup had a second chance due to being unable to hear his track – and I rushed out to support them and help them along with the beat of the track as they deserved all the help that could be given. I know that once he’d completed his moment, all the other pups dashed on and gave him a hug too.
The “Puppy’s got talent” was more fun, but not as well executed as I’d have liked … I tried to do some drawing with my puppy mouth – which was fine without the pup hood on, but unfortunately once the hood was on I couldn’t see the pen. … I made do with the best I could, and presented my paw print and name on paper to the judges and then after a quick moment on stage I wandered off backstage having completed the Talent section.
Then it was on to the public voting … and just a chance to casually wander around encouraging people to vote for me 🙂
Finally…. we were on to the results section and it was time to gather in the “backstage area” for the results – all of us nervous but supporting each other. We were all dragged up on stage, introduced and then the results were announced. Due to the time it’s taken for me to put paws to blog, everyone knows I came 3rd 😀 *wags*
There was a great camaraderie amongst all the entrants, and my congratulations to Bjoyd de Woef for winning!
We then proceeded to head out to a meal with the team and Bjoyd and then it was time to head back to the hotel, pack up and get ready to head off on the Monday morning.
… but that wasn’t all that went on during the weekend. Part 2 to follow shortly 😉
