1 I've been doing a lot to prepare for Westminster next week, like staying in shape in Karen's exercise yard.

2 There are lots of toys for me to play with here, as well! Toys keep dogs minds stimulated, keeping us sharp and smart!

3 There are also other Chow Chows for me to socialize with at Karen's house, which also prepares me to be around all the other dogs at the show, both big and small!

4 It's hard to believe that the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show begins on Monday! We've just received all of our official documents for the show.

5 This is my offiicial identification card.

6 As a precaution, Karen took me to the Blue Ridge Veterinary Office to get microchipped. I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure what that meant, but Vet Tech Melani Bowman and Dr. Carol Filchner made me feel at ease!

7 Another vet tech, Lisa Wenner, filled out my paperwork and explained that a microchip would be implanted under my skin between my shoulder blades. If I ever get lost, a vet can scan the microchip and find out who I am!

8 It's a very common practice these days and more reliable than tags. I don't usually wear a collar around the house because of my thick fur and a microchip clearly states that Martha is my owner!

9 First, they scanned my body to make sure I didn't already have a microchip. Like I'd forget about having a microchip!

10 The microchip is smaller than a grain of rice and fits inside a syringe. I thought it was going to hurt - who likes getting shots? The vet techs were so nice and quick, I didn't even feel it!

11 The vets showed me a photo of Martha holding a Jack Russell terrier who is owned by Dr. Edward Shelly from the veterinary clinic! What a small world! By the way, all kinds of pets can get microchips. It's a really good idea!

1 Sharkey, what are they guys doing in the vegetable garden? It usually doesn't see much action this time of year! Let's investigate!

2 Normally, in the depths of winter, the ground is so frozen you couldn't possibly dig like that. Plus, it's usually covered with snow!

3 That's right, Franny! This has been an exceptionally mild winter, allowing for the guys to get a head start on garden preparations for the spring!

4 At the start of every growing season, the garden gets turned over, meaning the first ten to twelve inches of soil is dug up and flipped.

5 But, before that happens, any weeds are cultivated out and discarded in the compost pile. There, those weeds get 'cooked' by the heat of the decaying organic matter, killing their seeds.

6 Once that job is done, the digging begins, a process that aerates the soil. You could even spread a layer of compost first to incorporate more nutrients into the soil. You can smell that this soil is very nutrient-rich!

7 Phurba, you're doing a splendid job! Franny, aerating sounds like a good idea, but it seems like so much work. Why is this done for the garden? Isn't it just...dirt?

8 Think about it, Sharkey! This isn't just dirt, it's what plants live in! Aeration helps replenish nutrients and provides a loose soil for vegetable roots to grow deep and strong.

9 Right! It's all coming back to me now, Francesca. It also helps with good water drainage. Is this the next section to turn?

10 Yikes!!! No way, Sharkey. This is Martha's prized asparagus and rhubarb plot. This section never gets turned!

11 Sharkey, all this talk about vegetables and nutrients has made me hungry! Let's go find a snack!

1 Sharkey, do you remember that hysterical commercial during the Super Bowl with the French Bulldog? The dog that looks like you? Well, I found it online, so let's watch it again!

2 Oh Franny, who could forget this one, about the Frenchie racing against greyhounds? It's kind of making fun of our breed with our stout bodies and short legs. We don't much look like the racing type!

3 Then, along comes Mr. Quiggly! Sharkey, he really looks so much like you!

4 Hmmm...Yes, there is a strong resemblance, but he seems to have many more wrinkles around his neck.

5 You're right, Sharkey. And besides, Mr. Quiggly is a handsome male and you are a beautiful lady.

6 Sharkey, what about those running shoes he's wearing? They must have special powers to make him run so fast!

7 If we order shoes like that, do you think we'll run as fast as Mr. Quiggly? Just think about it - the squirrels around here wouldn't stand a chance!

8 I've seen shoes for dogs before to protect paws from harsh elements, but I've never seen dog shoes for running!

9 Besides, Francesca, you can't believe everything you see on television! I think this is just a clever commercial. Staying healthy and fit is what will keep us in shape for squirrel chasing, not shoes!

1 I chased a squirrel right into this big hole in this apple tree! There's a bird feeder nearby and the squirrel has been eating the seeds!

2 You're right, Sharkey! It's too dark to see him, but I can certainly smell the critter!

3 Hmm, it smells like a common gray squirrel, right Franny? They don't hibernate in the winter like many other animals. But they often take shelter inside hollow tree trunks to stay warm and to stay near a food source.

4 Hey, squirrel!!! Come out of there! You're eating all the birdseed. You know, there's no such thing as a free lunch around here!

5 Maybe if we both shove our heads inside the hole at the same time...

6 Wait, Sharkey! There's a hole at the top of the tree, too!

7 Say, I have an idea...let's flank him! You stay down at the bottom and I'll just jump up to that one. He'll have nowhere to go!

8 One, two, three - jump! Such athleticism!

9 Aw, come on, darling sweet little squirrel! We just want to play with you!

10 Franny, I'm beginning to feel like a foolish Frenchie. I think we've been had by that squirrel. I think he used that top hole as a back door and now, he's outta here! Probably sitting in another tree laughing at us!

1 Francesca! GK! There is something strange outside! It appears to be some sort of green animal about Frenchie size!

2 I'll just wait here, where it's safe, while you girls investigate. That green color is kind of disturbing.

3 Hmmm, it's shaped like one of the miniature donkeys except that it's much more miniature! But our mini donks are the smallest size there is! And they definitely don't come in green! We need a closer look.

4 Well, Francesca, would you look at that! It's a topiary in the shape of a donkey!

5 Topiaries are often made by trimming trees, shrubs, or bushes into shapes. This is a different type of topiary.

6 Oh I see, the donkey shape is actually a wire frame, which appears to be filled with sphagnum moss. Sphagnum is often referred to as peat moss, as it's often found growing on top of peat bogs.

7 You know what? I can pose like that, too. Why doesn't someone make a topiary of me? The art of topiary has been around since Roman times. What better way to be immortalized?

8 How about this, Sharkey? Is this a good pose?

9 Or should I look off this way, like I'm daydreaming?

10 Just think, people all over the globe could decorate their lawns with Topiary Francescas! This could be big, Sharkey!

11 Oh Francesca, you're so silly. We don't need a topiary version of you—one of you is enough!

1 Sharkey! Do you smell what I smell? I think we're on the trail of a red fox! I'm told that the red fox has a variable diet, favoring the seasonal availability of small mammals and birds.

2 Francesca, I heard some of the crew say that they saw a couple of foxes recently right near our house! That's why the cats are locked inside and why we need to be especially careful out here!

3 Sharkey, I also heard that red foxes are the leading animal hunted for the fur in the winter, so they need to find a good hiding spot. Where would you hide if you were a fox?

4 In the winter, foxes live in dens or burrows underground to keep their litter of pups warm. They usually stay close to a source of water for drinking...Hey, I have an idea!

5 Francesca, I don't know about this. Do you really think a fox would take shelter in a drainage pipe? I'm too scared to look!

6 Hello? Are there any foxes hiding in this drainage pipe? Sharkey, I don't see a thing in there!

7 What is it, Franny? Did you pick up the fox's scent again? If there really is one here, we should be able to smell where he's been marking his territory. Too bad he doesn't realize this is our territory!

8 Sharkey! Look! I was tracking something all along...it's...a jaw bone!

9 Let's take a closer look at this!

10 Hmm, judging by the length and by the placement of the incisor and canine teeth, I believe this is definitely the lower jaw of a fox! What do you think, Sharkey?

11 I think you're correct, Franny! It looks like one poor fox has met its end! But that also means that there's something bigger than a fox out there to worry about!

1 Rather than rooming in a hotel, Gerry Roberts has graciously invited us to stay with her in her comfortable home.

2 Gerry is an excellent hostess. She definitely knows a thing or two about chow chows, as she co-owns my father, Maddox, with Karen Tracy.

3 Jan and Dad, let's pose for a nice photo by the fireplace!

4 Hotels are nice, but they don't offer great fenced in yards, like this one, where I am free to run around. Hey, what's that over there?

5 It's a black squirrel perched on Gerry's cast iron squirrel garden ornament! Wouldn't Francesca and Sharkey absolutely go nuts to see this?

6 Bath time at Gerry's is is a breeze in her huge tub. I must look my absolute best for the show!

7 Oh, Jan, I am so sorry that I didn't win Best of Breed this time. However, I did win Select, a special ribbon that earns me points towards a Grand Championship title.

8 Still, l am very disappointed with myself and I feel I've let you down. I'll have to work on upping my game before Westminster!

9 Dad, where are you? I need to talk to you about the show!

10 GK, my boy, everyone goes through a rough patch from time to time. Yes, you are a natural show dog, but that doesn't guarantee you the win! You may find it hard to believe, but even I have experienced losses!

11 Oh Robin, you and Tiva have been so supportive throughout this trip. Dad is right! I can't let this minor setback get me down.

12 Now it's time to hit the road and return home to the Frenchies. Thank you, Gerry! You've been a lovely hostess! I'm sure we'll meet again soon!

1 Where is that Sharkey? I can hear her barking and I think I know where she is.

2 Franny, I'm in with the donks trying to get them to play tag! Run, Billie! Run, Rufus! Run, Clive! Come on, I want to play!

3 Sharkey, you should have gotten here sooner. We would love to play with you, but we've got an appointment in the stable for our daily hoof washing.

4 Oh come on, Billie! Why bother washing your hooves? They'll just get dirty again tomorrow! Skip it and stay out here and play with me!

5 Sharkey, we donks must think of our health. Hoof problems aren't common for miniature donkeys, but the risks are greater when the ground is soggy from rain and snow.

6 Washing hooves really doesn't take all that much effort. Dolma leads us right to the stable shower.

7 To keep us from bolting, Dolma hooks our harnesses to a strap in the shower. Of course, there are treats for good behavior.

8 And then the fun begins and we get our hooves sprayed clean. We've been told that when the ground is wet, it becomes a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria. Yuck!

9 This is truly fascinating! I'll keep my distance to avoid getting wet.

10 All that bacteria can cause a number of hoof problems for donks and horses alike! Horrible infections like thrush, white line disease, lamanitis, and even abscesses can cause big health problems.

11 All clean again!

12 You see, Frenchies, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

13 Wow, I learned a lot today about hoof hygiene! And I'm so glad Dolma takes such good care of you. I better go home and ask to have my paws washed after running in your paddock.

1 Francesca and I love this area of the farm.

2 We have so many pretty songbirds that come to feed here and we have so many squirrels to chase because they, too, come to eat the seeds that fall to the ground.

3 Oh no, Francesca! This pile of feathers can't be a good thing!

4 This is more than just one little bird molting.

5 Horrors! This looks more like a crime scene!

6 Do you suppose one of our little birds has met an unfortunate end?

7 Sharkey, just yesterday when I was out here, a big shadow was cast on the ground and when I looked up...

8 I saw the gigantic four-foot wingspan of a red tailed hawk.

9 Oh no, Franny! All hawks are birds of prey and are feared by small animals because of their carnivorous cravings. It's widely assumed that these raptors eat primarily mammals, but they consider small birds to be a succulent treat!

10 I think we know what has happened here and I suppose we can close this unfortunate case.

11 Hey little birds! Watch your backs!

12 A hawk can swoop down at any time and grab you in its big sharp talons. I'm told they can even nab you in mid-flight! Imagine, birds eating birds! Who can figure it?

1 Who is that coming up the walk? Is that whom I think it is? Yes, it is!

2 It's my pal, Karen Tracy, who's here to pick me up for another dog show! Oh, I missed you too, Karen!

3 And Jan Kolnik, my handler! Oh Jan, I've been practicing! You're going to be so proud of what I can do!

4 Okay, Jan! I'm ready to go! What else do we need to get ready? Frenchies, can you help me?

5 GK, we're sure proud of your winnings, but I do get a little misty eyed when you pack up for your dog shows! We just love cuddling up next to you, especially on these cold winter days!

6 Oh girls, I always miss you when I'm off traveling, but it's something I've got to do! I come from a long line of show dogs. It's in my blood!

7 Sharkey! This is no time to get emotional! It's not like he's leaving forever! GK, we'll hold down the farm while you're gone. There, you're all packed. I put some extra special treats in this bag for you!

8 Okay Jan, I'm all set to go! Let's head out to the car!

9 Look, Sharkey! GK gets to ride with other dogs! See, you have no reason to worry about him! It looks like fun!

10 Hi! I'm Robin and this is Tiva! We're Cavalier King Charles Spaniels! GK, we sure had fun at the last show! I'm so glad we're traveling together again!

11 It's very nice to meet you two. I'm Sharkey! Can you promise to take good care of our dear brother?

12 I'm Francesca! I'm so glad you two are going with GK. Tell Sharkey not to be such a worrywart!

13 Goodbye, Frenchies! I'll write to you from the road! Okay, Jan and Karen! We're all set to go. Maryland or bust!

14 Gee, now that he's gone, I really do miss the big ole fluff ball!