Renaissance Festival

Last weekend was Miles first Renaissance Festival. I have been doing the Carolina and Georgia Renaissance Festival for 8 years or so as a member of the Hounds of East Fairhaven. We are a group that promote greyhound adoption and educate people about the role of greyhounds at that time in history at the two festivals. Imagine an all day meet and greet in a corset, hoop skirt and 25lbs of clothing. Miles was at the Georgia Festival all day both days over the weekend. He did great! He was friendly to everyone and we got lots of comments on how well behaved he was. We are located in the Royal Pavilion with the King and Queen and are on stage at the Joust 3 times a day with the Royals. We didn't get to walk around much because of my injured ankle that is still in a boot for support.

I wish I had photos of Miles on the joust platform watching the joust. He was fascinated as long as they were jousting things like hoops and hay bales. He was fine even when they came thundering by on the horses just inches away. It changed when they began jousting each other and then ended up in a sword fight on foot. He would look then turn his head. He would get brave and peek back then turn his head again. He decided it was safer under my skirt or under the bench during the violent parts. Definitely a non violent dog. Thanks to Patti for the photos.
Some of the other cast members Patti, Jay, Michelle and Kim with their royal hounds.

The most challenging part of the festival for the dogs is going up a narrow, winding staircase to get up to the platform to watch the joust. Pretty challenging for me too since my hoop skirt is wider than the staircase. Colby (fawn male on right in the photo above) was the only greyhound out of the 6 there that could do the steps from the start. Miles got it though and by the second day could go up and down with no trouble.

Many people didn't realize Miles was a pup. We got a lot of questions about the "Whippet" or the "Italian Greyhound". At about 30lbs he would definitely be a Whippet and not an IG.

Happy pup.

Miles was exhausted after two days of festival and camping out Saturday night. Monday, when his brother Otto came over to play, Miles just wanted to sleep. He had that sleepy pup look most of the day where his ears are hanging low and eyes are staring into space. Miles would try to play for about a half hour then crash for a few hours. The boys would play another half hour then would sleep for another 3. Otto was pretty tired himself after doing a meet and greet at the YMCA most of the day on Sunday. They slept about as much as the adult greyhounds Monday.