Dudley waits for his moment in the sun. RELATED STORIES Essential Mardi Gras Advice Going to the Dogs

Dudley has been relegated to the role of "watcher" during our journey across America — the Barkus Krewe allowed him to take center stage.

Usually, Dudley can only participate marginally in our adventures. True, he did get to fly in the world's largest float plane and, yes, he did get to chase down baseballs in America's oldest baseball park, but as Dudley would tell you if he could, he deserves more of a starring role. If ever there were a chance for him to shine, it was the Barkus Parade.

Thousands of people lined the streets of the French Quarter waiting for their little brown hero to waddle down the street in his ill-fitting Mandarin jacket. This was his Big Moment. Then the Other Dogs showed up — 1500 of them, all dressed at least as nicely as Dudley, many of them riding miniature floats pushed by their humans.

But Dudley didn't exactly get lost in the shuffle. Being a smart little canine, Dudley wowed the crowd with his tricks, including "Over," where he jumped over Dad as Dad crouched on the ground and "gimme 10," a double high-five.