A Dilemma

di·lem·ma  a situation in which somebody must choose one of two or more unsatisfactory alternatives

Who to take to the dog show? I have a small car that only fits 2 crates. I am going to a large show with many  events to participate in. Peace is going as she is the one that is invited due to her Top Ten status. But other than weight pull, she isnt ready for other events.

So now I have to choose the other dog who gets to go with, Grace or Magic.

Grace- Its supposed to be the year I focus on Grace.  She is training for both her CD and agility, and I would like for her to earn both this year. She could try for them at Premier.  She could also give lure coursing a try.

Magic-Magic is my do everything dog.  He has his titles for obedience and we are not ready to try for UUD. He could try to earn agility points, we could do rally and work on points toward his rally championship. He would lure course which he loves.  And quite honestly I love going places with Magic. He is easy he is my boy.

So I made a big chart and Grace wins. My heart wants Magic though.

Home from Des Moines

Well I made it home from Des Moines, but it sure wasnt a fun drive.  6.5 hours for what is a 3.5-4 hour drive normally. But not the worst ever, that was a few years ago coming back from Des Moines.  I like the Des Moines shows, but dang they almost always bring bad weather. Then again this year we are just having way too much bad weather.

In any event the weeknd was pretty good, despite my being sick.  I was feeling a little better on Friday, but then by Saturday afternoon, I crashed again, this time with a fever-But a long borning afternoon and night in the hotel room, watching TV and napping and today I felt tolerable.  I really hope no one I was with gets sick now.  Sadly I didnt get to go to the Chili party at Mummes, but I figured they all did not need to be infected.  I was hoping to squeeze puppies though.

As far as the show goes, that was very good.  Lani from http://wagsnwoofs.blogspot.com/ came over to Des Moines to play with us on Saturday.  She a a darling young pup that she will be showing soon, but had never done the conformation thing, so I offered to let her play with Grace. That way she could go and get a feel for the whole show thing without having to worry about the dog part of the team.  Those of you that know Grace, you know how easily she can be bought, so a few peices of prime rib and they were a team.  They did great-Grace and Lani got BOS!  Graces first grand champion points.

Peace had an OK weekend too, taking select (they were the only girl specials) and today she was the only girl special, so today she took BOS to Sully.    All in all a good weekend. 

NSHGC Friday

Yesterday was the clubs summer conformation show.  The weather gods smiled on us, it was sunny and warm, but not killer hot. The building stayed cool and comfortable with enough breeze by the efternoon.

Garretts Ava was WB and BOW for a crossover major!  Joey was WD, Picasso BOB, Jewel BOS, Peace and Barbs male were Select. Sorry I dont have a catalog to know the dogs name.

It was fun watching other club members do so well too.  Patti K's boy from her recent litter was best in puppy sweeps and totally looked like the pro show dog.  I enjoed the day immensely, helped Garrett a little with drying Mitcham, gate stewarding and just hanging out chatting. 

Today I am kicking myself for not entering the rest of the weekend.....

UWP Grace and Peace, URO2 Magic

Both Grace and Peace earned their UWP (weight pulling) titles this weekend. With the heat and humidity on Saturday which was well over what I would have liked, the kids did really well.  On Saturday Siren pulled 420 pounds  (5th place) for David, which is a huge improvement over her first attempt last month where she pretended she couldnt hear him talking to her and refused to pull at all.  Grace pulled 570 earning her title and 4th place, Magic 630 for 3rd, Peace 690 for second. On Sunday it was just Magic and Peace, Magic went up to 720 for 2nd before calling it a day and Peace decided she was done at 510 for 3rd.  Since David had to work and Grace had already titled they got to stay home and enjoy the limited AC our livingroom has.  Both days Maggie the BC kicked our butts, with a pull on Sunday over 1000 pounds.  She was awesome this weekend.

Magic also did Rally the one time, completing his URO2 with a score of 92, for second place.  Really wet grass outside first thing in the morning caused just way too many interesting smells for really great scores, but hey, I have no issue with that as the horses going by actually distracted me for about a second during the run too.

Peace also picked up a group 3 win and a total dog award for winning in both conformation and having a qualifying run in her weight pull.   Here is a link to a photo of Peace and her ribbons. click here

So much to do

Our weekend was super busy. Friday we had the dog show at 830, followed by a vet visit for Magic. Who by the way does have a brain since we saw x-ray documentation of it.  Then up to my mothers to help her sort and organize stuff in preparation for her move.  She is moving in July from her home to a senior apartment. Which is pretty tough on her, really.
Saturday morning, rent a uhaul, haul a bunch of stuff from her house to our house, a bed, couch, all her holiday boxes etc.  Followed by a trip to WI to play with sheepies.  Then next morning, it was into the tub for Peace, since she had to show at 1,stop back at my moms, then home to unload and do the home chores, laundry, weed the garden and so on. Whew!  I am almost glad its monday.

Almost, but not quite.

Fargo Day 1 and 2

Well what a busy but fun 2 days.  Yesterday there were 22 cardigans entered.   I am going off of memory, and I am a bit tired, so this could be wrong. Yesterday Lydia was BOB, Picasso BOS, Sully SD, Peace SB, Flip WD and Safari WB and I think BW, but gosh I am not sure.  Today there were 27, Picasso BOB and Group 4, Toms Stewarts Dark Blue Rose, BOS, Dianas Jenna SB, One of Connies girls WB and Flip WD. I cannot remember who the select dog was.  In Sweeps, all I remember was Vegas won his class. The veterans looked great too.  I am just too tired after driving home.

In any event, Garrett did a great job with the supported entry. It was wonderful seeing so many really nice dogs and lots of great people too. Tomorrow off to weight pull with a totally different bunch of great people.

Pictures from the weekend

Vegas was a little nervous about the whole picture taking thing, but I still think he is lovely even with one foot forward!

Peace was practically dragging me around the group ring> Not a great picture but the best David could get from ringside. 

Why is it...

that once you enter a show, the dogs entered have to lose ALL their hair?   I entered Grace in Pre-Novice for the show this weekend.  Since she was going anyways, Dave wants to enter her in breed-she loves it, and he likes getting to show a dog too.  Sure OK,  it will be fun.  So what happens?  Grace goes naked.    Peace is rather short of hair too, but not nearly as naked as Grace.  I guess its good we weren't planning on winning anything! 

Open

No Q's today.  Both trials Magic didnt bring the dumbell back over the jump.  Both times it was partially my fault as my throws did not land in the best location, but he could have gone back over. We proof this at home and he has always seemed to understand that this was necessary, but obviously not.  However on the plus side, everything else was satisfactory, and the 2nd trial was better than the first.  Oh well, we will try again.

Vegas News

Don't know if you can read the sign, but it says Major Win and Best of Opposite!  3 Points!

Vegas did wonderfully today at his first show.  He handled it like a pro. The judge had some very nice comments for Joyce.  This show site is an indoor soccer field and we were shoved back in a corner, so there wasn't anywhere to get decent ringside pictures.  Either the steward or the judge was in the way, but I will try to post the few bad ones we got later.

Tomorrow there will only be 1 point available, but what a great first time out! Congrats to Joyce and Vegas.

Crufts-cardi wins pastoral group!

Yoohoo cardigans!  Of course the only time I was away from my desk today was a mandatory meeting which occurred at the same time as the pastoral group so I did not get to see the cardi win.  But  I saw her enter and she looked lovely! Hopefully I will be able to watch the BIS!

Crufts Streaming live

I have the streaming video feed from Crufts playing on my computer as I work today.  They just had the novice jumpers course.  Not an easy course, but great to see novices out there including a couple of young people.  Earlier we had flyball.

Home from the show

It was a fun day today at the show.  I am a member of the herding group club, so I entered today to support the club. Spent the first part of the morning stewarding, which I really enjoy.  I was stwerading today for Bev Capstick, who is one of the founding members of the club.  It was also a good day for several of my friends and I really enjoyed watching them show.  I will et them all post their own brags.  Peace was best of opposite today, and earned herself a pretty rosette and a new chair.  I really have no intention of showing Peace as a special, but it was fun for the day, and maybe we will do it again later this year. 

Bath Night for Peace

Peace had her pre-show bath tonight.  She is such a goober.  She insists on biting the air from the forced air dryer. Her whole face puffs out as she grabs mouthfuls of the wicked air.  I wish I could get a picture of that, but its a bit to hard to wield the hose and snap a picture. The doesnt mind being dried, loves the grooming, all except toes. She would rather we never trimmed those nails.  But she sure looks pretty tonight.

Then I look at the other 3- wow are they filthy! Oh well.  I might take all three out and use the grooming facilities at On the Run, Michelles new place.  She has a wonderful bathing set up. Much easier than bending over the bathtub!

Friday is the North Star Herding Group Clubs show.  I am stewarding before the cardi's show. It should be a fun day, at least its one away from work. I am really looking forward to it.  

Dancing and Dog Shows

I have become totally enamored of So You Think You Can Dance.  It locks me in every Tuesday night for 2 hours. Then Wednesday for an hour because I need to see who goes home.  Unfortunately tonight I am going to have to miss it. Since we have a show this weekend I kind of feel like I need to take Peace out and see if she remembers how to behave.

Peaceful has a bit more hair than she did a couple of weeks ago, but hardly no britches at all.  Its just her and her half sister, so once again, I am expecting we will be helping Diana's girl with some points, but we will go and have fun anyways. But when the weekend rolls around if you can think a good thought or 2 for her I would appreciate it, we just need that last single.

I am greedy!

I am.  I admit it, it must be some sort of disease.  What did I do?  Well, I entered Grace in another Rally trial.  This summer, Magic and I tried UKC rally at the first UKC rally trial held up here in Minnesota, you know, that weekend of the weight pull.  We had fun. My greediness got to me that weekend too, so I entered Grace that Sunday as well. So now Magic has 2 legs, Grace has one toward their UKC Rally level 1.
The sickness, well, those unfinished titles just bug me. They don't bug me unless there is an opportunity to finish them, but hey, guess what, there is another UKC trial in a week!  So, I entered both of them, Magic for Saturday and Grace for both days.  Glutton for punishment I am. But really both dogs should be able to do this.

Speaking of unfinished, Peace still needs 1 point. I know its not a horrible thing, but again, that finishing thing is making me crazy.  She is still really nekkid.  The next show is in mid November, but entries close next week.  What to do, enter her and hope some hair comes back?  I don't know if anyone else with girls is planning on going.  Its a nice show site, but the entry fees are pretty high with no breaks for bred by as some have.  I hate to waste the money, but then I also know, she can't win that last point if she isnt there, right? But then there isn't another show until December and its a bit further away. Do-able, if need be.  I know I shouldnt stress about it, but I always worry about something happening and it not getting done!  Crazy and sick, I know I am.

tomorrow is the day

where I get to experience showing a terrier.  It should be interesting.  I would feel much more confident about my job if the dog was comfortable with his, but he isn't.  We took him to class both Tuesday night and again last night.  He is getting better about somethings, but not others.  His table is better, he freezes into a rock hard statue, but he is not melting.  But on the floor, I just don't know what will happen.  Tuesday night, although he was moving a bit hesitantly, he moved.  Last night he slinked, and hung his head anf pulled. Outside the ring he is fine, head and tail up happy, walks beautifully on the leash. His entire issue is IN the rings.  The same person can go over him outside the ring, and he is fine.

The thing is, I know in my heart he could be "fixed" but I don't think his owner will commit to the time he would need. He has no 'reward" system, no special treat or toys, nothing to make the ring a better place.  He could learn to play, he most likely with some positive reinforcement clicker training he would develope the confidence to strut his stuff in the ring. But its not going to happen by randomly throwing him in the ring at shows every 3 months.  I do understand his owner not wanting to waste the money showing him (she uses a handler so it is a bit of an expense) but some obedience or a trick class or something to help him relax and have fun would do so much for him.

On Saturday he is the only boy, so would need BOW, not holding my breath. Sunday I am fairly certain the WFT and Cardi ring times will conflict.  Not sure what will happen there, although most likely I will try to do both, Peace is entered in Bred by so I cant just hand her off.  Peace has no undercoat at all so I am not expecting anything this weekend. Would love to get that single point, but realistically not expecting it.

Todays show

First let me say sorry, I didn't post all the winners from yesterday- BOB was Emily and Picasso, and BOS was Barb and Molly. Emily also picked up a group 4 yesterday.

Today at the RMKC show BOB- Emily and Picasso, WD - Mike and Norman, WB, BOW & BOS was Peace for another point. One more to go.

The Wright County Kennel Club show in Hutchinson is coming up, closes this week. Personally I would love to see us come up with a nice large entry since on Sunday we will have a breeder judge, Leah James. So anyone looking to travel a little, Minnesota in the fall is beautiful- come visit.

A good show day

We had a good day today at the Rochester Kennel Club show. Peace earned 1 point for going Winners. She also was best Bred By. Music earned 2 points with Winners and Best of Winners. That makes 8 for Music and 13 for Peace.

Show Pics

The pictures from a couple of weeks ago finally came. These didnt turn out too badly, for a change. I usually look really bad, but these, not horrible. Peace looks pretty good, although her front legs are a little forward, I have seen and done worse!