Show Results, Video, Photos, Notes from Friends

I found the photo of this poster with the Colbert quotation on Facebook the other day. I thought it was great because I was actually there at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, for my daughter's graduation on the day Stephen Colbert gave the graduation address. I know you can't read the small print here, but if you click the photo, you'll get an enlargement that you can read. Here is a link to the text of his speech, if anyone cares to read the whole thing.

The rainy look to the poster is a good one for today since we had thunderstorms last night and today is still rainy and dreary. April showers!

Thanks to all of you who sent positive thoughts our way for Windy to relax and show with her tail up. It worked. I was visibly shocked and happy when she took her first steps in the ring and the tail was up and stayed up! On Saturday, there were three bitches entered, Windy in the 9-12 puppy class, one in the Bred-By class, and one in the Open class. The Bred-By bitch took the points, and Windy took Reserve. On Sunday, only Windy and the Bred-By were there. The Bred-By won again, and Windy took Reserve. Her showing with her tail up felt like a victory! Here is a video of Sunday's Winners Bitch class.

And here are some photos we took of Windy last week before we left for the show.

Windy, almost a year old

Windy, almost a year old

As for Rafe, he did well also, in spite of my bumbling, as you can see in the video below:

Bless his heart, he bounced right back, finished his "down and back" in style, and went on to win Best of Breed. He also won Best of Breed on Sunday, defeating the other male champion both days.

Congratulations to Jan Graunke on her puppy boy's wins (BOW each day for a total of 3 points), and LaVonne Bennett's Bred-By's wins (WB each day for a total of 3 points). Special thanks to Jane Chapin, Rebecca Powell, and Jill Kozeluh who helped me both days. I still think it was Jill's quiet, calm manner that put Windy so at ease.

Our next show is in Marshalltown, Iowa, on April 28. I hope Windy recalls her positive experiences last weekend and her " I like being a show dog" attitude carries over to the next show. A huge, important part of a dog's experience at a show resides with the judge, and we had good ones in Dekalb—David Krogh and Bradley Jenkins. Both men were personable in the ring to the exhibitors and also kind, gentle, but thorough with the dogs. Brusque and heavy-handed judges can ruin a young puppy or a less-than-sure adult. Some judges act bored with the whole routine, giving the impression that they wish they were anywhere but judging a dog show. Those types are no fun to show under. It was obvious to me that these two men enjoyed what they were doing and truly loved dogs.

Gus and Duncan went with us to the show so Jan, the owner of their sire, could see them. Gus went home with Jan.

Duncan in ex-pen at the show

Saying good-bye to Gus

I thought Duncan would have problems being an only puppy, but he has not. I expected him to fuss at night without Gus to cuddle up with since they cuddled together in the doggy bed each night to sleep. No problems. Perhaps he was happy to have the bed all to himself. I've been letting the adult girls play with Duncan one at a time to introduce him to the other dogs and give him opportunities for a playmate. He's a happy little guy. We have a "cat tower" that the cat refuses to play in, so it has become storage for dog toys. Duncan pulled most of them out of the lower tier and made himself a little hang out spot.

Duncan, 11 weeks

 A note from Jan indicated that the normally quiet, roll-with-the-punches Gus must have decided he'd had enough of being the underdog! (Duncan was always the aggressor in their puppy battles.) Jan wrote that Gus "... goes up to Carson’s 2x3 and barks and growls at him. When he sees him, when Gus is in his crate, he barks at Carson. SO Carson barks back. I thought you said this was the quiet one? He is so cute and it is hard not to laugh when he does these things. The two crazy boys did manage to sleep all through the night without the craziness. So it is good. He runs back to the crate if he is not sure, which is cute cause he sprints back.  He tried a big boy treat this morning and those little teeth broke it up and he was proud that he stole it from Rosie when she turned her head."

Earlier in the week, I received an email from people who purchased a puppy from us 7 years ago. We had not heard from them in years, and I was so grateful that they wrote. "...Every week Jackie and I talk about how lucky we were to have found you seven years ago.  We purchased Cooper from you then (your son had played with him after school most days as I recall) and are amazed every day how wonderful a dog he is.  He is much more than that.....he is a wonderful friend and a joy.  He behaves incredibly well, is smart, fun and loving.  He knows an unbelievable amount of what we talk to each other about, and if I don't respond quickly to Jackie when she talks to me from another room, he comes and barks at me to let me know that I am late in responding.  He knows when I am called for dinner, gives me a few minutes, then comes and butts me with his nose.  He sleeps in the bed with us, comes up and cuddles for perhaps fifteen minutes, then goes to an out of the way place on the bed and sleeps until morning.  We have taken many long road trips (we don't fly anymore as we don't want to be away from him), some as long as seven weeks, and he loves it.  He loves beaches, so we find him a couple each day no matter where we are, and he runs and plays, then hops back in the car when asked to do so.  We bought a second home in Canada (with a beach of course) and he looks forward to the trip up there every other month.  Does well in snow and loves to cool off in the lake in the summer.  He has never met a person he does not like, perhaps too much for his own good sometimes.  Never snapped or acted ugly with anyone, unlike the two Lhasa's I had previously.   Anyway, we thank you often and just thought you should know..."

While I do not currently have puppies available, if anyone reading this is interested in a young female (not quite a year old), I can perhaps help. A member of our Lhasa Apso club is ill, recovering from heart surgery. She will be unable to care for this puppy and is hoping to find a home for her. A friend is currently taking care of the puppy and can provide more particulars about the dog than I know. Send me an email at lhasas@joyslynslhasaapsos.com and I'll have someone get in touch with you if you would like information about this puppy.

Life is better when you have a Lhasa to love you!

Joyce