Welcome 2025!!

 

"What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year."

~ Vern McLellan

Happy New Year! As I write this, the snow is melting and the temperature is in the 40s and the forecast for the weekend is for below freezing. On the bright side, it is good to have a bit of rest from the bitter cold.

Well 2024 is behind us and I hope it was a good year for you. For me, the good things included showing Deacon, having him finish before he was a year old, and showing him to an Owner-Handled Group 1 and a regular Group 4. 

Other "highs" were the three litters, the new people we met and the previous buyers we met again because they wanted another Lhasa. I had fun with friends at the shows. Our oldest son got engaged. I attended a family reunion and had a great time visiting with relatives I had not seen for ages. A special treat, of course, was being with my sister and nieces, my 92 year old mom (who has more energy than I do!) and my 99 year old aunt, who also is full of health and energy. I hope I inherited those genes.

I presented two successful seminars to people who wanted to become Lhasa judges. My first career was as a teacher and I loved that work, so presenting the judges' seminars is a definite plus.

I had eye surgery to rid myself of a cataract and now can see more clearly, at least from my left eye! I found loving homes for Millie and Autumn. Our family was all home for Christmas and we had a wonderful, but too short, time, together. Our grandkids, ages 7,10,18,and 21) played with the puppies and did a nice job of socializing them. And in spite of all these "ups," the year was not so great and I am glad to see it go and am hoping for better things this year.

2024 was an expensive year. First our printer died. We got a new one and it took forever to get it set up. I finally had to hire some tech guy to come to do it and it took him a long time. Then we had to buy a new router. Due to a short in a wire inside an outlet, we wound up replacing all the wiring in the house. We invested is solar panels that have finally been installed but then it snowed and we were told installation would be finished when the snow melted. (Or perhaps when hell freezes over)

In preparation for the solar panels, we had the roof inspected. You guessed it! They had to tear off the old roof and put on a new one. The roofers accidentally took down the dish for our internet. Ugh. Obviously, that had to be fixed!! The washer needed repair because of a stupid thing I did when I was doing laundry. The element in the oven died and had to be replaced. Then the dryer needed repair. Then one of the dogs got sick and is still recovering and going to appointments regularly. 

To start out the new year, guess what? I put new ink cartridges into that now 1 year old printer and believe it or not, I got a message saying that the "set up was incomplete" and NOTHING I did fixed it. I now have to take both computer and printer to a place in Macomb called lDoc because none of techs make house calls. I bet if some tech guy in town made housecalls, he would make a bunch of money doing so.

Do not send me email with your condolences. My problems annoyed me, but we had many blessings and there are many, many people in this world whose situations are a great deal worse than mine. Fire, floods, storms, shootings, war. Now I feel stupid for complaining.

I am just hoping for a better year, a better world for all of us in 2025.

Many of my friends have settled on a "word" for 2025 rather than on a New Year's resolution. Some of those words were: family, joy, trust, duty, patience, caring, giving, creating. I could not think of just one so I decided to go with the Serenity Prayer, with its acceptance, courage, and wisdom.

My Favorite Picture of Deacon

This photo was taken by a ringside photographer at the fall show in Des Moines.

Puppy Pictures

These are the photos taken of Pearl's puppies before they left in early January.

This is Awsha.

This is the girl I kept. Her call name is Haven. Her AKC registered name is Joyslyn's Miss B. Haven.

It suits her.

This is Henry. 

This is Louie

This is Pepper.

Ebony had only one puppy, born about a month after the Pearl litter. His name is Rio. Haven is teaching Rio what it is like to have siblings to snuggle with and to participate in puppy battles. This is Rio, who is leaving for his new home on February 8.

Notes and Photos from Others

Thanks to all who sent new year greetings, Christmas cards, and photos to share.

Debi and Clay sent a photo of Lacey.

Courtney sent this one of Amelia.

Mary R sent one of Mocha and Rafe.

Pam and Paul sent this one of Rusty.

Judy G sent this one of Winter. 

And this of Onyx and Winter.

The Johnsons included this photo of Snickers on their Christmas card.

Lynn K sent this picture of Autumn.

Sally sent these of Ginger and Jaxon

The Sprague family sent a card featuring Sophie and Zoey.

Stacey and Lisa sent this one of Enzo and Lola.

Nanda sent this of Gigi and Ty.

Victoria sent this photo of Honey and wrote, "Honey is 3 1/2 and thriving as she heads our house, protecting us with her loud bark if anyone approaches our front door. It was a busy December month, and Honey’s  the best at alerting us when Amazon and postal deliveries are made. But her loyalty, wagging tail and being covered with Lhasa licks, is the most special part of her being in our family."

Marilyn wrote. "Hi Joyce, I hope this note finds you and your family healthy and happy! Another year has gone by. Maci turned 10 on the 30th, and Hunter is 7. Both have their quirks, and Kathy and I laugh all the time when we talk about how alike Maci and Sophie are. Both Hunter and Maci guard the street, and the poor Fed Ex and UPS guy can’t even get out of the truck before they announce their arrival. We had quite a snowstorm, lots of sleet, about 6 inches mixed with snow. The dogs definitely don’t want to be out for long periods of time. I still enjoy the blogs and the puppy pictures. Thank you for loving the breed and continuing to provide your beautiful dogs to people who cherish them."

Michelle wrote to tell me about an upcoming trip to a FL beach and the stroller they bought so Sunny could enjoy the vacation also. She began by writing, "This time of year 5 years ago I was longing for a pup and you gave us the best boy, he’s all Lhasa for sure, always challenging us with his attitude or Lhasatude!" 

I'm looking forward to seeing some vacation pictures of Sunny. 

Gayle wrote: "I cannot believe you and Lynn have bred and shown  Lhasas for fifty years, just remarkable.  I brush and comb her every day, her coat is lustrous and thick. How have you managed to groom your dogs for showing, raise puppies, find loving and responsible homes for them, travel to shows, bring up three kids, etc.?  How, pray tell?"

I have the greatest respect and admiration for both of you. All four of your dogs we were and are fortunate enough to have, absolute sweethearts, beauties and gems.  So so grateful are we.
Happy New Year!"

Our Funny Cat

And here is a photo of our Russian Blue cat, Yuri. He was a year old on Christmas Eve. 

Yuri is a very fastidious cat! Here is a FB post my husband wrote about Yuri's recent behavior. "When we have puppies, we teach them to potty on a piddle pad while running around on our family room floor. Yesterday, our five-week-old puppy walked over to the pad and pottied. After he had finished, Yuri, who was observing, went over to the pad and began pawing at it and pulling back the edge in an attempt to cover up the puppy's poop. I guess he's a neat freak. Maybe I should have named him Felix Unger."

From the Photo Archives

The first photo, taken at a show in 1978, is of Joyslyn's Petit Chere' ala Buff. Her call name was Patti. She needed a major to finish and never got it. Her new owners decided not to keep showing her.

The next is of the lovely CH Ka-Tei's Amber Ann, shown here with her handler, Marge Lewis. Amber stayed with us for a while and eventually went to live with a friend in Albuquerque.

The last of this post's archive photos is of CH Joyslyn's Angtzu o' Nottingham, shown by his owner, Cherry Parker.

Something I Wrote Years Ago

I found this article in an archives folder. It's one I wrote years ago and probably posted on the blog at some point. You will note that I refer to leaving for work. I am now retired (Hurray). However, I decided to post the article again because it brought back fond memories of our dog, Henri. He passed away a few years ago, but we still miss the "Little Nazi," as my husband called him when Henri asserted himself.

Here is a photo of him when he was 12 years old.

I wrote:

 "We have a dog named Henri. Henri is not a Lhasa; he is an Affenpinscher, but we love him anyway! He is our granddog who came to live with us because he did not appreciate the new human addition to the family that had previously been his and his alone. Henri was a spoiled “only child” and about 6 years old when his human “brother” was born.

 

Henri is not too fond of being the odd dog out among our many Lhasas but he has learned to cope and has maintained his personal identity of being top dog (i.e., he is a legend in his own mind). That is to say, his inflated ego is intact. For the most part, the Lhasas ignore him, mainly because when they were puppies, he managed to cow them in no uncertain terms!

 

When it is time for me to go to work (or really, anywhere), I tell the dogs, “I’m leaving. It’s time for me to go to work.” They know the word “work” and resign themselves to not seeing me for a while. Henri, however, does not want to give up his resting place on the sofa or in one of the many dog beds that are scattered around our family room. He finds it demeaning that I would relegate him to the same room as the Lhasas.

 

“Let’s go, Henri!” I tell him. He knows the routine but day after day, he moves oh so slowly toward the door to the dogs’ room, like a reluctant fourth grader who dawdles each morning when it’s time to get out the door to catch the school bus. When he does not move quickly enough, especially when I am running late, my voice gets louder, harsher, more insistent. “Move it, Henri. I need to get to work. Hurry up!” (Like the mom who is trying to get the fourth grader out the door so he does not miss the bus!)

 

Henri continues his slow walk to the door, head down, tail down, ears back. I know what he is trying to tell me, do you?"

 

 

What is Your Dog Trying To Tell You?

Joyce Johanson

 

We all know a happy, satisfied, carefree, confident dog when we see one. Likewise, we recognize the message communicated by an angry snarling dog. But a dog’s body language can also tell us other things a dog may be feeling. See if you can figure out from the following descriptions just what your dog is trying to communicate.

 

1.     Dog’s ears are pinned back. 

a)   Dog is excited. 

b) Dog is relaxed. 

c) Dog is submissive or fearful.

 

2.      Dog is calm and confident .

a) He looks at you with a hard stare. 

b) His eyes are open wide, probably making eye contact. 

c) His eyes are averted, making no eye contact

 

3.     Dog’s front legs are flat on the floor, butt in the air, tail wagging.

a)  He is inviting play. 

b) He is being submissive. 

c) He is being aggressive.

 

4.      Dog is yawning.

a)  He is tired. 

b) He just woke up and needs some oxygen. 

c) He is feeling stress and is trying to calm himself.

 

5.      Dog turns his head away.

a)  He is ignoring you. 

b) He is pretending he is not there. 

c) He is trying to avoid a source of stress.

 

6.     Dog’s lips are pulled back, teeth are showing.

a)  He is being assertive, threatening. 

b) He is inviting play. 

c) He may be showing submission.

 

Answers:

1.     C

2.     B

3.     A

4.     A, B, and C

5.     C

6.     A and C

 

Actually, there are numerous ways dogs show fear or stress in situations they perceive as threatening. These include yawning, turning their heads away from a source of stress, licking their lips, freezing upon perceiving a threat (before going into a fight or flight mode), pinning ears back, pulling back lips to show teeth, and slowing their walk.

 

Your dog can also demonstrate submissive and appeasing behavior in a number of ways: avoiding eye contact, squinting, pinning back his ears, lowering his body or cowering, slowing his walk.

 

What about dogs that are confident? How do they behave? Their eyes are soft and open wide. They willingly make eye contact. They are relaxed as they survey or move through their environment. Tails are wagging. Ears are relaxed. Heads are held high.

 

For more complete information about how to understand what your dog is trying to tell you, google “understanding dog body language” and you will find many sources of information. Here is a good one to get you started: Canine Body Language by Victoria Stillwell. https://positively.com/dog-training/understanding-dogs/canine-body-language/

What's Next?

I am making plans for just a couple shows, one in February, a 4-day show in Madison, WI. The other is in Louisville in March, another 4-day show. I hope Deacon remembers what to do and I hope my knees work well so I can get down on the floor to pose him and back up again without too much effort. Getting old, as they say, is not for sissies. 

Sympathy

I just learned that my friend Judy L's Lhasa Whisper, Joyslyn's Midnight Confessions, age 14.5 years, has passed away.

Rest in Peace darling Whisper. Judy, I am so sorry for your loss and so thankful to you for loving and caring for Whisper all those years. 

Thanks for reading this post. Best wishes to you all for a safe, happy, healthy new year. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with all of us.

Joyce

Merry Christmas!!

 

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal and that every path may lead to peace." ~ Agnes M. Pahro

Merry Christmas to you. However you celebrate the holiday, I wish happiness and safety to you and your families.

I have been busy with the puppies, shopping, and writing checks because of the many sudden things that have suddenly needed repair around this house. To balance the negative, we are looking forward to a full house for Christmas this year, with our children and grandchildren and my mom gather with us from Florida, Nebraska, Illinois, and Iowa to celebrate. This year we will welcome the addition of our soon-to-be daughter-in-law (no date has been set).

Cute Puppies!!

Here are photos of the Monkee and Pearl puppies. They are now 6 weeks old. These photos were taken when they were 5 weeks, 3 days old. Prepare yourself for an overload of cuteness.

Here are the 3 boys:

And here are the two females:

As of this writing the puppies have all been reserved and will be leaving for new homes in January.

We do have a male puppy that is now 2 weeks old that will eventually be available. He is an only puppy and avid nurser. He never misses a meal! Ebony is a good momma and takes good care of her singleton puppy.

(Which brings me to this message that is going out to Renee Mc. --- I have been trying to contact you about the puppies and cannot seem to get through. Call me if you read this!)

 I found the following article that originally was published in the Dog World magazine.

 I think that if you click the article you can increase the size. At least it is supposed to work that way!!

Photos and Notes from Others

Lisa wrote. "Duncan is still the most affectionate and demonstrative dog I have ever had. He follows me from room-to-room. If I sit down on the sofa, he will lay beside me or lay over me, resting his head on my chest. Duncan is ever vigilant when we are outside or in a store. He constantly scans to make certain he alerts me of anything he finds concerning."

Judy G. about her Nyx: "Nyx, my queen, was always quiet and always wanting to please us. When Winter arrived Nyx turned into a wild girl who loves to run and rough house with her. She now jumps into our arms  when we come home. Happy doesn't even describe her, over the top with joy is her new motto. Love her so much."

Lynn K (Autumn's new owner) wrote this about Autumn: "The little girl is exhausted!  Spending Thanksgiving with Ann’s daughter, son in law, three teenage kids and Louie their Bishon frise was the first social outing here for Autumn. She was wonderful and seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself!!!  She and Louie got along splendidly which I so enjoyed watching! Everybody enjoyed her. She’s a tired girl this evening."

Paul and Pam's Rusty has staked out a place to keep warm. Paul wrote, "Rusty is four years old today. He is in his favorite place to sleep, except in his recliner and our bed."

Devon wrote this about Gi: "Gi is a very happy puppy and her favorite toys are balls.  She is such a lovey.  We are working on potty training and next month we will be off to obedience classes."

The Rieck family sent this note and photo: "Griffin sends greetings on his 13th birthday.  Griffin continues to be in good health.  He has never been hospitalized and rarely "under the weather."  I attach the story about Griffin coming into our lives which I prepared last year.  Griffin has been a joy to us.  His story is special. 

Dawn sent this photo of Ollie.

Sally sent this picture of Jaxon and Ginger.

Pat and Faye sent this one of Kira.

Nanda sent this photo of Ty and Gigi.

DJ sent this Christmas photo of Charlie.

More History, More Pictures
Last month I had photos of our first champion, Rocky. This month features CH Joyslyn's Raggedy Rebel, Rocky's litter brother. Rebel was owned by Beth James and me and was shown to his championship by Dorothy Joan Kendell Smith. However, in this photo his handler that day was (I think) Bev Thomas.

This next photo is of "Socks"-- Joyslyn's Well I Can Do That. In this photo he is shown with handler and one of my mentors, Marge Lewis, after winning a major. Socks was sold to a "show home" but  was never shown to his championship by his new owners, which was a huge disappointment for me. 

And this is a "very young me" showing CH Lutzmore Ja-Ma Janie (AKA "Fancy") outside in the wind, a bitch I bought from her breeders, Pat Lutz and Janet Whitman. This was a memorable day for me because it was the first day Fancy pulled herself together to be comfortable in the show ring. She won that day! Hurray! Maarge Lewis showed her to her championship.

So that's it for December and for 2024. Thanks for reading my blog this year and a special to those of you who own and love your Joyslyn's Lhasas and who take the time and effort to keep in touch. 

Heartfelt wishes for a great Christmas, a safe holiday, and a happy and prosperous 2025.

Joyce