July Miscellany

• “I drifted into a summer nap under the hot shade of July, serenaded by a cicada lullaby, to drowsy-warm dreams of distant thunder.” ~ Terri Guillemets

I write this as July is nearly half gone. It's been a good month for us so far - just enough rain, no horrible storms, hot but not too hot weather. 

I hope you all had a 4th of July that made you ponder and be grateful for the many freedoms we have -- and to fear how quickly they can be taken away. 

Our town has a downtown park in which flags are displayed on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran's Day. It really is beautiful. Here is a photo I took this year of one section of the park.

Our town also has a fireworks display and it was far enough away that the dogs were not bothered.

My husband investigated the possibility of solar panels for our home and so I guess that is happening soon. I hope everything said in the sales pitch is true! I am a bit leery of fast talking salesmen.

Now this might seem a bit macabre, but we also bought a burial plot and headstone. I decided those were expenses I did not want to leave for our kids. Also, I wanted to choose our own plot and headstone.

Show Results

Last month I wrote about Deacon's wins at the Manitowoc show. Here is the "official photo" of his NOHS (National Owner Handled Series) NonSporting Group 1 win.

I am now proud to tell you that Deacon is now Champion Joyslyn's Legacy of the Wind! He finished the requirements for championship at the Greater Milwaukee Lhasa Apso Club Specialty show in West Bend, WI. In addition, Saturday's show featured a Best Bred By Exhibitor competition and he took first place in the NonSporting Group.

 His Sunday wins included Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and Best Opposite Sex. Multiple thanks to Judge Angela Propora for recognizing this young Lhasa's potential.

Here's picture of his face.

And here is one of him and me showing off his ALAC (American Lhasa Apso Club) Best of Winners plaque.

Congratulations also to our friend LaVonne and GCH CH Mon Ami 'N' Joyslyn's Shades of Summer (AKA Misti) for their wins at the GMLAC Specialty. Here is Misti with her Select, Owner Handled, NOHS Group 4 Ribbons.

Puppy Update

Okay so here is what is going on with the puppies. They are now 3 months old. Of the five, three have left for new homes. One male has gone to a show home. I called him Buddy but do not know if his new owner has re-named him. He reminds of his sire, Chance.

The other male is waiting for his people to pick him up at the end of the month. They named him Cosmo. I call him Coz. What a cutie!

That leaves a female. I call her Kira. She is a cutie, a half sister to Deacon (same mom). The camera my husband uses has a terribly bright flash which she has come to hate! Thus ...no decent pictures. I am debating about whether or not to keep her.

 Updates and photos of littermates Gi, Gabby, and Buddy are in the Notes and Photos from Others section. 

What about new litters? Well, I am sorry to report that I am seriously concerned about upcoming litters. For many years I have had long waiting lists and suddenly I do not. I do have a short waiting list now so probably will breed at least one of the girls when she comes in season, August or September, with puppies due in October or November and available in early 2025.

After that, I am unsure of plans for puppies.

What is Available?

Perhaps Kira, but maybe not. Lynn wants me to keep her (which shocks me!).

I do have adults available: 2 females and 1 male.

Here are (not recent) photos. These were taken when the dogs were being shown and in full coat. They since have been clipped down.

First is Autumn:

Millie (Deacon's mom) is also ready for a new home.

The male is Chance.

All three are up to date on vaccinations. The girls have been spayed. If any of you are interested, please contact me at joyslynslhasas73@gmail.com

I can give more complete descriptions.

I am sure people might wonder why a breeder gives up adult dogs. It is not because we have stopped loving them or are not grateful for what they have contributed to the breed. One of my reasons is that I want them to be an only dog or one of only two dogs so they do not have to "share the love" anymore. Another is that there are laws about the number of dogs a person is allowed to have. I am not going to make my girls have litter after litter after litter. To continue a breeding program then, I must part with beloved dogs, hoping so much they find new homes where  they are much loved. So far, it has worked well. 

From the Past

Recently I began paging through some old Lhasa magazines. I have piles of them! I think I told you a bit about them in last month's post. I shared an article in the June post and will continue to share some items from the old magazines each month.

When I was paging through the issues, I found ads for my dogs. Here is one of  them.

Now you might think "Screamer" is an unusual name for a dog! I agree. From the time he was a newborn, Screamer "screamed" whenever his mom left the whelping pen. We referred to him as "that screaming puppy"--and the name stuck. Oh the memories one picture can conjure!

Screamer's sire is AmCan Ch Joyslyn's Piece of the Rock (Rocky). We thought that was a fitting name because his sire was BIS AmCan CH Arborhill's Rah-Kieh. I wish I could find a photo of him. Here is one of our Rocky.

Anyway, a second find in one of the magazines was a photo of Rah-Kieh's sire, BIS Ch Arborhill's Rhapso-Dieh, better known as Soda.

Here is the cover photo featuring Soda.

And I also found an article I wrote that was published in Lhasas Unlimited. You probably will need to use the zoom feature on your computer to read it.

And I found Part ll of a dictionary of Tibetan words.

 

That's the trip through memory lane for this month!

Notes and Photos

Gayle wrote about Gabby (sister to Kira):"She is thriving, what a tireless, curious, precious, precocious little puppy.  Believe it or not, she is housebroken. Sleeps downstairs all night, maybe six hours, no accidents. She actually climbed the stairs this afternoon.  She had ventured up two steps last week…and today, she was on the last one of 13 before the landing to the second floor. What a little pistol…but she is terrified to come down.  So cute...today she was in front of two mirrored master bedroom closet door panels and was convinced she was playing with one of her siblings, it was hilarious."

Ruth sent a note about Dani, "...I wanted to let you know what a joy Dani is.  I sent her to puppy day school after she was spayed. She went for 8 days, 5 hours a day with 5 other puppies.  The time was spent with individual training, playing with other dogs and a field trip each day to a dog friendly establishment so they could experience new things and see different types of people.  The last day they did a small agility course and took a video of each dog. They were so much fun to watch,  Dani took the longest of course but I think she was the smartest because they gave them treats to coax them thru it.  At least she was the cutest!  It was a husband and wife team who both were attorneys and gave that up and started this business.  They are wonderful caring people.

Dani now goes to doggy daycare half a day a week just so she can play with other dogs...She really enjoys it but they said she is very selective about who she plays with. We took a class to help her stay focused which can be a problem for her.  Unfortunately it was at the same place as her daycare so she thought she was there to play.  I think she may have gotten a little bored with repeating things or else it was the stubborn Lhasa in her.

Dani is definitely the smartest of the 3 Lhasas I have had. She is also the most vocal.  She really likes to talk and I am finally starting to understand what she is saying..."

Sharon wrote about Gi (sister to Kira): "Gi is doing well and is running around the house as though she owns the place.  She and the cat are getting along very well.  A few days ago the cat decided she wanted to play with Gi and the rest is history.  She is very tolerant of the puppy jumping and chewing on her...[Gi] is very good about using the puppy pads and lets us know when she has used them...Yesterday she decided she is tired of sleeping in her crate and that she belongs on the bed and has been trying to figure out how to jump up on it.  She is having a good time playing with the cats’ toys ....She is very spoiled as she has discovered the communal water fountain and is no longer happy with being offered a bowl of water.  Before bed Devon has to take her to the fountain for her last drink of the night."

Sally wrote about Ginger and Jaxon: "I wish I could have seen your last show! Congratulations again! Deacon is so perfect he has it all! I'm so happy for both of you. I mainly just wanted to say hello and send a couple photos of course of my "champions" I did not get them cut short. They went to the groomer yesterday and she did a great job of just shortening them a little and shaving their tummies."

Sally also referred to Ginger's fear of the 4th of July sounds! So many dogs are frightened by the fireworks. I stopped at my vet's office on Monday and there were people in there getting calming meds for their dogs in preparation for the big booms. And I cannot help but wonder what negative effects the sounds have on our our veterans with PTSD.

Nanda wrote about Ty and Gigi: "You are right: well loved they are! We are obsessed with the two of them! Our lives are so much better because of them. Our home is happier and our family is full of joy and laughter with these little cherubs! We saw the litter of black Lhasa’s you had and almost died!!!! I’m not being hyperbolic. I want them all  Thank you again for our puppies. We are so grateful "

Courtney made me laugh when she wrote about Amelia. "Last Friday was Amelia's first Intermediate obedience class and the trainer" brought in her male German Shepherd to do demos, prior to last week she had only brought in her female. The male German Shepherd was jumping and kept turning away or going behind her. She couldn't figure out why he was misbehaving until we started a lesson in distraction. Amelia was her normal chill self and was in her down stay but the male didn't want to walk past Amelia. He was scared of Amelia! Sarah said it might have been her barrettes. Attached is a picture of Amelia from Friday. So scary!"

Lisa about Duncan: "My niece saw these photos and remarked that he looks like he would wear a top hat with his well manicured eyebrows and beard.

Next month Duncan will be going on his first ferry ride to Mackinac Island.  Hoping the sounds of the boat and the crowds are not too much for him.  Once in the island he doesn’t have to worry about delivery trucks so that is a plus. However, I am not sure what he will make of all of the horses … my first Lhasa Apso would bark at them - on tv or in-person."

Karen wrote about her puppy (the one I called Buddy). "He's been carried around by all 5 of my co-workers today. Loved them all. They decided that I need to bring him along everyday and he will be the groomer' emotional support puppy."

Courtney sent this picture of Carso, who is a littermate to Archie. Carso is owned by her sister Rebecca.

Nick sent a photo of Paul.

Michelle sent this photo of Sunny with the wind in his hair. Great picture!! It needs to win a contest!! 

Thanks to all who took the time and effort to send pictures and notes about their Joyslyn's Lhasas. I appreciate it so much and enjoy sharing them.

And thanks to all who took time to read this post.

You know my motto: 

If you already own a Lhasa, you know it is true. If you don't own a Lhasa, you need one for sure. Is a Lhasa for you??

Happy rest of July!

Joyce

P.S. For the readers in the group: this month's recommendation is Liberty's Last Stand by Stephen Coonts

June Is Bustin' Out All Over!

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will never fade." ~ Gertrude Jekyll

 So far...

Since I last posted I have gone many miles, driving from home to Nebraska to pick up Mom so she could spend a few days with us. We drove to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to our granddaughter's high school graduation (535 graduates!).Then we drove back to Illinois and 2 days later, I drove to Nebraska to return Mom and then drove back to Illinois a day later. Once home, I had 5 days to recover before Deacon and I got in the car and headed to Wisconsin for the show in Manitowoc. We stayed with my friend Jan and her husband Dean and enjoyed hanging out with them between shows.

There were 4 days of shows but we participated in only three, skipping the Saturday show. Deacon had just turned 11 months and I did not want to tire him, so we had a day of rest and went back in the ring on Sunday. We shared a grooming space with our friend Karen and her Lhasa Sally.

The show was great for us. Deacon won all three days that we showed and on Friday won first place in the National Owner Handled Series (NOHS) Non-Sporting group. We had great judges all three days, people who obviously enjoyed judging dogs and who were great with the dogs on the exam table and considerate to the exhibitors. So, hats off and many thanks to judges Richard Lashbrook, Cindy Meyers, and Stewart Dankner.

It was great that Sally (Ginger and Jaxon's owner) came from MI to see us show and who was very gracious about helping us to and from the ring with our ringside tables. It was great to see Ginger and Jaxon in "person" again. Ginger loves me and is full of kisses for me. Jaxon tolerates me! LOL

We came home with these ribbons and 3 points. Deacon now has a total of 9 points and needs 6 for his championship.

For those who do not know what the ribbon colors represent: Blue is for first place in the dog's class, Purple is for Winners (where you get the points!); Blue and White is for Best of Winners (winning male vs winning female); the Maroon one is for Best Owner Handled; the large Pink rosette is for first place in the NOHS group.

So, after showing on Sunday, I changed into jeans and a t-shirt, packed up all the equipment and Deacon and we made the long drive back to Macomb. The ride home was easier and faster than the ride to Manitowoc. On the drive there, we came to a traffic jam that held us up for at least 45 minutes until I could creep into a place to make a U-turn and retrace my route. My GPS was confused and upset with me for a while!! You know how that is!

My next adventure happened the following Sunday. I was ready for early church and decided that I would go to the grocery store after church. Lynn had left earlier in the week for a school reunion in Iowa. I gathered some shopping bags, two audio books to return to the library depository box, a bag of plastic grocery bags to drop off at the Walmart recycling box, and my purse. I locked the door and got halfway to the car when I realized I did not have my keys! I was locked out of the house! I had no key to start the car! Worse yet, my phone was on the counter in the kitchen instead of in my purse.

 "No problem," I thought. My car has a keyless entry panel so I opened the car, got all the "stuff" organized, and got into the car. My plan was to use the garage door opener to get back into the house, get my keys, and be on my way. It was a great plan that did not work! Why? Because when I used the garage door opener, it did not work. I could not believe it! I tried multiple times, getting the same result. Ha!!

Trying to be positive, I thought I'd stop a passing car or any early morning dog walker and ask for help. Nope. I guess everyone in our neighborhood was sleeping in.

So I walked and finally came to the middle of  the WIU campus and thought that maybe, just maybe, the Office of Public Safety was open, even though the campus was deserted. It was!! Helpful people there put a new battery in my garage door opener and I got my first ride in a police car (front seat!!) and was taken home. I tried the garage door opener, which did  not work, even with its new battery. So the officer used a credit card and opened my front door. I was so happy and grateful. (I did make it to a later church service.)

When my husband came home that afternoon and I related the saga to him, I learned why the opener did not work. He had unplugged the device on the inside of the garage and had forgotten to plug it back in. !!!!

Puppies!

Here are pictures of our current litter taken today at age 8.5 weeks.

The females:

The males:

All but one have been reserved. Let me know if you are interested.

We also have retired three of our champions who will soon be ready for new homes: Chance, Millie, and Autumn. Again, let me know if you are interested in adopting an adult Lhasa.

Notes and Photos

Lisa sent this photo of Duncan and her other Lhasa, Dresden, playing tug.

Paul sent this photo of Little One (AKA "Squirt") taking a nap after playing hard with his pal, Rusty. Rusty has been with Paul, Pam, Squirt, and Josie for 10 months.

Michelle sent this photo of Sunny sleeping and also a video of Sunny and his Shiba Inu friend Kota running full speed in a game of chase in the large yard. No wonder he was tired!

Dawn updated us about Ollie. "It was great to see you at the show on Mother's Day. We had a wonderful time...I can't believe he will be seven months old on June 1st! The time has flown by. He is doing well and is already bigger than Bailey. His favorite hobby right now is chewing on our shoes. We try to keep them where he cant get to them but forget on occasion Thankfully he hasn't done too much damage!"

An Article From The Past

Once upon a time Lhasas were such a popular breed that we had four magazines devoted to the breed in which Lhasa breeders and exhibitors advertised their winners and litters and in which articles on topics of interest or concern were published. These magazines contain much history: The Lhasa Apso Reporter, Lhasa Tales, The Lhasa Bulletin, and Lhasas Unlimited.  

I saved copies of the issues of each publication. They take up a lot of room on the shelves, but I saved them because they hold so much history -- photos of Lhasas, breeders, and exhibitors; articles addressing items of interest and controversy.

Recently, I was paging through some of the magazines and the idea came to me that I could share some articles with my readers. So the following article is from the July/August 1996 issue of The Lhasa Apso Reporter.

Hint: You will probably have to zoom in once or twice to read it.

Thanks for reading!

Joyce

 

 

  

  

Merry Merry Month of May...

 

May is blue and gold and green. 

Not a trace of cloud is seen;

Yet I find along the way, 

snowflakes falling all the day,

Dainty snowflakes fragrant white, 

and there's not a cloud in sight.

Snow you cannot truly be--

you're just petals from the tree!

~Annette Wynn, "May Snow"

I apologize for the late post this month. I knew I had a show in mid-May and wanted to wait to post in case something good happened. It did! and now I don't have to wait to share the good news.

Deacon, Ebony, and I attended a show in Davenport, IA, last weekend. Deacon was entered in three of the four shows and Ebony was entered in two of them. Deacon took Winners Dog at the first show and earned 2 points toward his championship. He took Reserve Winners Dog at his second show, and Winners Dog/Best of Winners at the third show. Happily, that was a 3-point major win.

When we got home we took this photo. We originally tried to get a photo of his win with the judge but she had other judging on her schedule and wanted to wait until after she judged Best in Show. It was too long of a wait on a hot day, so we came home. My husband took this picture of Deacon with his ribbons. The ribbon for Best of Winners is missing because our kitten ran off with it and hid it somewhere!

Ebony was basically along for the ride. I wanted to see if her attitude toward showing had changed. Not really. She loves going to the shows, but hates being in the show ring where some stranger (the judge!) will be touching her. She did show better than before and managed to take Reserve Winners Bitch to the major on Sunday.

Chance and Millie have five black puppies, 2 boys and three girls. The puppy pictures were taken at age 4 weeks and 3 days. 

Here is Chance:

Here is Millie:

These are the boys:

The girls:

Our next litter(s) probably will not be born until late fall, so will not be ready for homes until early 2025, if all goes as expected.

In June we will have two adult females available for new homes. Contact me at joyslynslhasas73@gmail.com for more information about them.

Yesterday my printer died. What a workhorse it has been. It spit out its last piece of paper and that was it. I tried to revive it with no luck -- just a bunch of ink all over my hands. I bought that printer in 2015 and have not had any major problems with it at all. It was an HP Office Jet Pro 8610. The new one is on its way. In the meantime I can't print anything! I would be nice if the new one lasted nine years, but I am not holding out much hope for that! 

In Memory of Joyslyn's Beauty RN NJP TKN (Belle)

     Mary R., who has blessed this blog many times with photos of her 3 Lhasas, two of them being Joyslyn's Lhasas, wrote to tell me that her beloved Belle had passed away. Mary wrote, "Thank you for letting her into my life;  she added much to the life of the other pets…..and most to me.   I often feel I didn’t deserve all she gave to me."

     Belle was born at my house on Christmas morning 2008. We named her Joyslyn's Beauty Secret and she indeed grew to be beautiful! She was a dainty little girl and broke my heart because she hated the show ring. I finally had to face the fact that she was not going to show well enough to win consistently (although she did garner 9 points) and that is when Mary took her.

     Belle blossomed with Mary's love and proved it by being a good agility dog.

     The titles behind her name are RN (Rally Novice),NJP (Novice Jumpers Preferred), TKN (Novice Trick)

     Mary and I each have favorite photos of Belle and I am sharing them.

An Article

This month I am sharing an article about finding a reputable breeder. Recently a report from AKC was rather eye-opening and dismaying, at least as far as the Lhasa was concerned. The results showed that there are many Lhasa breeders "out there," but also that the number of them who did not belong to the American Lhasa Apso Club was much higher than the number of those who were club members. That is not to say that the non-club Lhasa breeders are not reputable. But how does a person know? The following article might help.

What to Look for As You Search 

for A Reputable Lhasa Apso Breeder

by Joyce Johanson

Dear Potential Lhasa Apso Owner,

Thank you for your interest in the Lhasa Apso and for taking the time and effort to "do it right." By that, I refer to your visiting this site to find out more about the breed and to determine if the Lhasa Apso is the right choice for your family. I assume this is just one of your many stops along the way as you read and learn about the breed.

What should you, a potential Lhasa Apso owner, look for as you search for a Lhasa Apso breeder? Just what is a reputable breeder and what should you reasonably expect from him/her?

The first thing you should expect from a reputable breeder is questions. . .lots and lots of questions. We're a nosy bunch! Some of us will ask these questions as we talk to you on the phone. Others will mail you a questionnaire. We'll ask why you want a Lhasa Apso; what your past experiences with the breed have been; what other pets you have; the ages of your children or grandchildren who visit often; your philosophy of raising and training a dog; your philosophy about making a dog a part of your family; and your philosophy of crate training. We'll ask for information about the research you have done on the breed (especially if you have never had a Lhasa before) and where you found the information. We'll want to know if you have a fenced in yard and, if you don't, how you intend to protect and exercise your Lhasa. We'll ask if you understand the amount of care a Lhasa's coat takes and if you have made arrangements for a groomer to care for your dog or if you plan to do the grooming yourself. We'll ask if you want a male or a female (and why) and if you're looking for a companion puppy or a show prospect. We'll ask what you understand about the Lhasa's personality. (For example, what does "chary of strangers" mean?) And, if you don't know the answers to some of our questions, that's okay. We'll take the opportunity to educate you on some of the joys and tribulations of owning a Lhasa. Oh. . . and we'll probably ask for names and contact information of references, and it's just fine for you to ask the same in return.

The next thing you should expect from a breeder is answers to your questions. You can be nosy too! You should be given ample opportunity to ask questions about the breed in general and the breeder's dogs in particular. Make a list before you make the phone call and add to the list during the conversation if necessary. Many of your questions should be generated from the reading you have done about the breed. Don't be afraid to ask questions regarding how and where the puppies are raised and socialized, the number of litters the breeder has each year, the number of years the breeder has been involved with the breed, the breeder's practices regarding waiting lists and deposits, and the breeder's health guarantees, return policies, policies on spaying/neutering, policies on withholding AKC registration paperwork, and prices. Ask whatever you think you need to know to help you find a puppy that is right for you.

You should expect information. A good breeder wants you to know everything you need to know before you welcome a Lhasa Apso into your life and a relationship that could last 15 years or longer. Most of us enjoy talking about the breed - and our own Lhasas - so we might give you more information than you really want. A good breeder will be able to provide you with resources for finding more information, especially if you seem not to have done your homework before you called!

You should expect honesty and integrity. A breeder's value system should reflect the "treat others as you want to be treated" philosophy. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and more than one puppy buyer has been hoodwinked by a breeder who seemed honest and sincere. (I might also add that more than one breeder has been taken in by a puppy buyer who was less than honest. The trust factor works both ways.) The American Lhasa Apso Club (ALAC) has endorsed a Code of Ethics for its members that covers behavior related to breeding practices, kennel management, sales, advertising, written agreements, and health guarantees.

Once you've chosen a breeder, you should expect the following:
1. An opportunity to meet the puppy's dam and sire. If the breeder does not own the sire, he will not be available for you to meet and that's okay, but you should be able to meet the puppy's mother.
2. An opportunity to meet other Lhasas the breeder has produced (most of us enjoy showing off our dogs!) Ask to see siblings of the sire or dam or other offspring of either dog. Many breeders can pull out photo albums to show you pictures of the puppy's relatives back many generations.
3. A health guarantee that outlines how long the guarantee is in effect, what particular diseases or conditions are covered by the guarantee, and what procedures to follow if a health problem arises while the guarantee is in effect. Don't expect the guarantee to cover injuries or illness caused by accidents, neglect, or abuse, including improper diet, improper grooming and coat care, or inadequate veterinary care while the dog is in your possession.
4. A sales agreement with return policy that explains under what circumstances the dog may be returned for money back or for a replacement puppy. You can also expect the breeder to request the right of "first refusal," meaning you are expected to contact him/her should circumstances prevent your keeping the Lhasa, even when he/she grows up. The breeder may take the dog back (usually no money changes hands) or may help you find the dog another home.
5. Your puppy's AKC  registration paperwork. Depending on the sales agreement, the AKC registration paperwork may be provided at the time of the sale or at a later date. Most breeders require that puppies sold as pets be spayed or neutered and that they receive documentation of the procedure. If the breeder does not intend to provide registration paperwork, a statement of that fact should be part of the signed sales agreement.
6. Continued support. Most breeders want to maintain some kind of contact with puppy buyers. They realize that their job as a breeder does not stop with the puppy sale. Your breeder should be a resource for you as your Lhasa grows and should welcome your questions as opportunities to educate you further about the breed. By maintaining even intermittent contact with puppy buyers, a breeder becomes educated about his/her lines, how they mature, and the problems that may arise. By keeping in contact with your breeder, you are doing him/her as well as yourself a favor. (P.S. Breeders always appreciate occasional photos of the Lhasas they have bred.)

Good Lhasa Apso breeders are not hard to find, but you need to do your homework about the breed so you know the kinds of questions to ask and can feel comfortable with the answers you receive. Again, thanks for being interested in the Lhasa Apso. Good luck as you search for the right breeder who has just the puppy you've been waiting for!

*********************************

Notes and Photos

Judy G sent an update on Onyx and Winter: "Last night at Rally class three classes combined and we held 'virtual rally' trials. We set up and changed many courses to help our dogs succeed. In Novice,  Nyx completed her course with a few minor points taken off, so she should be awarded her first leg. She has trouble going from a fast pace to a normal pace, but it's coming along. She still attends agility class on Monday night to keep her fit.

In Rally Intermediate, Winter still won't sit, down or stand. so that I can walk around her, so 10 points immediately are deducted. I'm sure she had points taken off for hopping backwards instead of backing up. Everyone had fun and Winter now moves to Rally Advanced and working off leash.

Other pups are in good health and we are in week 5 of "Fit Dog" walks."

Sally wrote about Jaxon and sent pictures of both him and Ginger.

"He is very attached to me... I included just a couple photos. The only way I could get Ginger to look at me so I could get her picture is to tell her it was for Mommy Joyce- then she pops her head up... 

I have been busy trying to keep these two clean and brushed. At the beginning of March we had spring- gorgeous and warm so the snow melted and that's always messy and dirty. Then last Wednesday we got 2 feet of snow which was awful. And now that is melting so once again dirty and wet everywhere. It's exhausting."

Later, on the occasion of his 3rd birthday she wrote, "He's the sweetest boy ever

Victoria reported on Honey: "Hello Joyce! Happy Birthday to Honey- she turned 3 on May 6th. She got a bath and a new toy! She’s one happy and spoiled birthday girl."

(Yes,  Jaxon and Honey are littermates.)

Paul asked, "Who says Rusty doesn't play with toys!" (Actually I said that! And it was true. I guess he did not like the toys at my house. I am glad he is playful at last!!)

Stephanie wrote about Auggie: "It's been a while since I've sent you an Auggie update, but just wanted to let you know that he is still the most precious fella imaginable!  I'm sending a pic of him relaxing in his favorite spot where he can watch for rabbits and squirrels in the yard - then dart out the doggie door when he decides it's time for a chase (which, thankfully, he never wins).  If you zoom in, you can see his beautiful eyelashes; he's the envy of every female he meets.  He is a bit bossy with all of the other pups in our extended family, but he's fun-loving and playful, too.  I think Lady Bug (my lhasa rescue) is happy to have a little brother, and he keeps her young running zoomies and playing chase.  The second picture is him in the backseat of my mom's car when she picked me up from the airport after a recent trip.  Auggie greeted me happily, then promptly turned his back to me and faced the back of the seat the rest of the way home, even when I talked to him (he never rides facing the back)!  I guess he was letting me know that he did not approve of my trip, even though I know he had a fabulous time at Grammie's house.  I am so thankful he is part of our family and my heart is just so full of love for this little fella.  Thank you for all you do to preserve this amazing breed and to share beautiful, healthy lhasa apsos with others!" 

From the Johnsons: "We always love your blog and looking at the updates and photos.Snickers always loved having a toy on his mouth and yesterday we were outside he came to the glass front door. He was holding the heart toy so adorable 

We love him so much and he truly can’t love us anymore as he comes to each of us and just cuddles.  He truly is the best dog and I’m sure everyone who gets a puppy  from you agrees. Thank you as always for our beautiful Snickers."

Eleanor's mom sent this photo of that little cutie! 

From Michelle: "Sunny and I are patiently waiting for your new May Blog! We can’t wait to see pictures of the new puppies! Hope all is well with you and yours!"

(Looks like Sunny got tired of waiting and took a nap!)

Nanda sent this of Ty and Gigi:

Lisa sent an update on Duncan: "...He thoroughly enjoys walking near the lake. He particularly likes walking along the edge of the docks as he peers into the water for fish.

Duncan also likes to sit next to me when I sit down - especially when I am working on needlework. He often tugs playfully at the linen as if to say it is taking up the space intended for him. Other times he will just rest his head on top of my lap (or needlework, in this case) and look up at me with those expressive brown eyes of his. 
He is definitely a guard dog. He is very sensitive to sounds, strangers outside, etc  - even more than his older Lhasa Apso brother, Dresden, who is 7 years his senior. Duncan is also the most affectionate of the 3 Lhasas I have had.
Duncan and Dresden continue to bond, play, snuggle/sleep together and tag team me when one or the other wants a treat, a walk, or an outing to a favorite pet-friendly store. 
Thank you for entrusting Duncan to me."

From Janice and Gigi about Cinder: "As you know a friend who worked for [AFLAC] gave me a stuffed talking duck. Cinder found it a long time ago and fell in love. When it finally quit talking, I went out on Google to find another one. I got three. And then when those died I got three more. She knows that "AFLAC" is any one of them. Not only does she play with them, she takes one to her dinner bowl with her, and she takes one to bed. Thank goodness she doesn't play with them in the night. "Aflac, Aflac, AFLAC!" And since she sleeps with me, I just hope not to roll over on it!"

Courtney sent this photo of Amelia. The two of them have begun confirmation showing

From Gigi and Janice after hearing of Belle's passing: "We watched her [Belle] often before Cinder came to live with us, and we [continued to do so]. I especially loved when she would get silly, or pointedly tell Mary that she had done 5 weave poles, and she saw no reason in doing seven!"

Other Stuff

The American Lhasa Apso Club has a Code of Ethics for its members. It was recently updated and can be found on the ALAC website as lhasaapso.org

I also found a Code of Ethics espoused by the Better Breeder Institute and really like it (probably because it matches my own!) 

Here it is:

"The Better Breeder Institute’s Code of Ethics is written keeping the best interests of our dogs at heart, as well as the families we entrust our puppies to. Conscientious breeders should exceed the minimum requirements and expectations, setting a standard for others to follow. The goal always being to produce quality dogs that closely conform to their breed standard, of sound temperament, are vigorous, and free of health problems. To that end, I hereby pledge and certify:
1.    To support the preservation and advancement of my breed.
2.    To plan each breeding with the primary intention to improve my bloodline within the foundation of correct breed type and original breed purpose.
3.    In every breeding, to analyze the pedigree and conformation of both the sire and dam, with consideration of the breed standard and the principles of genetics.
4.    To only incorporate dogs free of serious or disqualifying defects. Further, to refrain from using any dog that is found to consistently produce afflicted puppies.
5.    To perform all health screens on my breeding stock as recommended by my national breed club.
6.    To maintain high standards of health, maintenance, and care for my dogs. Facilities are to be kept clean and orderly. 
7.    Not to sell any puppy until it is at least eight (8) weeks of age.
8.    To be judicious in the sales of my puppies and concerned about the type of buyers they are placed with. I will not sell puppies into homes where I question the care, treatment, or safety of the puppy, or to dog wholesalers, retailers, pet shops, or at auction. I will require buyers of pet-quality puppies to spay/neuter them at a safe & appropriate age.
9.    That all my puppies are seen by a licensed veterinarian and given a full veterinary exam before going to a new home. Any health issues or concerns are to be fully communicated and detailed to the buyer.
10.With the sale of every puppy, I will provide the buyer with a properly-executed sales contract, health guarantee, registration papers, and diet, vaccination, and parasite control records at the time of purchase.
11.That my advertising, marketing, and communication will be factual and honest, both in substance and implication.
12.To be available to my puppy buyers for whatever reasonable advice and assistance they may need through the lifetime of the dog.
13.To request that my puppy buyers advise me if they are ever unable to keep their dog so that I can either take the dog back or help assist in placing the dog in a new home.
14.To conduct myself equitably, ethically & professionally toward everyone, whether partners, clients, or competitors."

AKC Pupdate is a free, weekly email newsletter with personalized content based on your puppy’s breed and age. This newsletter is for all puppies, including mixed breed dogs and dogs not registered with the AKC.

Sign up for this helpful resource at 

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/akc-pupdate-info/

For those of you who enjoy reading novels in which dogs have a role, I suggest you check out the Alex Kava "Creed" series. The latest one came out a few months ago and, like all those before it, was a great read.

And, by the way, my husband's newest novel is now available. I read it! It's good! Look for Sins Revealed by Lynn-Steven Johanson. Although she does not have a starring role, there is a Lhasa named Autumn in the book.

That's It!

Thanks for reading and special thanks to all who took time to send pictures and write updates. It is so good to hear from you about your Lhasas.

Joyce