Show and Puppy Updates

I have a lot of catching up to do. These past two weeks have been busy getting ready for and going to shows. The Rockford-Freeport Kennel Club shows were held in Freeport on the 2nd and 3rd . I took Zach and Belle. Zach was entered in the 9-12 puppy dog class and took Winners Dog both days for two points each day. Belle did not fare so well. She did not show well on Saturday and took 3rd in her class of 4. Sunday she improved her showing performance 100%, yet still took 4th place.

I attribute Belle's improved performance on Sunday to the fact that I asked my friend Jane to show Zach so I could focus on Belle. Belle never gets all my attention since I am usually fussing with Zach or Desi before they go in the ring since the classes for their age group come first. Then I hurry out of the ring, change armbands, and swoop Belle off the ringside table to rush back in the ring for her class. She doesn't appreciate all that hurrying and swooping! Sunday she was a totally different dog performance-wise. I was disappointed to take last place but very pleased with her performance. Perhaps there is hope…

This past weekend we were in Morris at the Stone City Kennel Club shows. The weather was wonderful for a show, especially one where we had to groom outside in stalls. (Oh the glamour of dog showing!) Thank goodness that the previous weekend in Freeport we were able to find a grooming space inside, out of the cold wind. Temps there were 39 when we arrived and 53 when we left. The 80-plus temps this past weekend were wonderful in comparison!

Zach's wins in Morris gave him all the single points (9) he needs toward his championship. Now comes the more difficult part – finding shows with major points. To earn a championship, a dog must win 15 points. Two of the 15 must be what are referred to as "major wins." A major win is a win of 3, 4, or 5 points at one show. Five points is the most a dog can win at a single show. Points are determined by the number of dogs of each sex entered in each the breed. In Illinois, it takes only 4 male Lhasas for a 3-point major. We need 7 females to make a 3-point major. Sadly, there are so few Lhasas around any more that we can rarely come up with even such a low number of males at one show.

The next shows are in a couple of weeks. I am taking Walker to three of the four shows in Springfield, Illinois. Walker will enjoy my full attention and I plan to enjoy these shows. They are so close to where I live and, due to the October scheduling of our national Lhasa Apso specialty each year, I have not been able to attend the Springfield shows for years and years! This year I cannot attend our specialty, which really makes me sad, so I decided to cheer myself up by entering these shows.

Sometime this week Dancer will have puppies. I am excited about this litter and praying all goes well with the whelping. I'll let you all know what she has! The photos at the top are of Dancer as a 4-month old and a 14-month old.

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

Joyce