My first show of 2012 was the Cyclone County Kennel Club show in Des Moines last weekend. The weather was great for the middle of February. Our corner of the fairgrounds was packed with people, vehicles, and animals because a cattle show was happening in the building next to the dog show building.
We'd reserved two grooming spaces that ended up being really crowded and cramped for 4 people and 7 dogs, but we managed. Grooming spaces (getting them, keeping them) are all part of the challenges of dog shows. Ours would have been more convenient had it not had a big pole right in the middle of it!
Our show times were early each day, good because it gave us the afternoon to relax on Saturday and the afternoon for traveling and arriving home early on Sunday. However, early ring times also meant getting up at 5:30 each morning to get the dogs cared for, ourselves dressed, and the van packed. The drive from hotel to show site was about 20 minutes. Then we had to unload the van, haul all the essential "stuff" inside, and get the dogs groomed.
As those of you who read last week's post know, I entered both Belle and Maggie to ensure that there would be a point. Both girls showed really well, and Maggie won both days (as I had hoped she would). Belle had a good time at the show and did a nice job in the ring because I remembered to show her on a very loose lead. Special thanks again go to Jane for taking Belle back in the ring for me for the winners class and to Rebecca for taking such great video and pictures of the girls. It was great to be able to watch them move.
Saturday afternoon we lounged around the hotel room, then had a little Shiba party! Jane and Rebecca were each showing two Shiba. Jane's Kiara won a 4 point major on Saturday. Rebecca's Lexi won the 4 point major on Sunday. Here is a photo of me on the bed of the hotel room with three of the Shiba. We were having a little Shiba party. (The Lhasas find Shiba excitement a little overwhelming, so they were chilling out in their crates!)
The other photos are of Belle and Maggie. I tried to upload video but did not have any luck. I'll see if I can add video later.
Here is Belle on Saturday.
Here is Maggie on Sunday. The black dog in front of her is Goose, owned by my friend Marsha Susag from North Dakota.
Here's Belle's video from Saturday.
And Maggie's video from Sunday.
We were home by 5:00 and I was asleep by 10:00, after unloading my "stuff" from Jane's van, unpacking and putting away all the dog show items, taking care of dogs, returning a couple phone calls, putting topknots up in two dogs, grooming Walker, playing with the puppies, answering a few emails, and doing four loads of laundry. (I totally rock! LOL!)
Life is good when you have a Lhasa to love you!
Joyce